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Washington, D.C. – Congressmen Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Eliot Engel (D-NY), Lead Republican and Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, received three significant endorsements for their bipartisan legislation to reduce plastic waste in our oceans. The Partnering and Leveraging Assistance to Stop Trash for Cleaner Seas Act, or PLASTICS act, aims to reduce plastic waste in the ocean by supporting integrated waste management systems in developing countries. 

World Wildlife Fund: “With eight million metric tons of plastic entering our oceans each year, mismanaged plastic waste is profoundly threatening people and the environment, especially our rivers and oceans. The PLASTICS Act will strengthen our country’s international leadership when it comes to preventing, measuring, and managing plastic waste. WWF welcomes this bipartisan legislation and looks forward to working with Congress to build on this effort. With strong commitments from government and industry, we can end additional plastics in nature and ensure the safety of our communities and the environment.” – James Mazzarella, Senior Vice President, Policy and Government Affairs

American Chemistry Council: “The American Chemistry Council strongly supports the recently introduced PLASTICS Act, which seeks to reduce ocean plastics by encouraging innovative, market-based solutions and catalyzing private capital to enable the development of integrated waste management systems and strengthen markets for recycled materials. Each of these factors is critical for keeping plastics out of the ocean. Importantly, this legislation also would support local economic development through programs that assist community members, particularly women, youth and marginalized populations, in deriving benefits from waste products and participation in waste management systems.” – Steve Russell, Vice President of ACC’s Plastics Division

Wildlife Conservation Society: “The Wildlife Conservation Society commends House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel and Ranking Member Michael McCaul for their leadership in introducing the Partnering and Leveraging Assistance to Stop Trash for Cleaner Seas (PLASTICS) Act to reduce plastic pollution in the oceans.  Plastic is a significant threat to sea turtles, whales, fish, birds and other wildlife.  The legislation introduced in the House strengthens waste management at the source, which in turn will reduce the amount of plastic that reaches our oceans.” – Kelly Keenan Aylward, Washington Office Director

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