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[Page S5916]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
OCEAN PLASTIC POLLUTION
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, oceans, lakes, and rivers across our planet
are filled with debris that litters shorelines and threatens public
health, navigation safety, wildlife, and the environment. This debris
causes serious damage to the health of ocean ecosystems and marine life
and, due to ocean currents, often travels great distances and poses
threats to nations that are not responsible for the mismanagement of
such waste.
One of the most common forms of marine debris is plastic, which is
abundant in our everyday lives, often in the form of single-use
packaging. Countless seabirds, sea turtles, seals, and other marine
animals are killed each year after ingesting plastic or getting
entangled in it. And most commonly used plastics never fully degrade
but, rather, break down into smaller and smaller pieces, known as
microplastics, which pose unique problems of their own.
The negative health, environmental, and economic impacts of marine
pollution, both to countries that discharge waste and to those on whose
shorelines such waste washes up, are steadily mounting. Billions of
pounds of plastic and other debris can be found in our oceans and
waterways.
In the Senate version of the fiscal year 2020 Department of State and
Foreign Operations appropriations bill, which was reported unanimously
by the Appropriations Committee on September 26, the committee
recommended funding to respond to this global threat. In this bill, the
committee directs the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for
International Development to redouble their diplomatic and programmatic
support for regional and global efforts to address this urgent problem,
including through grants, technical assistance, and new multilateral
mechanisms, and provides $10 million to support such efforts.
While the funding provided is minuscule compared to what is needed,
the committee's intent is clear. The United States must increase its
leadership and visibility on this issue and become more engaged in
efforts to prevent and mitigate the impacts of marine debris. The
committee recognizes that the United States cannot address this problem
alone. Nothing connects countries of the world more than oceans and
waterways, and strong international cooperation is necessary to
guarantee their conservation for generations to come. It is imperative
that the United States increases its engagement both bilaterally and
multilaterally to tackle this challenge.
It is not an understatement to say that what I am speaking about--the
protection of the oceans, lakes, and rivers of our planet--is essential
to our existence. I hope other Senators will join me, Senator
Whitehouse, and others who have taken up this cause in calling for
additional resources to address ocean plastic pollution.
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