Plastic Pollution Control Act of 1987
Latest action. subcommitteeA smaller panel inside a standing committee with jurisdiction over a slice of its subject matter. Most hearings and the first markup usually happen here.Read the full definition (opens a new tab) on Environmental Protection. Approved for full committee consideration an original bill in lieu of this measure.
Plastic Pollution Control Act of 1987 - Title I: Plastic Pollution Control Measures - Prohibits the disposal of plastic products into waters under the jurisdiction of the United States, except as necessary for safety, through unavoidable accidents, or pursuant to a permit under the Marine Protection Research Sanctuaries Act or Clean Water Act. Requires the President to ensure the compliance of public vessels with this requirement to the extent practicable. Establishes criminal and civil penalties for violations of this Act, based upon several factors, including the circumstances, extent of the violation, and the resulting economic benefit. Makes all Federal agencies responsible for enforcing this Act. Authorizes citizen suits against violators or public officials for failure to act. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to study methods to reduce or eliminate the disposal of plastics in U.S. waters, requiring a report to the Congress within six months. Directs the Administrator, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a public outreach program to educate the public about the harms caused by the improper disposal of plastics, including penalties under this Act. Title II: Implementation of Annex V - Directs the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to administer and enforce the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 (Annex V) which prohibits the disposal of any material from a ship. Title III: Relation to Other Law - States that this Act does not preempt or supersede other Federal or State laws. Title IV: Authorization - Authorizes appropriations.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in Senate" stage on March 3, 1987. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on October 22, 1987: Subcommittee on Environmental Protection. Approved for full committee consideration an original bill in lieu of this measure.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the Senate
- Passage by the House
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 100th Congress (1987-88), 713 of the 9,582 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 7.4 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
FRANK LAUTENBERG (D-NJ) introduced it on March 3, 1987, and 3 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They come from both major parties: 1 Democrat, 2 Republicans.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on March 3, 1987, 14436 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 14203 days ago, on October 22, 1987.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 100th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1989 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- SenateIn committee, no floor vote yet
- HouseAwaits Senate passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers