[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2372 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 239
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2372
To enhance global engagement to combat marine debris, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 31, 2019
Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Whitehouse, Ms. Collins,
Mr. Booker, Mr. Coons, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Merkley, Mr.
Cardin, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Cruz) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
September 26, 2019
Reported by Mr. Risch, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To enhance global engagement to combat marine debris, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Save Our
Seas 2.0: Enhanced Global Engagement to Combat Marine Debris
Act''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Definitions.--In this Act:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Circular economy.--The term ``circular
economy'' means an economy that uses a systems-focused approach
and involves industrial processes and economic activities
that--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) are restorative or regenerative by
design;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) enable resources used in such
processes and activities to maintain their highest
values for as long as possible; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) aim for the elimination of waste
through the superior design of materials, products, and
systems (including business models).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) EPA administrator.--The term ``EPA
Administrator'' means the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Marine debris.--The term ``marine debris'' has
the meaning given that term in section 7 of the Marine Debris
Act (33 U.S.C. 1956).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) Marine debris event.--The term ``marine debris
event'' means an event or related events that affects or may
imminently affect the United States involving--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) marine debris caused by a natural
event, including a tsunami, flood, landslide,
hurricane, or other natural source;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) distinct, nonrecurring marine debris,
including derelict vessel groundings and container
spills, that have immediate or long-term impacts on
habitats with high ecological, economic, or human-use
values; or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) marine debris caused by an intentional
or grossly negligent act or acts that causes
substantial economic or environmental harm.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) Post-consumer materials management.--The term
``post-consumer materials management'' means the systems,
operation, supervision, and aftercare of processes and
equipment for post-consumer materials, including --</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) collection;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) transport;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) safe disposal of waste, such as post-
consumer materials that cannot be recovered, reused,
recycled, repaired, or refurbished; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) systems and processes related to
recovering, recycling, reusing, repairing, or
refurbishing post-consumer materials.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) Under secretary.--The term ``Under Secretary''
means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
and Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY ON INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION TO
COMBAT MARINE DEBRIS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> It is the policy of the United States to partner, consult,
and coordinate with foreign governments (at the national and
subnational levels), civil society, international organizations,
international financial institutions, subnational coastal communities,
commercial and recreational fishing industry leaders, and the private
sector, in a concerted effort--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) to increase knowledge and raise awareness
about--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the linkages between the sources of
plastic waste, mismanaged waste and post-consumer
materials, and marine debris; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the upstream and downstream causes and
effects of plastic waste, mismanaged waste and post-
consumer materials, and marine debris on marine
environments, marine wildlife, human health, and
economic development;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) to support--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) strengthening systems for recovering,
managing, reusing (to the extent practicable), and
recycling plastic waste, marine debris, and microfiber
pollution in the world's oceans, emphasizing upstream
post-consumer materials management solutions--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) to mitigate plastic waste at
its source; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) to prevent leakage of plastic
waste into the environment;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) advancing the utilization and
availability of safe and affordable reusable
alternatives to disposable plastic products in
commerce, to the extent practicable, and with
consideration for the potential impacts of such
alternatives, and other efforts to prevent marine
debris;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) deployment of and access to advanced
technologies to capture value from post-consumer
materials and municipal solid waste streams through
mechanical and other recycling systems;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) access to information on best
practices in post-consumer materials management,
options for post-consumer materials management systems
financing, and options for participating in public-
private partnerships; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) implementation of management measures
to reduce derelict fishing gear, the loss of fishing
gear, and other sources of pollution generated from
marine activities and to increase proper disposal and
recycling of fishing gear; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) to work cooperatively with international
partners--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) on establishing--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) measurable targets for
reducing marine debris, lost fishing gear, and
plastic waste from all sources; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) action plans to achieve those
targets with a mechanism to provide regular
reporting;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) to promote consumer education,
awareness, and outreach to prevent marine
debris;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) to reduce marine debris by improving
advance planning for marine debris events and responses
to such events; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) to share best practices in post-
consumer materials management systems to prevent the
entry of plastic waste into the environment.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 3. PRIORITIZATION OF EFFORTS AND ASSISTANCE TO COMBAT
MARINE DEBRIS AND IMPROVE PLASTIC WASTE
MANAGEMENT.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) lead and coordinate efforts to implement the
policy described in section 2; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) develop strategies and implement programs that
prioritize engagement and cooperation with foreign governments,
subnational and local stakeholders, and the private sector to
expedite efforts and assistance in foreign countries--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) to partner with, encourage, advise and
facilitate national and subnational governments on the
development and execution, where practicable, of
national projects, programs and initiatives to--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) improve the capacity,
security, and standards of operations of post-
consumer materials management
systems;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) monitor and track how well
post-consumer materials management systems are
functioning nationwide, based on uniform and
transparent standards developed in cooperation
with municipal, industrial, and civil society
stakeholders;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) identify the operational
challenges of post-consumer materials
management systems and develop policy and
programmatic solutions;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iv) end intentional or
unintentional incentives for municipalities,
industries, and individuals to improperly
dispose of plastic waste; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (v) conduct outreach campaigns to
raise public awareness of the importance of
proper waste disposal;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) to facilitate the involvement of
municipalities and industries in improving solid waste
reduction, collection, disposal, and reuse and
recycling projects, programs, and
initiatives;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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 solutions to
specifically reduce plastic waste and expand solid
waste and post-consumer materials management best
practices in foreign countries by--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) maximizing the number of
people and businesses, in both rural and urban
communities, receiving reliable solid waste and
post-consumer materials management
services;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) improving and expanding the
capacity of foreign industries to responsibly
employ post-consumer materials management
practices;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) improving and expanding the
capacity and transparency of tracking
mechanisms for marine debris to reduce the
impacts on the marine environment;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iv) eliminating incentives that
undermine responsible post-consumer materials
management practices and lead to improper waste
disposal practices and leakage;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (v) building the capacity of
countries--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (I) to monitor, regulate,
and manage waste, post-consumer
materials and plastic waste, and
pollution appropriately and
transparently;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (II) to encourage private
investment in post-consumer materials
management; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (III) to encourage private
investment, grow opportunities, and
develop markets for recyclable,
reusable, and repurposed plastic waste
and post-consumer materials, and
products with high levels of recycled
plastic content, at both national and
local levels; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (vi) promoting safe and affordable
reusable alternatives to disposable plastic
products, to the extent practicable;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) to research, identify, and facilitate
opportunities to promote collection and proper disposal
of damaged or derelict fishing gear.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Officials Specified.--The officials specified in this
subsection are the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) The United States Trade
Representative.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) The Under Secretary.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) The EPA Administrator.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) The Director of the Trade and Development
Agency.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) The President and the Board of Directors of
the Overseas Private Investment Corporation or the Chief
Executive Officer and the Board of Directors of the United
States International Development Finance Corporation, as
appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) The Chief Executive Officer and the Board of
Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) The heads of such other agencies as the
Secretary of State considers appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Prioritization.--In carrying out subsection (a), the
officials specified in subsection (b) shall prioritize assistance to
countries with--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) rapidly developing economies; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) rivers and coastal areas that are the most
severe sources of marine debris.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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 measure the effectiveness of guarantees and assistance
in achieving the policy described in section 2.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be
construed to authorize the modification of or the imposition of limits
on the portfolios of any agency or institution led by an official
specified in subsection (b).</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 4. UNITED STATES LEADERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL
FORA.</DELETED>
<DELETED> In implementing the policy described in section 2, the
President shall direct the United States representatives to appropriate
international bodies and conferences (such as the United Nations
Environment Programme, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the
Asia Pacific 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 advocate that each such body--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) commit to significantly increasing efforts to
promote investment in well-designed post-consumer materials
management and plastic waste elimination and mitigation
projects and services that increase access to safe post-
consumer materials management and mitigation services, in
partnership with the private sector and consistent with the
constraints of other countries;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) address the post-consumer materials management
needs of individuals and communities where access to municipal
post-consumer materials management services is historically
impractical or cost-prohibitive;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) enhance coordination with the private sector--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) to increase access to solid waste and
post-consumer materials management services;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) to utilize safe and affordable
reusable alternatives to disposable plastic products,
to the extent practicable;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) to encourage and incentivize the use
of recycled content; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) to grow economic opportunities and
develop markets for recyclable, reusable, and
repurposed plastic waste materials and other efforts
that support the circular economy;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) provide technical assistance to foreign
regulatory authorities and governments to remove unnecessary
barriers to investment in otherwise commercially viable
projects related to--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) post-consumer materials
management;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the use of safe and affordable
reusable alternatives to disposable plastic products,
to the extent practicable; or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) beneficial reuse of solid waste,
plastic waste, post-consumer materials, plastic
products, and refuse;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) use clear, accountable, and metric-based
targets to measure the effectiveness of such projects;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) engage international partners in an existing
multilateral forum (or, if necessary, establish through an
international agreement a new multilateral forum) to improve
global cooperation on--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) creating tangible metrics for
evaluating efforts to reduce plastic waste and marine
debris;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) developing and implementing best
practices for collecting, disposing, recycling, and
reusing plastic waste and post-consumer materials,
including building capacity for improving post-consumer
materials management at the national and subnational
levels of foreign countries, particularly countries
with little to no solid waste or post-consumer
materials management systems, facilities, or policies
in place;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) encouraging the development of
standards and practices, and increasing recycled
content percentage requirements for disposable plastic
products;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) integrating tracking and monitoring
systems into post-consumer materials management
systems;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) fostering research to improve
scientific understanding of--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) how microfibers and
microplastics may affect marine ecosystems,
human health and safety, and maritime
activities;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) changes in the amount and
regional concentrations of plastic waste in the
ocean, based on scientific modeling and
forecasting;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) the role rivers, streams,
and other inland waterways play in serving as
conduits for mismanaged waste traveling from
land to the ocean;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iv) effective means to eliminate
present and future leakages of plastic waste
into the environment; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (v) other related areas of
research the United States representatives deem
necessary;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (F) encouraging the World Bank and other
international finance organizations to prioritize
efforts to combat marine debris;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (G) collaborating on technological
advances in post-consumer materials management and
recycled plastics;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (H) growing economic opportunities and
developing markets for recyclable, reusable, and
repurposed plastic waste and post-consumer materials
and other efforts that support the circular economy;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (I) advising foreign countries, at both
the national and subnational levels, on the development
and execution of regulatory policies, services,
including recycling and reuse of plastic, and laws
pertaining to reducing the creation and the collection
and safe management of--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) solid waste;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) post-consumer
materials;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) plastic waste; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iv) marine debris.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 5. ENHANCING INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH AND PARTNERSHIP OF
UNITED STATES AGENCIES INVOLVED IN MARINE DEBRIS
ACTIVITIES.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Authorization of Efforts To Build Foreign
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
appropriate, with the governments of foreign countries and to support
international efforts to combat marine debris.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 6. NEGOTIATION OF NEW INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to Congress a report--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) assessing the potential for negotiating new
international agreements or creating a new international forum
to reduce land-based sources of marine debris and derelict
fishing gear, consistent with section 4;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) describing the provisions that could be
included in such agreements; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) assessing potential parties to such
agreements.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 7. CONSIDERATION OF MARINE DEBRIS IN NEGOTIATING
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> In negotiating any relevant international agreement with
any country or countries after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the President shall, as appropriate--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) consider the impact of land-based sources of
plastic waste and other solid waste from that country on the
marine and aquatic environment; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) ensure that the agreement strengthens efforts
to eliminate land-based sources of plastic waste and other
solid waste from that country that impact the marine and
aquatic environment.</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; DEFINITIONS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Save Our Seas 2.0:
Enhanced Global Engagement to Combat Marine Debris Act''.
(b) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Circular economy.--The term ``circular economy'' means
an economy that uses a systems-focused approach and involves
industrial processes and economic activities that--
(A) are restorative or regenerative by design;
(B) enable resources used in such processes and
activities to maintain their highest values for as long
as possible; and
(C) aim for the elimination of waste through the
superior design of materials, products, and systems
(including business models).
(2) EPA administrator.--The term ``EPA Administrator''
means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(3) Marine debris.--The term ``marine debris'' has the
meaning given that term in section 7 of the Marine Debris Act
(33 U.S.C. 1956).
(4) Marine debris event.--The term ``marine debris event''
means an event or related events that affects or may imminently
affect the United States involving--
(A) marine debris caused by a natural event,
including a tsunami, flood, landslide, hurricane, or
other natural source;
(B) distinct, nonrecurring marine debris, including
derelict vessel groundings and container spills, that
have immediate or long-term impacts on habitats with
high ecological, economic, or human-use values; or
(C) marine debris caused by an intentional or
grossly negligent act or acts that causes substantial
economic or environmental harm.
(5) Post-consumer materials management.--The term ``post-
consumer materials management'' means the systems, operation,
supervision, and aftercare of processes and equipment for post-
consumer materials, including --
(A) collection;
(B) transport;
(C) safe disposal of waste, such as post-consumer
materials that cannot be recovered, reused, recycled,
repaired, or refurbished; and
(D) systems and processes related to recovering,
recycling, reusing, repairing, or refurbishing post-
consumer materials.
(6) Under secretary.--The term ``Under Secretary'' means
the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY ON INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION TO COMBAT
MARINE DEBRIS.
It is the policy of the United States to partner, consult, and
coordinate with foreign governments (at the national and subnational
levels), civil society, international organizations, international
financial institutions, subnational coastal communities, commercial and
recreational fishing industry leaders, and the private sector, in a
concerted effort--
(1) to increase knowledge and raise awareness about--
(A) the linkages between the sources of plastic
waste, mismanaged waste and post-consumer materials,
and marine debris; and
(B) the upstream and downstream causes and effects
of plastic waste, mismanaged waste and post-consumer
materials, and marine debris on marine environments,
marine wildlife, human health, and economic
development;
(2) to support--
(A) strengthening systems for recovering, managing,
reusing (to the extent practicable), and recycling
plastic waste, marine debris, and microfiber pollution
in the world's oceans, emphasizing upstream post-
consumer materials management solutions--
(i) to mitigate plastic waste at its
source; and
(ii) to prevent leakage of plastic waste
into the environment;
(B) advancing the utilization and availability of
safe and affordable reusable alternatives to disposable
plastic products in commerce, to the extent
practicable, and with consideration for the potential
impacts of such alternatives, and other efforts to
prevent marine debris;
(C) deployment of and access to advanced
technologies to capture value from post-consumer
materials and municipal solid waste streams through
mechanical and other recycling systems;
(D) access to information on best practices in
post-consumer materials management, options for post-
consumer materials management systems financing, and
options for participating in public-private
partnerships; and
(E) implementation of management measures to reduce
derelict fishing gear, the loss of fishing gear, and
other sources of pollution generated 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 targets
with a mechanism to provide regular reporting;
(B) to promote consumer education, awareness, and
outreach to prevent marine debris;
(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 post-consumer
materials management systems to prevent the entry of
plastic waste into the environment.
SEC. 3. 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 2; and
(2) develop strategies and implement programs that
prioritize engagement and cooperation with foreign governments,
subnational and local stakeholders, 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 practicable, of
national projects, programs and initiatives to--
(i) improve the capacity, security, and
standards of operations of post-consumer
materials management systems;
(ii) monitor and track how well post-
consumer materials management systems are
functioning nationwide, based on uniform and
transparent standards developed in cooperation
with municipal, industrial, and civil society
stakeholders;
(iii) identify the operational challenges
of post-consumer materials management systems
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 municipalities
and industries in improving solid waste reduction,
collection, disposal, and reuse and recycling 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 solutions to
specifically reduce plastic waste and expand solid
waste and post-consumer materials management best
practices in foreign countries by--
(i) maximizing the number of people and
businesses, in both rural and urban
communities, receiving reliable solid waste and
post-consumer materials management services;
(ii) improving and expanding the capacity
of foreign industries to responsibly employ
post-consumer materials management practices;
(iii) improving and expanding the capacity
and transparency of tracking mechanisms for
marine debris to reduce the impacts on the
marine environment;
(iv) eliminating incentives that undermine
responsible post-consumer materials management
practices and lead to improper waste disposal
practices and leakage;
(v) building the capacity of countries--
(I) to monitor, regulate, and
manage waste, post-consumer materials
and plastic waste, and pollution
appropriately and transparently,
including imports of plastic waste from
the United States and other countries;
(II) to encourage private
investment in post-consumer materials
management; and
(III) to encourage private
investment, grow opportunities, and
develop markets for recyclable,
reusable, and repurposed plastic waste
and post-consumer materials, and
products with high levels of recycled
plastic content, at both national and
local levels; and
(vi) promoting safe and affordable reusable
alternatives to disposable plastic products, to
the extent practicable; and
(D) to research, identify, and facilitate
opportunities 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.
(5) The President and the Board of Directors of the
Overseas Private Investment Corporation or the Chief Executive
Officer and the Board of Directors of the United States
International Development Finance Corporation, as appropriate.
(6) The Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors
of the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
(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 assistance to countries
with, and regional organizations in regions with--
(1) rapidly developing economies; and
(2) rivers and coastal areas that are the most severe
sources of marine debris, as identified by the best available
science.
(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 measure the effectiveness of guarantees and assistance in achieving
the policy described in section 2.
(e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed
to authorize the modification of or the imposition of limits on the
portfolios of any agency or institution led by an official specified in
subsection (b).
SEC. 4. UNITED STATES LEADERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL FORA.
In implementing the policy described in section 2, the President
shall direct the United States representatives to appropriate
international bodies and conferences (including the United Nations
Environment Programme, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Group of 7, the Group of 20, the
Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), 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 advocate that each such body--
(1) commit to significantly increasing efforts to promote
investment in well-designed post-consumer materials management
and plastic waste elimination and mitigation projects and
services that increase access to safe post-consumer materials
management and mitigation services, in partnership with the
private sector and consistent with the constraints of other
countries;
(2) address the post-consumer materials management needs of
individuals and communities where access to municipal post-
consumer materials management services is historically
impractical or cost-prohibitive;
(3) enhance coordination with the private sector--
(A) to increase access to solid waste and post-
consumer materials management 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 efforts that support
the circular economy;
(4) provide technical assistance to foreign regulatory
authorities and governments to remove unnecessary barriers to
investment in otherwise commercially-viable projects related
to--
(A) post-consumer materials management;
(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,
post-consumer materials, plastic products, and refuse;
(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 multilateral forum) to improve
global cooperation on--
(A) creating tangible metrics for evaluating
efforts to reduce plastic waste and marine debris;
(B) developing and implementing best practices for
collecting, disposing, recycling, and reusing plastic
waste and post-consumer materials, including building
capacity for improving post-consumer materials
management at the national and subnational levels of
foreign countries, particularly countries with little
to no solid waste or post-consumer materials management
systems, facilities, or policies in place;
(C) encouraging the development of standards and
practices, and increasing recycled content percentage
requirements for disposable plastic products;
(D) integrating tracking and monitoring systems
into post-consumer materials management systems;
(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 regional
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 conduits
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 necessary;
(F) encouraging the World Bank and other
international finance organizations to prioritize
efforts to combat marine debris;
(G) collaborating on technological advances in
post-consumer materials management and recycled
plastics;
(H) growing economic opportunities and developing
markets for recyclable, reusable, and repurposed
plastic waste and post-consumer materials and other
efforts that support the circular economy; and
(I) advising foreign countries, at both the
national and subnational levels, on the development and
execution of regulatory policies, services, including
recycling and reuse of plastic, and laws pertaining to
reducing the creation and the collection and safe
management of--
(i) solid waste;
(ii) post-consumer materials;
(iii) plastic waste; and
(iv) marine debris.
SEC. 5. 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 Foreign 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 appropriate, with
the governments of foreign countries and to support international
efforts to combat marine debris.
SEC. 6. NEGOTIATION OF NEW INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of State shall submit to Congress a report--
(1) assessing the potential for negotiating new
international agreements or creating a new international forum
to reduce land-based sources of marine debris and derelict
fishing gear, consistent with section 4;
(2) describing the provisions that could be included in
such agreements; and
(3) assessing potential parties to such agreements.
SEC. 7. CONSIDERATION OF MARINE DEBRIS IN NEGOTIATING INTERNATIONAL
AGREEMENTS.
In negotiating any relevant international agreement with any
country or countries after the date of the enactment 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 country on the marine and
aquatic environment; and
(2) ensure that the agreement strengthens efforts to
eliminate land-based sources of plastic waste and other solid
waste from that country that impact the marine and aquatic
environment.
Calendar No. 239
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2372
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To enhance global engagement to combat marine debris, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
September 26, 2019
Reported with an amendment
Save Our Seas 2.0: Enhanced Global Engagement to Combat Marine Debris Act
#2372 | S Congress #116
Policy Area: International Affairs
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovationsAquatic ecologyConsumer affairsEconomic developmentEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchForeign aid and international reliefHazardous wastes and toxic substancesInternational law and treatiesInternational organizations and cooperationLakes and riversMarine and coastal resources, fisheriesMarine pollutionMultilateral development programsSolid waste and recyclingWater qualityWildlife conservation and habitat protection
Last Action: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 239. (9/26/2019)
Bill Text Source: Congress.gov
Summary and Impacts
Original Text