Rep. Miller Applauds Senate Passage of Legislation Banning Microbeads from Consumer Products

Press Release

Today, Rep. Candice Miller (MI-10) issued the following statement after Senate passage of the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 (H.R. 1321), legislation she cosponsored to ban the production and distribution of household products that contain synthetic microbeads:

"Microbeads pose a serious threat to the health of our Great Lakes. Added to personal care products like exfoliating soaps and scrubs, these tiny synthetic plastic microbeads pass right through our water filtration and treatment plants and attract other pollutants in the Lakes before being consumed by fish and wildlife, thus becoming part of our food chain.

"Today, the Senate passed the Microbead-Free Waters Act, legislation that creates a nationwide ban on microbeads in all consumer products. I applaud the Senate's swift consideration and adoption of this critical legislation, which now heads to the President for his signature."

The Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 (H.R. 1321), introduced by Rep. Fred Upton (MI-6) and Rep. Frank Pallone (NJ-6), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, amends the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to ban products that contain synthetic plastic microbeads starting July 1, 2018.

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