Subtitle D—Other Measures Relat-
ing to Combating Marine Debris 
SEC. 131. PRIORITIZATION OF MARINE DEBRIS IN EXISTING 
INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP PRO-
GRAMS. 
The Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Energy, 
the EPA Administrator, and the heads of other relevant 
Federal agencies, shall prioritize efforts to combat marine 
debris in innovation and entrepreneurship programs estab-
lished before the date of the enactment of this Act, includ-
ing by using such programs to increase innovation in and 
the effectiveness of waste management, monitoring, detec-
tion, data-sharing related to the prevalence and location 
of marine debris, demand for recycled content, alternative 
uses for plastic waste, product design, reduction of dispos-
able plastic consumer products and packaging, ocean bio-
degradable materials development, waste prevention, and 
cleanup. 
SEC. 132. EXPANSION OF DERELICT VESSEL RECYCLING. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Under Secretary and the EPA Adminis-
trator shall jointly conduct a study to determine the feasi-
bility of developing a nationwide derelict vessel recycling 
program— 
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(1) using as a model the fiberglass boat recy-
cling program from the pilot project in Rhode Island 
led by Rhode Island Sea Grant and its partners; and 
(2) including, if possible, recycling of vessels 
made from materials other than fiberglass. 
SEC. 133. INCENTIVE FOR FISHERMEN TO COLLECT AND 
DISPOSE OF PLASTIC FOUND AT SEA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary shall estab-
lish a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advis-
ability of providing incentives, such as grants, to fisher-
men based in the United States who incidentally capture 
marine debris while at sea— 
(1) to track or keep the debris on board; and 
(2) to dispose of the debris properly on land. 
(b) SUPPORT FOR COLLECTION AND REMOVAL OF 
DERELICT GEAR.—The Under Secretary shall encourage 
United States efforts, such as the Fishing for Energy net 
disposal program, that support— 
(1) collection and removal of derelict fishing 
gear and other fishing waste; 
(2) disposal or recycling of such gear and 
waste; and 
(3) prevention of the loss of such gear. 
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SEC. 134. AMENDMENTS TO MARINE DEBRIS PROGRAM. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
9(a) of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1958(a)) is 
amended by— 
(1) striking 
‘‘$10,000,000’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘$15,000,000’’; and 
(2) striking ‘‘5 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘7 per-
cent’’. 
(b) ENHANCEMENT OF PURPOSE.—Section 2 of the 
Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1951) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘marine environment,’’ and inserting ‘‘marine environ-
ment (including waters in the jurisdiction of the United 
States, the high seas, and waters in the jurisdiction of 
other countries),’’. 
SEC. 135. MARINE DEBRIS ON NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM 
LAND. 
(a) SPECIAL-USE AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary 
of Agriculture (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’) shall not require a volunteer organization to ob-
tain a special-use authorization for the removal of any ma-
rine debris being stored on National Forest System land. 
(b) TEMPORARY STORAGE.—Marine debris may be 
stored on National Forest System land in a location deter-
mined by the Secretary for not more than 60 days. 
(c) REQUIREMENTS.—Except as otherwise provided 
in this section, any activities related to the removal of ma-
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rine debris from National Forest System land shall be con-
ducted in a manner consistent with applicable law and reg-
ulations and subject to such reasonable terms and condi-
tions as the Secretary may require. 
Subtitle E—Studies and Reports 
SEC. 141. REPORT ON OPPORTUNITIES FOR INNOVATIVE 
USES OF PLASTIC WASTE. 
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Marine Debris Coordinating Com-
mittee established under section 5 of the Marine Debris 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1954) (in this subtitle referred to as the 
‘‘Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee’’) 
shall submit to Congress a report on innovative uses for 
plastic waste other than in infrastructure. 
SEC. 142. REPORT ON MICROFIBER POLLUTION. 
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Interagency Marine Debris Coordi-
nating Committee shall submit to Congress a report on 
microfiber pollution that includes— 
(1) a definition for ‘‘microfiber’’; 
(2) an assessment of the sources, prevalence, 
and causes of microfiber pollution; 
(3) a recommendation for a standardized meth-
odology to measure and estimate the prevalence of 
microfiber pollution; 
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(4) recommendations for reducing microfiber 
pollution; and 
(5) a plan for how Federal agencies, in partner-
ship with other stakeholders, can lead on opportuni-
ties to reduce microfiber pollution during the 5-year 
period beginning on such date of enactment. 
SEC. 143. STUDY ON UNITED STATES PLASTIC POLLUTION 
DATA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the EPA Administrator, shall seek to enter into 
an arrangement with the National Academies of Sciences, 
Engineering, and Medicine under which the National 
Academies will undertake a multifaceted study that in-
cludes the following: 
(1) An evaluation of United States contribu-
tions to global ocean plastic waste, including types, 
sources, and geographic variations. 
(2) An assessment of the prevalence of marine 
debris and mismanaged plastic waste in saltwater 
and freshwater United States waterways. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary 
shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted 
under subsection (a) that includes— 
(1) the findings of the National Academies; 
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(2) recommendations on knowledge gaps that 
warrant further scientific inquiry; and 
(3) recommendations on the potential value of 
a national marine debris tracking and monitoring 
system and how such a system might be designed 
and implemented. 
SEC. 144. REPORT ON MINIMIZING THE CREATION OF NEW 
PLASTIC WASTE. 
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Interagency Marine Debris Coordi-
nating Committee shall submit to Congress a report on 
minimizing the creation of new plastic waste. 
SEC. 145. STUDY ON MASS BALANCE METHODOLOGIES TO 
CERTIFY CIRCULAR POLYMERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology shall conduct a study of available 
mass balance methodologies that are or could be readily 
standardized to certify circular polymers. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Institute shall submit to Con-
gress a report on the study conducted under subsection 
(a) that includes— 
(1) an identification and assessment of existing 
mass balance methodologies, standards, and certifi-
cation systems that are or may be applicable to sup-
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ply chain sustainability of polymers, considering the 
full life cycle of the polymer, and including an exam-
ination of— 
(A) the International Sustainability and 
Carbon Certification; and 
(B) the Roundtable on Sustainable Bio-
materials; and 
(2) an assessment of any legal or regulatory 
barriers to developing a standard and certification 
system for circular polymers. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CIRCULAR POLYMERS.—The term ‘‘circular 
polymers’’ means polymers that can be reused mul-
tiple times or converted into a new, higher-quality 
product. 
(2) MASS BALANCE METHODOLOGY.—The term 
‘‘mass balance methodology’’ means the method of 
chain of custody accounting designed to track the 
exact total amount of certain content in products or 
materials through the production system and to en-
sure an appropriate allocation of this content in the 
finished goods based on auditable bookkeeping. 
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TITLE 
II—ENHANCED 
GLOBAL 
ENGAGEMENT 
TO 
COMBAT 
MARINE DEBRIS 
SEC. 201. STATEMENT OF POLICY ON INTERNATIONAL CO-
OPERATION TO COMBAT MARINE DEBRIS. 
It is the policy of the United States to partner, con-
sult, and coordinate with foreign governments (at the na-
tional and subnational levels), civil society, international 
organizations, international financial institutions, sub-
national coastal communities, commercial and recreational 
fishing industry leaders, and the private sector, in a con-
certed effort— 
(1) to increase knowledge and raise awareness 
about— 
(A) the linkages between the sources of 
plastic waste, mismanaged waste, and marine 
debris; and 
(B) the upstream and downstream causes 
and effects of plastic waste, mismanaged waste, 
and marine debris on marine environments, ma-
rine wildlife, human health, and economic devel-
opment; 
(2) to support— 
(A) strengthening systems for recovering, 
managing, reusing (to the extent practicable), 
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and recycling plastic waste, marine debris, and 
microfiber pollution in the world’s oceans, em-
phasizing upstream waste management solu-
tions— 
(i) to mitigate plastic waste at its 
source; and 
(ii) to prevent leakage of plastic waste 
into the environment; 
(B) advancing the utilization and avail-
ability of safe and affordable reusable alter-
natives to disposable plastic products in com-
merce, to the extent practicable, and with con-
sideration for the potential impacts of such al-
ternatives, and other efforts to prevent marine 
debris; 
(C) deployment of and access to advanced 
technologies to capture value from municipal 
solid waste streams through mechanical and 
other recycling systems; 
(D) access to information on best practices 
in waste management, options for waste system 
financing, and options for participating in pub-
lic-private partnerships; and 
(E) implementation of management meas-
ures to reduce derelict fishing gear, the loss of 
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fishing gear, and other sources of pollution gen-
erated from marine activities and to increase 
proper disposal and recycling of fishing gear; 
and 
(3) to work cooperatively with international 
partners— 
(A) on establishing— 
(i) measurable targets for reducing 
marine debris, lost fishing gear, and plastic 
waste from all sources; and 
(ii) action plans to achieve those tar-
gets with a mechanism to provide regular 
reporting; 
(B) 
to 
promote 
consumer 
education, 
awareness, and outreach to prevent marine de-
bris; 
(C) to reduce marine debris by improving 
advance planning for marine debris events and 
responses to such events; and 
(D) to share best practices in waste man-
agement systems to prevent the entry of plastic 
waste into the environment. 
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SEC. 202. PRIORITIZATION OF EFFORTS AND ASSISTANCE 
TO COMBAT MARINE DEBRIS AND IMPROVE 
PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall, in 
coordination with the Administrator of the United States 
Agency for International Development, as appropriate, 
and the officials specified in subsection (b)— 
(1) lead and coordinate efforts to implement the 
policy described in section 201; and 
(2) develop strategies and implement programs 
that prioritize engagement and cooperation with for-
eign governments, subnational and local stake-
holders, and the private sector to expedite efforts 
and assistance in foreign countries— 
(A) to partner with, encourage, advise and 
facilitate national and subnational governments 
on the development and execution, where prac-
ticable, of national projects, programs and ini-
tiatives to— 
(i) improve the capacity, security, and 
standards of operations of waste manage-
ment systems; 
(ii) monitor and track how well waste 
management systems are functioning na-
tionwide, based on uniform and trans-
parent standards developed in cooperation 
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with municipal, industrial, and civil society 
stakeholders; 
(iii) identify waste management sys-
tems’ operational challenges and develop 
policy and programmatic solutions; 
(iv) end intentional or unintentional 
incentives for municipalities, industries, 
and individuals to improperly dispose of 
plastic waste; and 
(v) conduct outreach campaigns to 
raise public awareness of the importance of 
proper waste disposal; 
(B) to facilitate the involvement of munici-
palities and industries in improving solid waste 
reduction, collection, disposal, and reuse and re-
cycling projects, programs, and initiatives; 
(C) to partner with and provide technical 
assistance to investors, and national and local 
institutions, including private sector actors, to 
develop new business opportunities and solu-
tions to specifically reduce plastic waste and ex-
pand solid waste management best practices 
and waste collection services in foreign coun-
tries by— 
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(i) maximizing the number of people 
and businesses, in both rural and urban 
communities, receiving reliable solid waste 
management services and using safe and 
responsible practices for properly dis-
posing, including recycling or reusing 
waste materials; 
(ii) improving and expanding the ca-
pacity of foreign industries to responsibly 
manage waste; 
(iii) improving and expanding the ca-
pacity and transparency of tracking mech-
anisms for marine debris to reduce the im-
pacts on the marine environment; 
(iv) eliminating incentives that under-
mine responsible waste management prac-
tices and lead to improper waste disposal 
practices and leakage; 
(v) building the capacity of coun-
tries— 
(I) to monitor, regulate, and 
manage waste, plastic waste, and pol-
lution 
appropriately 
and 
trans-
parently; 
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(II) to encourage private invest-
ment in waste management, including 
collection services and responsible and 
beneficial reuse of plastic waste prod-
ucts; and 
(III) to encourage private invest-
ment, grow opportunities, and develop 
markets for recyclable, reusable, and 
repurposed plastic waste materials, 
and products with high levels of recy-
cled plastic content, at both national 
and local levels; and 
(vi) promoting safe and affordable re-
usable alternatives to disposable plastic 
products, to the extent practicable; and 
(D) to research, identify, and facilitate op-
portunities to promote collection and proper 
disposal of damaged or derelict fishing gear. 
(b) OFFICIALS SPECIFIED.—The officials specified in 
this subsection are the following: 
(1) The United States Trade Representative. 
(2) The Under Secretary. 
(3) The EPA Administrator. 
(4) The Director of the Trade and Development 
Agency. 
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(5) The President and the Board of Directors 
of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation or 
the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Direc-
tors of the United States International Development 
Finance Corporation, as appropriate. 
(6) The Chief Executive Officer and the Board 
of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corpora-
tion. 
(7) The heads of such other agencies as the 
Secretary of State considers appropriate. 
(c) PRIORITIZATION.—In carrying out subsection (a), 
the officials specified in subsection (b) shall prioritize as-
sistance to countries with— 
(1) rapidly developing economies; and 
(2) rivers and coastal areas that are the most 
severe sources of marine debris. 
(d) 
EFFECTIVENESS
MEASUREMENT.—In 
prioritizing and expediting efforts and assistance under 
this section, the officials specified in subsection (b) shall 
use clear, accountable, and metric-based targets to meas-
ure the effectiveness of guarantees and assistance in 
achieving the policy described in section 201. 
(e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion may be construed to authorize the modification of or 
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the imposition of limits on the portfolios of any agency 
or institution led by an official specified in subsection (b). 
SEC. 203. UNITED STATES LEADERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL 
FORA. 
In implementing the policy described in section 201, 
the President shall direct the United States representa-
tives to appropriate international bodies and conferences 
(such as the United Nations Environment Programme, 
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Asia Pa-
cific Economic Cooperation, the Group of 7, the Group 
of 20, and the Our Ocean Conference) to use the voice, 
vote, and influence of the United States, consistent with 
the broad foreign policy goals of the United States, to ad-
vocate that each such body— 
(1) commit to significantly increasing efforts to 
promote investment in well-designed waste manage-
ment and plastic waste elimination and mitigation 
projects and services that increase access to safe 
waste management and mitigation services, in part-
nership with the private sector and consistent with 
the constraints of other countries; 
(2) address the waste management needs of in-
dividuals and communities where access to municipal 
waste management services is historically impractical 
or cost-prohibitive; 
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(3) enhance coordination with the private sec-
tor— 
(A) to increase access to solid waste man-
agement services; 
(B) to utilize safe and affordable reusable 
alternatives to disposable plastic products, to 
the extent practicable; 
(C) to encourage and incentivize the use of 
recycled content; and 
(D) to grow economic opportunities and 
develop markets for recyclable, reusable, and 
repurposed plastic waste materials and other ef-
forts that support the circular economy; 
(4) provide technical assistance to foreign regu-
latory authorities and governments to remove unnec-
essary barriers to investment in otherwise commer-
cially-viable projects related to— 
(A) waste management including recycling; 
(B) the use of safe and affordable reusable 
alternatives to disposable plastic products, to 
the extent practicable; or 
(C) beneficial reuse of solid waste, plastic 
waste, plastic products, and refuse; 
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(5) use clear, accountable, and metric-based 
targets to measure the effectiveness of such projects; 
and 
(6) engage international partners in an existing 
multilateral forum (or, if necessary, establish 
through an international agreement a new multilat-
eral forum) to improve global cooperation on— 
(A) creating tangible metrics for evaluating 
efforts to reduce plastic waste and marine de-
bris; 
(B) developing and implementing best 
practices for collecting, disposing, recycling, and 
reusing plastic waste, including building capac-
ity for improving waste management at the na-
tional and subnational levels of foreign coun-
tries, particularly countries with little to no 
solid waste management systems, facilities, or 
policies in place; 
(C) encouraging the development of stand-
ards and practices, and increasing recycled con-
tent percentage requirements for disposable 
plastic products; 
(D) integrating tracking and monitoring 
systems into waste management systems; 
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(E) fostering research to improve scientific 
understanding of— 
(i) how microfibers and microplastics 
may affect marine ecosystems, human 
health and safety, and maritime activities; 
(ii) changes in the amount and re-
gional concentrations of plastic waste in 
the ocean, based on scientific modeling and 
forecasting; 
(iii) the role rivers, streams, and other 
inland waterways play in serving as con-
duits for mismanaged waste traveling from 
land to the ocean; 
(iv) effective means to eliminate 
present and future leakages of plastic 
waste into the environment; and 
(v) other related areas of research the 
United States representatives deem nec-
essary; 
(F) encouraging the World Bank and other 
international finance organizations to prioritize 
efforts to combat marine debris; 
(G) collaborating on technological advances 
in waste management and recycled plastics; 
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(H) growing economic opportunities and 
developing markets for recyclable, reusable, and 
repurposed plastic waste materials and other ef-
forts that support the circular economy; and 
(I) advising foreign countries, at both the 
national and subnational levels, on the develop-
ment and execution of regulatory policies, serv-
ices, including recycling and reuse of plastic, 
and laws pertaining to reducing the creation 
and the collection and safe management of— 
(i) solid waste; 
(ii) plastic waste; and 
(iii) marine debris. 
SEC. 204. ENHANCING INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH AND 
PARTNERSHIP OF UNITED STATES AGENCIES 
INVOLVED IN MARINE DEBRIS ACTIVITIES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress recognizes the success of 
the marine debris program of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration and the Trash-Free Waters 
program of the Environmental Protection Agency. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF EFFORTS TO BUILD FOR-
EIGN PARTNERSHIPS.—The Under Secretary and the 
EPA Administrator shall work with the Secretary of State 
and the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
International Development to build partnerships, as ap-
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propriate, with the governments of foreign countries and 
to support international efforts to combat marine debris. 
SEC. 205. NEGOTIATION OF NEW INTERNATIONAL AGREE-
MENTS. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to Con-
gress a report— 
(1) assessing the potential for negotiating new 
international agreements or creating a new inter-
national forum to reduce land-based sources of ma-
rine debris and derelict fishing gear, consistent with 
section 203; 
(2) describing the provisions that could be in-
cluded in such agreements; and 
(3) assessing potential parties to such agree-
ments. 
SEC. 206. CONSIDERATION OF MARINE DEBRIS IN NEGOTI-
ATING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS. 
In negotiating any relevant international agreement 
with any country or countries after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the President shall, as appropriate— 
(1) consider the impact of land-based sources of 
plastic waste and other solid waste from that coun-
try on the marine and aquatic environment; and 
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(2) ensure that the agreement strengthens ef-
forts to eliminate land-based sources of plastic waste 
and other solid waste from that country that impact 
the marine and aquatic environment. 
TITLE III—IMPROVING DOMES-
TIC 
INFRASTRUCTURE 
TO 
PREVENT MARINE DEBRIS 
SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) INTENDED USE PLAN.—The term ‘‘intended 
use plan’’ means a plan developed by a State under 
section 303(c)(1). 
(2) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means— 
(A) a State; 
(B) an Indian Tribe; 
(C) the District of Columbia; and 
(D) a territory or possession of the United 
States. 
(3) STATE LOAN FUND.—The term ‘‘State loan 
fund’’ means a waste management revolving loan 
fund 
established 
by 
a 
State 
under 
section 
303(a)(2)(B). 
(4) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 
has the meaning given the term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ in 
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section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
SEC. 302. STRATEGY FOR IMPROVING WASTE MANAGE-
MENT, RECYCLING, AND WATER MANAGE-
MENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the EPA Administrator 
shall, in consultation with stakeholders, develop a strategy 
to improve waste management and recycling infrastruc-
ture, particularly for waste management and recycling in-
frastructure systems not meeting national standards 
under subtitle D of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 
U.S.C. 6941 et seq.) and other waste standards, for the 
purpose of reducing potential leakage of plastic waste and 
other solid waste into waterways and oceans. 
(b) RELEASE.—On development of the strategy 
under subsection (a), the EPA Administrator shall— 
(1) distribute the strategy to States and units 
of local government; and 
(2) make the strategy publicly available for use 
by— 
(A) for-profit private waste management 
and recycling entities; and 
(B) other nongovernmental entities. 
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(c) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the strategy under subsection (a) should include 
guidance, for the purpose of reducing potential leakage of 
plastic waste and other solid waste into waterways and 
oceans, relating to— 
(1) the harmonization of waste collection proto-
cols; 
(2) the harmonization of recycling protocols for 
municipal recycling programs, including— 
(A) best practices for the collection of resi-
dential recyclables; 
(B) improved quality and sorting of recy-
clable materials through opportunities such 
as— 
(i) education and awareness pro-
grams; 
(ii) improved infrastructure, including 
new equipment and innovative technologies 
for processing of recyclable materials; 
(iii) enhanced markets for recycled 
material; and 
(iv) standardized measurements; and 
(C) increasing capacity for more types of 
plastic (including plastic films) and other mate-
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rials to be collected, processed, and recycled or 
repurposed into usable materials or products; 
(3) the development of new strategies and pro-
grams that prioritize engagement and cooperation 
with States and the private sector to expedite efforts 
and assistance in States to partner with, encourage, 
advise, and facilitate the development and execution, 
where practicable, of projects, programs, and initia-
tives— 
(A) to improve the capacity, security, and 
standards of operations of waste management 
systems; 
(B) to monitor and track how well waste 
management systems are functioning, based on 
uniform and transparent standards developed in 
cooperation with municipal, industrial, Federal, 
and civil society stakeholders; 
(C)(i) to identify the operational challenges 
of waste management systems; and 
(ii) to develop policy and programmatic so-
lutions to those challenges; and 
(D) to end intentional and unintentional 
incentives for municipalities, industries, and in-
dividuals to improperly dispose of municipal 
solid waste; and 
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(4) strengthening markets for products with 
high levels of recycled plastic content. 
(d) COMPLEMENTARY ACTIVITIES.—It is the sense of 
Congress that the strategy developed under subsection (a) 
should include guidance on activities that are complemen-
tary to the activities described in subsection (c), such as— 
(1) reducing waste at the source of the waste, 
including anti-litter initiatives; 
(2) developing effective trash provisions for— 
(A) national pollutant discharge elimi-
nation system permits issued to municipal sepa-
rate storm sewer systems under section 402 of 
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 
U.S.C. 1342); and 
(B) stormwater management plans; 
(3) capturing trash at stormwater inlets, 
stormwater outfalls, or in bodies of water; 
(4) providing education and outreach relating to 
trash movement and reduction; and 
(5) monitoring or modeling waste flows and the 
reduction of waste resulting from the implementa-
tion of best management practices. 
SEC. 303. WASTE MANAGEMENT STATE REVOLVING FUNDS. 
(a) BLOCK GRANTS TO STATES TO ESTABLISH LOAN 
FUNDS.— 
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—The EPA Administrator 
shall offer to enter into agreements with eligible 
States to make capitalization block grants, including 
letters of credit, to the States under this sub-
section— 
(A) to support improvements to local waste 
management systems, including traditional and 
innovative recycling and reuse technologies; 
(B) to assist local waste management au-
thorities in making improvements to local waste 
management systems— 
(i) to meet waste management stand-
ards under subtitle D of the Solid Waste 
Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6941 et seq.), 
particularly with respect to systems falling 
significantly 
below 
national 
standards 
under that subtitle, as determined by the 
EPA Administrator; and 
(ii) to implement the strategy devel-
oped under section 302(a); 
(C) to deploy waste interceptor tech-
nologies, such as ‘‘trash wheels’’ and litter 
traps, to manage the collection and cleanup of 
aggregated waste from waterways; and 
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(D) for such other purposes as the EPA 
Administrator determines to be appropriate. 
(2) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a 
capitalization block grant under this subsection, a 
State shall— 
(A) enter into a capitalization agreement 
with the EPA Administrator under paragraph 
(1); and 
(B) establish a waste management revolv-
ing State loan fund. 
(3) DEPOSIT.—Funds from a capitalization 
block grant to a State under this subsection shall be 
deposited in the State loan fund established by the 
State. 
(4) PERIOD.—Funds from a capitalization block 
grant to a State under this subsection shall be avail-
able to the State for obligation— 
(A) during the fiscal year for which the 
funds are authorized; and 
(B) during the following fiscal year. 
(5) ALLOTMENT.—Funds made available to 
carry out this section shall be allotted to States at 
the discretion of the EPA Administrator. 
(6) REALLOTMENT.—Any funds not obligated 
by a State by the last day of the period for which 
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the block grants are available shall be reallotted in 
accordance with paragraph (5). 
(b) USE OF FUNDS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Amounts deposited in a 
State loan fund, including loan repayments and in-
terest earned on the amounts, shall be used only— 
(A) for providing loans or loan guarantees; 
(B) for outcomes-based or performance 
payments; or 
(C) as a source of reserve and security for 
leveraged loans. 
(2) LIMITATIONS.—Loans or loan guarantees 
made by a State under paragraph (1)(A)— 
(A) may be used only for expenditures of 
a type or category that the EPA Administrator 
has determined, through guidance, will— 
(i) facilitate compliance with an in-
tended use plan; or 
(ii) otherwise significantly further the 
purposes described in subparagraphs (A) 
through (C) of subsection (a)(1); and 
(B) may not be used for the acquisition of 
real property or an interest in real property, 
unless the acquisition is— 
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(i) integral to an intended use plan; 
and 
(ii) from a willing seller. 
(c) INTENDED USE PLANS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—After providing for public 
review and comment, each State that has entered 
into a capitalization agreement under subsection 
(a)(1) annually shall prepare a plan that identifies 
the intended uses of the amounts available from the 
State loan fund of the State. 
(2) CONTENTS.—An intended use plan shall in-
clude— 
(A) a list of the projects to be carried out 
by entities receiving the loans in the first fiscal 
year that begins after the date of the intended 
use plan, including a description of the project; 
(B) a description of how the funds will 
support disadvantaged communities; 
(C) the criteria and methods established 
for the use of the funds; and 
(D) a description of the financial status of 
the State loan fund and the short- and long- 
term goals of the State loan fund. 
(3) LIST OF PROJECTS.—Each State, after no-
tice and opportunity for public comment, shall pub-
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lish, and periodically update, a list of projects in the 
State that are eligible for assistance under this sec-
tion, including— 
(A) the priority assigned to each project; 
and 
(B) to the maximum extent practicable, 
the expected funding schedule for each project. 
(d) FUND MANAGEMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each State loan fund shall 
be established, maintained, and credited with repay-
ments and interest, and the fund corpus shall be 
available in perpetuity in accordance with this sec-
tion. 
(2) INVESTMENT AUTHORIZED.—To the extent 
amounts in the State loan fund of a State are not 
required for current obligation or expenditure, the 
amounts shall be invested in interest bearing obliga-
tions. 
(e) STATE
CONTRIBUTIONS.—Each capitalization 
agreement entered into under subsection (a)(1) shall re-
quire that the State deposit in the State loan fund from 
State funds an amount equal to not less than 20 percent 
of the total amount of the block grant to be made to the 
State on or before the date on which the block grant pay-
ment is made to the State. 
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(f) ADMINISTRATION OF STATE LOAN FUND.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Each State annually may 
use not greater than 4 percent of the funds allotted 
to the State under this section to cover the reason-
able costs of administration of the programs under 
this section, including the recovery of reasonable 
costs expended to establish a State loan fund that 
are incurred after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(2) GUIDANCE AND REGULATIONS.—The EPA 
Administrator shall issue guidance and promulgate 
regulations as are necessary to carry out this sec-
tion, including guidance and regulations— 
(A) to ensure that each State commits and 
expends funds allotted to the State under this 
section as efficiently as practicable in accord-
ance with this section and applicable State law; 
(B) to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse; 
and 
(C) to ensure that the States receiving 
block grants under this section use accounting, 
audit, and fiscal procedures that conform to 
generally accepted accounting standards. 
(3) STATE REPORT.—Not less frequently than 
every 2 years, each State administering a State loan 
fund under this section shall submit to the EPA Ad-
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ministrator a report describing the activities carried 
out under this section, including the findings of the 
most recent audit of the State loan fund and the en-
tire State allotment. 
(4) AUDITS.—The EPA Administrator shall pe-
riodically audit all State loan funds established by, 
and all other amounts allotted to, the States in ac-
cordance with procedures established by the Comp-
troller General of the United States. 
(g) APPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL LAW.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The EPA Administrator 
shall ensure that all laborers and mechanics em-
ployed on projects funded directly, or assisted in 
whole or in part, by a State loan fund established 
by this section shall be paid wages at rates not less 
than those prevailing on projects of a character simi-
lar in the locality as determined by the Secretary of 
Labor in accordance with subchapter IV of chapter 
31 of part A of subtitle II of title 40, United States 
Code. 
(2) AUTHORITY.—With respect to the labor 
standards specified in paragraph (1), the Secretary 
of Labor shall have the authority and functions set 
forth in Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 
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(64 Stat. 1267; 5 U.S.C. App.) and section 3145 of 
title 40, United States Code. 
(h) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
such amounts as are necessary for each of fiscal years 
2020 through 2025. 
SEC. 304. GRANT PROGRAMS. 
(a) WASTE MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT 
PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The EPA Administrator 
may provide grants to units of local government, In-
dian Tribes, and local waste management systems— 
(A) to assist those entities in making im-
provements to waste management systems— 
(i) to meet waste management stand-
ards established under subtitle D of the 
Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6941 
et seq.); and 
(ii) to implement the strategy devel-
oped section 302(a); and 
(B) to support improvements to local waste 
management systems, including traditional and 
innovative recycling and reuse technologies. 
(2) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to receive a 
grant under paragraph (1), an applicant shall sub-
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