Markup of Sixteen Bills

Okay. The committee will come to order and I will recognize myself for an opening statement.

Alright.

Uh, good morning and welcome to today's full committee mark-up. Many of the bills we are discussing today equip American consumers and businesses to confidently make use of the technologies we need to lead uh the twenty-first century. From the outset of the hundred and nineteenth Congress, we are prioritized setting a policy course that American's global leadership for the next two hundred and fifty years. Bills like the Open, the AI Open Source Leadership Act and the American Quantum Competitiveness Act ensure that American companies can develop and deploy event technologies that will determine the future of the global economy. While our job creators across all sectors of the economy are the envy of the world, some of our allies across the Atlantic use punitive regulations beyond their authority to hold back American success. The Protect USA Act protects American businesses from heavy-handed foreign regulations that will drive up costs for American consumers. We will also consider, a ranking member of Pilon, in my bill, the SA the SAT Streamlining Act, satellite streamlining act, to keep America at the leading edge of the space economy. We appreciate the feedback we received from stakeholders and the FCC to align this bill with the FCC space modernization item adopted in July. We are looking forward to advancing this bill on a bipartisan basis and continue American leadership in the space economy. And to fully take advantage of this era of innovation, every American deserves access to fast, secure, reliable networks that will power advanced computing and digital applications. By updating broadband maps to include agriculture areas and creating a national broadband plan we are getting closer to connecting every community so they can fully participate in the digital economy and pursue the American dream. Earl, I urge all of my colleagues to support these and all the other bills before us today. And I yield to my good friend from New Jersey, the ranking member, Mister Pallone, for five minutes for an opening statement.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Today, the committee is marking up sixteen bills out of the Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade subcommittee and our Communications and Tech subcommittee. I'm pleased to see many bills included on today's mark-up that will promote and encourage innovation and American global competitiveness. And that includes bills to study the memory chip shortage and the influence of Chinese manufacturers and suppliers in our domestic auto supply as well as legislation to ensure that chips and science funding close to American companies and our allies not our adversaries. Unfortunately, today's mark-up also includes the Protect USA Act, which will impede rather than encourage US competitiveness by forcing American companies to choose between complying with European sustainability regulation or violating the act. I'm also glad to see several bipartisan consumer protection bills included in this mark-up. These bills address crucial issues, including preventing deaths from dangerous nitrous oxide products, keeping Americans safe from scams, and strengthening protections against ticketing bots to ensure that actual people can access tickets for their favorite performing artists and other live events. Meanwhile, two other bills, the PACT Act and the Recycling Materials Attribution Act, are masquerading, in my opinion, as consumer protection bills. but actually seek to rework our nation's recycling policy to the detriment of all consumers and our planet. As I said at our subcommittee mark-up, we are going to be setting recycling policy, the Environmental Protection Agency should be taking the lead, not the Federal Trade Commission. And we should reject efforts to ramp stronger state laws with weak federal standards. I will be opposing these bills and I encourage my colleagues to do the same. We'll also consider several bills from the Communications and Technology subcommittee. I'm pleased we're considering the satellite and telecommunication streamlining act legislation I introduced with Chairman Guthrie and that bill reforms the satellite licensing process at the federal communications uh commission for certain satellite applications we have to ensure that these systems continue to be built and licensed here in the United States and this legislation achieves a reasonable and balanced process to evaluate them and we'll also consider the AI for secure networks act legislation that will help us better understand the role ai can play in the security of communications infrastructure so that our network defenses stay ahead of the curve. And because we still have work to do to address the incessant robocalls and phone scams that target consumers daily, I'm also pleased we're considering the foreign robocall elimination act. This legislation will help us continue to tackle this serious consumer threat. And I also support advancing the committee's work to deploy reliable and affordable broadband service across the nation And so I'm glad we're considering the Plan for Broadband Act and the Data Bridge Act. These bills can improve how we manage, track, and carry out federal broadband deployment initiatives as efficiently as possible. Finally, I do want to uh b- talk briefly now about my opposition to the Open Source AI Leadership Act. And uh I'm gonna really talk more about this later, Mister Chairman, so I don't wanna take up too much time now on the opening statement, but I do wanna alert everyone that I'm opposed to that bill. And I heard what the chairman said about uh advancing AI with this bill. But I think that what's happened in the last few weeks is that with the potential end of humanity, uh and the catastrophic consequences that some of the leaders in the AI AI community say we're potentially faced with, we as Democrats and we as a committee have to take action in AI safety. AI safety, in my opinion, is a lot more important right now, than advancing AI and expanding AI. I'll have a lot more to say when we get to that uh legislation to their mark-up, but for now I just want you to understand that I think that what's happened in the last few weeks uh i- i- is it creates a very dif- different situation with AI. Safety is uh the most important thing, we have to do something, we have to take action now. And with that I yield back the balance of my time, Mister Chairman.

Thank you. The gentleman yields back and the chair reminds members that pursuant to the committee rules, all members

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm glad we're moving forward today on a bipartisan set of bills from the Communications and Technology Subcommittee. These proposals take on challenges American deals de- deals with every single day from scam robocalls to gaps in broadband service, and cyber security.

Mm.

I wanna start by t- talking about a problem consumers all too well illegal robocalls. Scammers overseas are using increasingly sophisticated technology, including AI to steal money and personal information. The Foreign Robocall Elimination Act would strengthen coordination among agencies and better trace where these calls come from, so we can stop them before they reach consumers. Today we will also consider the Plan for Broadband Act and the Data Bridge Act which addresses another issue I worked on for years, closing the digital divide. We can't close the digital divide if we don't know where service is missing, or have a clear strategy to reach those communities. In the Sacramento region, families can live just twenty minutes from downtown and still struggle to get reliable broadband. And in the California Delta, reliable broadband is critical for farmers and rural families to thrive. But building networks is only part of the job. A broadband connection doesn't help if a family can't afford their monthly bill, doesn't have a device or lacks the skills to use it. So I'll keep working to make affordable, reliable broadband available to every American. I'm also glad we're moving forward on the satellite and telecommunications streamlining act. Satellite broadband can reach hard to serve communications communities communities and disaster-stricken areas. This bill will create clear FCC licensing deadlines while preserving the Commission's ability to protect consumers and national security. States also retain the ability and force important affordability and consumer protections. Finally, the AI for secure networks acts examines how AI can defend our communications from cyber threats. That's important, but recent warnings from AI researchers and safety advocates made clear that we need to do more to address the risk from increasingly powerful AI systems. We can't treat safety as an afterthought. We need real guardrails, transparency and accountability, so AI service c- consumers without exposing people to scams, si- cyber secur- cyber attacks, privacy pert- violations or other harms. And we cannot settle for a weak bare minimum safeguards if that means trading away state's ability to act quickly when new AI risk emerge. As we move forward, I'll continue to focus on protecting consumers, connecting every community, keeping broadband affordable, and making sure that acknowledge Americans rely on on our safe and secure. With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.

General, lady yields back, are there further opening statements? You know, there's seeing none. Before we move to the bills, I would like to do a point of personal privilege. Uh, my good friend sitting to my right here, Jess Donlin, is gonna be leaving the committee. She's gonna change uh change scenery, I guess I should say that, and and I will just tell you uh well well I guess I should read what's in front of me, but I'll add to it as well. I would like to take a moment of privilege to recognize Jess. Jess' years of dedicated public service has included several tours with the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on our very own ONI subcommittee, the Small Business Committee, along with time as Deputy General Counsel at the Office of Management Budget. And I'm so pleased Jess returned to the best committee in Congress last year to serve as our General Counsel.

Great.

Jess has been an integral part of our team. She's been a trusted advisor and a fierce advocate for rigorous congressional oversight. She was instrumental in helping advance the working family's tax cuts, and has been a stalwart defender of our committee's jurisdiction. I can guarantee you that. So, uh, her dedication has made it possible for this committee to pass well over a hundred and twenty bills out of the house, thirty-five signed into law, and we've held nearly a hundred and thirty hearings and markups this Congress. Beyond her deep love and respect for this institution, Jeff is an avid fan of Notre Dame sports and a world-class mom. While we will miss her deeply, we're excited for her new opportunity and wish her very well, along with her husband Steve and their three kids Cora, Luke and A. J. They've all become very part of the E and C family as well. Uh, I always say that I've always enjoyed sitting here, cuz if you do these mark-ups you sit a long time together and and getting to know, well, no, Jeff's just from around the committee, but certainly sitting here throughout the days. And I can tell you her, uh, what I respect about her is, is that she's dedicated to her faith, she's dedicated to her family, and the one thing I absolutely respect, but don't agree with, is her dedication to Notre Dame. So, I don't know, uh, but I do respect it, cuz I think people should be passionate about the institutions who form them. And I know your time at Notre Dame was very important to you, and it taught you a lot about working your way through college. You told me there's some stories yesterday Uh, some they didn't hand it to you on a silver platter, did they? They worked your way to go through the or a gold they didn't give it to you on a golden dome, I guess I should say. They hand you worked your way through that that very wonderful institution. I do have a lot of respect for the institution. Just have a different opinion about football. So, uh, I I'm really proud to have you as part of this committee. We're gonna miss you because you've been part of, uh, as I always say, this committee is not necessarily just people working together, it's a team and it's a family, and you are very integral, and we're gonna miss you. So thank you for your service.

You're welcome.

Thanks. And with that, we'll get, I'll call off our f- She didn't start the clock when Frank was speaking, so I said, well, good thing you're leaving, cuz we'd have to let you go. Anyways, um

Yeah, I'm really a little bit nervous.

Uh, no, we're gonna miss you. So the, I will call up the first, so the chair calls up HR one zero one five eight and asks the clerk to report.

HR one O one five eight, a bill to require the secretary of commerce to conduct a study on the national and economic

Without objection, the first reading of the bill is dispensed with and the bill will be open for amendment at any point. So ordered. Does anyone seek to be recognized on the bill? I've been the gentlelady from Tennessee. So the gentlelady from Tennessee is recognized for five minutes and speak on the bill.

Sorry about that. I was chit-chatting. Um I'd like to speak in support of my bill, H R one O one five eight, the automotive s uh national and economic security act of twenty twenty six. And I'd like to also thank my colleague, Representative Dinklage. uh, for collating this bipartisan legislation with me. This bill will require the Commerce Secretary to conduct a comprehensive study on the economic and national security risks to the US auto industry, posed by our foreign adversaries, and report the findings back to Congress. We know that China's been, uh, using unfair and underhanded tactics to corner strategic markets from critical minerals, to batteries. And we're now seeing them follow the same playbook for automotive, especially as today's vehicles become

And the lady yields back. Is there further discussion on the bill? Seeing none,

Okay.

are there any amendments to the bill? Seeing none, the question now occurs on adopting H R one zero one five eight. A roll call has been requested and the clerk will call the roll.

Mister Latta. Mister Griffith. Mister Bilirakis. Mister Bilirakis votes aye. Mister Hudson. Mister Hudson votes aye. Mister Carter of Georgia. Mister Palmer. Mister Dunn. Mister Crenshaw. Mister Joyce. Mister Joyce votes aye. Mister Weber. Mister Weber votes aye. Mister Allen. Mister Allen votes aye. Mister Balderson. Mister Balderson votes aye. Mister Fulcher.

Who's aye?

Mister Fulcher votes aye. Mister Pflueger. Misses Harshbarger. Mrs. Harshbarger votes aye. Mrs. Miller-Meeks. Mrs. Miller-Meeks votes aye. Mrs. Kammick. Mr. Obinuti. Mr. James. Mr. Bentz. Miss Houchen. Mr. Frey. Miss Lee.

Aye.

Miss Lee votes aye. Mr. Langworthy. Mister Cain. Mister Rooley. Mister Rooley votes aye. Mister Evans. Mister Goleman. Mister Goleman votes aye. Mrs. Fedorchek. Mister Pilon. Mister Pilon votes aye. Mister Gett. Mister Schakowsky. Mister Schakowsky votes aye. Miss Matsui. Miss Matsui votes aye. Miss Caster. Miss Caster votes aye. Mister Tonko. Mister Tonko votes aye. Miss Clark. Mister Ruiz. Mister Peters. Mister Peters votes aye. Misses Dingle. Misses Dingle votes aye. Mister Fisi. Miss Kelly. Miss Bredegaard. Mister Soto. Mister Soto votes aye. Miss Schreier. Miss Schreier votes aye. Miss Trahan.

Aye.

Miss Trahan votes aye. Miss Fletcher. Mister Acasio-Cortez. Mister Arkencloss. Mister Arkencloss votes aye. mister carter of louisiana mister menendez mister menendez votes aye mister mullin

aye

mister mullin votes aye mister landsman mister landsman votes aye mr. mcclellan mr. mcclellan votes aye jerry mcguthrie jerry mcguthrie jerry mcguthrie votes aye

aye

Mister Griffith votes aye. Mister Lata votes aye. Mister Cain votes aye.

Anyone on your other side? Seeing none, uh, the clerk will report.

I'm more focused on the events.

Mister Benz, before you report. Mister Benz, how you recorded?

Mister Benz is not recorded.

Yes.

Mister Benz votes aye. Misses Kammek.

Oh.

Misses Kammek.

We have one more. Who's that?

Misses Kammek.

Oh, Misses Kammek.

Um

Misses Kammek.

I don't think Misses Kammek votes aye. Misses Kammek. Oh, okay. That's not it. Okay. So it's four bills.

So, and it's cuz, you know, it's

We get flipped in here. Mr. Chairman, on that vote there were thirty thirty-three ayes and zero noes.

The ayes have it and the bill is adopted. The chair calls up H R six eight three two and asks the clerk to report.

Committee print of H R sixty eight thirty two, a bill to amend the federal charter.

Without objection, the first reading of the bill is dispensed with, the bill will be open for amendment at any points ordered. Does anybody seek to be recognized?

Thank you, Mister Chairman. Uh, what this bill does, the PAC Act creates a nationally consistent framework for voluntary, recyclable, compostable, and reusable claims on consumer product packaging. It gives consumers clearer, more trustworthy information while replacing differing differing state requirements with one federal framework that cover for covered claims. What the bill does, it covers three packaging claims, recyclable, compostable, and reusable. The bill does not, does not, let me repeat, regulate every environmental marketing claim. What the bill does, it does establish a national framework. The FTC would administer the requirements governing when these claims be made on consumer product packaging, it will consider input from the EPA, and as well as a newly established advisory council. The bill requires independent certification. Covered claims must be certified by an accredited third-party certification body, uh, qualified to determine whether the packaging claims comply with the law. Uh, create what the bill does, it creates national consistency. That's something we need to cross the States and localities may not establish or enforce legal requirements for covered claims that are not absolutely identical to federal requirements. This bill does not mandate environmental claims. The FTC may not require a company to label packaging recyclable, compostable, or reusable. The requirements apply when a company chooses to make a covered claim. This bill allows standards to evolve. The bill does not lock specific recycling access or recovery rate thresholds in the statute. It doesn't do that. The FTC is directed to issue implementing guidance, allowing the framework to account for re- changing recycling, composting and reuse systems. Why does this matter? Glad you'll ask. Consumer clarity. It provides more consistent and credible information about recyclable, compost, as well as reusable packing claims. It's about affordability. A national framework can actually reduce unnecessary costs from differing states, labeling, packaging, inventory, as well as compliance requirements. Costs that can move through the supply chains to consumers. Why it matters? Manufacturing certainty. Consistent rules provide greater predictability for companies making and selling products. nationwide. Recycling and innovation matters. Clearer rules, clearer rules can support better recovery outcomes and allow manufacturers to focus investment on packaging improvements, recycling technologies, as well as innovation. Mr. Chairman, that's kind of the bill in a nutshell, and I'll I'll yield back.

Gentleman yields back. Is there further discussion on the bill? The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for five minutes to speak on the bill.

Mr. Chairman, I um want to exp my opposition again to the pack act we could all agree that addressing consumer confusion and trust in our nation's recycling system is critical most americans want to recycle however it can be difficult for consumers to understand what how and where certain materials can be recycled unfortunately the pact act completely misses the mark in my opinion by allowing manufacturers to effectively self-regulate in establishing weak federal standards for recyclable combustible and reusable claims for product packaging. The PACT Act protects plastic producers' ability to greenwash their products, as opposed to actually providing consumers clarity and protecting them from misleading claims. The bill also preempts stronger state laws that aim to protect both consumers and recyclers. Simply put, the PACT Act will allow manufacturers to label their products as recyclable without considering if the infrastructure and market exists to actually recycle the material. And this bill will increase contamination in our recycling systems and increased recycling costs, shifting the burden to recycling facilities, local governments and communities to bear the brunt of the costs of contamination. Now municipal solid waste recycling systems are already severely underfunded and local governments face tight budgets, so we should be putting forth proposals that help strengthen our recycling systems not undermine them. Ultimately, the PACT Act is not rooted in the reality of our nation's recycling systems, and capabilities and would, I think, exacerb exacerbate the current plastic pollution crisis. So I urge my colleagues to oppose the bill and I yield back to them.

Will the gentleman yield?

Sure.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, my colleague across the aisle there, if you read the bill, it's actually this bill is administered by the Federal Trade Commission, not the EPA, but it's going to use that relationship, excuse me, to make sure that a lot of the good things we would consider about packaging and about the environment are actually taken into consideration. It does not necessarily Excuse me, trying to read over my comb. It does not necessarily make for undue influences on the business are not trying to get past this, if I can say this frank, I appreciate that. They're not trying to get, you know, some kind of a break so that they can pull the wool over the consumer's eyes. It's not about that. it's about affordability, it's about reliability, it's about working across the entire country so that all the states have the, a same uh, guidelines so that they can actually label their products and make it better for consumers easier for consumers. And don't forget, FTC will be uh handling this with help from the EPA. I just wanna make that clear, uh, and I yield back.

And I, and, and, and, uh, I, I want, uh, gentlemen from Texas to understand. I, I understand, your good intentions um look i hope you're right but the bottom line is i'm just very concerned i i'm not saying i'm an expert on recycling but i've spent a lot of time in over the years and right now when i look at the towns i represent and the problems that they're having with recycling and the public's you know concern that is this stuff really being recycled am i wasting my time uh you know trying to go through this effort i just i just think the bill uh misses the mark in that respect and and and that's why i'm saying what i say i i i think that the effort has to be made to really look at the realities of what's happening on the ground with a lot of these towns their budgets and the public's expectations and i just don't think this is gonna do it but again i don't wanna criticize you cause i know your well intention so with that um

meet with meet with german your yield

of course

Well, I wanna I wanna say that if you read through this bill, which I've done, of course obviously, it is that the FTC, along with the EPA, and along with a lot of the states and agencies, absolutely have everything in mind that you just mentioned. And so it really has the consumer's best interest at its heart. And I think having a s- a, for lack of a better term, at least nationwide, a universal, again, this is not mandatory. Companies can do this and it lays out the programs and the guidelines as to how this can be done and actually help our i'm not sure which towns you you know you talked about new jersey texas is a big state

well i mean uh taking back my time you know i i spent last week it's a different issue at a recycling center in um in congressman norquist's district in the southern part of the state and again this is not the issue at hand but there are just so many problems that we face with recycling now and i think that we need to We we need to really dig down on this, and this is not the way to do it. But in any case, Mr. Chairman, I I yield back.

The gentleman yields back, and I'll remind my friend from Texas, I know you did it friendly, so I didn't interrupt, but don't refer to members with their first name. You probably didn't even realize you did it, but you said Frank, so said it.

Thank you for that reminder,

All right.

Mr. Chairman.

Thank you.

Um, so any further speaking on Mr. Carter from Georgia? You're recognized for five minutes to speak on the bill.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Thank you. Horizon support of the PAC Act because families deserve packaging labels they can trust. When a family purchases a product labeled recyclable, compost compostable, or reusable, they deserve to know that those words mean something. Business making businesses making those claims should be able to back them up. The PAC Act establishes consistent national standards for these packaging claims and requires independent certification. It also requires companies to explain limitations when recycling or compo- or composting options are not widely available. That matters because a label is only useful if it helps consumers understand what they can actually do with the packaging in their hands. For manufacturers, a consistent national framework provides greater certainty when designing packaging and selling products across state lines. For consumers, it provides clearer information to guide everyday decisions. Representing coastal Georgia, I care deeply about protecting our waterways and supporting the businesses and workers who produce and recycle the materials we use. We should encourage responsible packaging choices and make sure companies compete on claims that they can substantiate. As this legislation moves forward, implementation should remain practical for businesses of all sizes while maintaining meaningful protections against misleading claims. I thank Representative Weber for the his leadership in our I urge my colleagues to support the PAC Act and I yield back.

Gentleman yields back. There's a further discussion. Gentleman from New York is recognized for five minutes.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move to strike a last word.

Speak on the bill. Gentleman is recognized. Speak on the bill.

Thank you. Our nation's recycling system obviously faces a wide range of challenges, including high contamination rates and confusion about what materials can be recycled. There are glaring needs for better data, accessibility, labeling and education. to ensure that people feel confident that they are using the blue bin correctly, and that their efforts will result in real recycling, meaning products actually ending up in responsible end markets. And while I have some sympathies for the concerns that a patchwork of conflicting labeling standards could emerge across the country, unfortunately the PAC Act falls short as a solution. Accurate, unpackaged label claims are crucial to improving our nation's recycling system. However, the recyclability claims in the bill fail to recognize the real-world operating conditions of our nation's nine thousand local recycling programs. Recyclability claims in the PACT Act remain untethered from ensuring these products are actually accepted, sorted, processed, and sold to responsible end markets to be transformed into new products. I worry that by preempting stronger state policy, the PACT Act will leave behind a week voluntary federal framework that would not help raise the current status quo. Strong recyclability labeling standards also help incentivize and promote the design of products for s- recyclability, which is a common sense innovation worth encouraging. With a national recycling and composting rate of just thirty-two percent, we have a lot of room for improvement. And unfortunately, the PACT Act will not move the needle. And I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill With that, I thank you and yield back, Mister Chair.

Gentleman yields back to the gentleman from Idaho is recognized for five minutes to speak on the bill.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Move to strike a last word.

Gentleman is recognized to speak on the bill.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chobani, the yogurt company in my home state of Idaho, brought the PAC Act to my office's attention. Understandably, they are concerned about the growing number of patchwork state labeling laws pertaining to recyclable compostable and reusable claims on consumer packaging. Jabani would have to come up with different recycling labels for Idaho, another for California, another for Washington, and well, you kind of get the picture. That's an environmental mandate with questionable benefits, but a significant manufacturing burden on the company, and an added cost to passed on to the consumer. The PAC Act is a straightforward solution that directs the FTC to establish a federal framework governing recyclable compostable reusable claims on the consumer packaging as a former State Senator I am sensitive to the state preemption. But the preemption provision is limited to labeling laws and preserve state's ability to implement other environmental policies such as extended producer responsibility programs, recycling and recycling infrastructure improvements, and so on. I encourage my colleagues to support this, and it is both environmentally and business friendly. And I yield back, Mr. Chairman.

Jimlin yields back. As for further discussion of this, gentlelady from Florida has recognized for five minutes to speak on the bill.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Colleagues, I strongly oppose this pro- pro-polluter, anti-recycling bill. It is going to simply keep America awash in plastics, uh, that is detrimental to our health. We already know that, uh, based on recent research that micro-plastics are entering our bodies, uh, may be cancer-causing. We need to do everything we can to control the plastics waste stream in America. It is also going to prove very costly to local communities that already are operating uh, recycling initiatives. Don't just take it from me. Uh, fifty-eight organizations wrote to the committee, including the League of Conservation Voters, the National Resources Defense Council, Moms Clean, Air Force, Earth Justice. Here's what they say. They say they urge us to oppose these two misleading bills, uh, including this one, the PACT Act. Uh, these bills are framed as consumer right to know laws, but by allowing plastics the plastics industry to promote false claims about both recycled content of products and the recyclability of plastic packaging they would actually boost the industry's ability to deceive consumers and embolden their efforts to inundate consumers with plastic. The deluge of plastics threatens public health and the environment. Among the wide-reaching implic implications, evidence continues to grow that virtually all of us have micro-plastics in our box. They continue, the PACT Act would eliminate state state truth in labeling laws. They say the breadth of the the preemption in the PACT Act would also threaten state's ability to regulate PFAS or other toxic chemicals added to packaging as it relates to determining their status as recyclable, reusable, and compostable. In place of these carefully crafted state policies, The PACT Act proposes a vague framework which fails to consider States' individual recycling capabilities, jeopardizing the work States are already doing to ensure recycling claims are clear and accurate based on local conditions, and uh to redu- help reduce toxicity of certain packaging. The PACT Act also prohibits the FTC from developing any binding regulations that would allow the agencies to build on an effective national program. The pact act would also increase recycling costs for communities nationwide when packaging contains inaccurate recycling claims. The result is a recycling stream contaminated with unwanted unrecyclable materials which states and local municipalities must manage at the expense of taxpayers and they weren't alone. This the Surfrider Foundation that that I listened to and we should all listen to Um, I have an ocean-facing dis- district in the Gulf of Mexico. We're awash in plastic pollution. We have to do more to control the, to control pollution. It's very expensive to do so, and why would you wipe away what local communities are able to do? The Surfrider Foundation says along with over eighteen hundred signatories, they oppose the industry-backed bills that would roll back important advancements uh made in tackling plastic pollution. In particular, Surfrider strongly opposes the PACT Act, which proposes a weak, voluntary federal framework lacking meaningful enforcement, revoking stronger state policies and opening the door to widespread greenwashing. That's funny. The PACT Act would not only impede a traditional and established area of state regulation, but would it als- it would also saddle state, states and local municipalities, and thus taxpayers, with increased cost of dealing with increased volumes of unrecyclable plastic waste in the recycling stream. For all of these reasons, colleagues, there's no reason to promote a pro-pollution, uh, anti-public health, costly initiative. This is a gift to polluters that is unnecessary and unwanted at this time, and I urge you all to vote down the PACT Act. Thank you and I yield back.

General Eddie Yeltsin's back. Is there further discussion on the bill? Gentleman from Ohio is This is the on our side. And gentleman from Ohio is recognized for five minutes to speak on the bill.

Uh, thank you, Mister uh, Chair. The PACT Act would only work if the FTC works. And this is my challenge uh to my colleague. The I I I would truly understand why we want to establish a national framework here, and there is value and having clear and consistent standards across the country, uh, as it relates to these recyclable materials. M- here's the issue. Given the Supreme Court's gutting of the FTC this past June, I have concerns about the agency, uh, being in a position to do this in a non-partisan way. The FTC was designed to be an independent, bipartisan agency focused on protecting American consumers, The challenge is that that President Trump removed the commissions, two democratic members, and today an an agency designed to have five commissioners is operating with just two Republican commissioners, which raises real concerns for me and I suspect many of my colleagues about the independence of the agency especially when partnership is particularly problematic on the environmental issue this bill addresses. Consumers and businesses need to know that standards will be implemented consistently, transparently, and without political af- interference. I think we need to address these concerns before moving forward. With that, I yield back.

Jim, on yield's back. Is there further discussion? Seeing none. Are there any amendments to the bill? Seeing none. Well Seeing none, the um, no further discussion. Well, let's see.

So

The question now occurs on adopting H R six eight three two. A roll call has been requested and the clerk will call the roll.

Mister Lata. Mister Griffith. Mister Bilirakis. Mister Bilirakis votes aye. Mister Hudson. Mister Hudson votes aye. Mister Carter of Georgia. Mister Palmer. Mister Palmer votes aye. Mister Dunn. Mister Crenshaw. Mister Joyce. Mister Joyce votes aye. Mister Weber. Mister Weber votes aye. Mister Allen.

Aye.

Mister Allen votes aye. Mister Balderson. Mister Fulger. Mister Flueger. Mrs. Harshbarger. Mrs. Harshbarger votes aye. Mrs. Mil- Mrs. Milamiks votes aye. Mrs. Kammek. Mrs. Kammek votes aye. Mr. Obernolte. Mr. James. Mr. Bentz. Mr. Bentz votes aye. Mrs. Houchen. Mr. Frey. Mr. Frey votes aye. Thank you. Miss Lee.

Aye.

Miss Lee votes aye. Mister Langworthy.

Aye.

Mister Langworthy votes aye. Mister Cain.

Mister Cain, aye.

Mister Cain votes aye. Mister Rooley.

Aye.

Mister Rooley votes aye. Mister Evans.

Aye.

Mister Evans votes aye. Mister Goldman.

Aye.

Mister Goldman votes aye. Misses Fedorchek. Misses Fedorchek votes aye. Mister Pilon.

Yeah.

Mister Pilon votes no. Mister Gett. Miss Schakowsky. Miss Massoy.

No.

Miss Massoy votes no. Miss Castor.

Yes.

Miss Castor votes no. Mister Tonko.

No.

Mister Tonko votes no. Miss Clark. Miss Clark votes no. Mister Ruiz. Mister Peters. Mister Peters votes no. Misses Dingell. Misses Dingell votes no. Mister Fisi. Miss Kelly. Miss Bar-Dagan. Mister Soto. Mister Soto votes no. Miss Schreier. Miss Schreier votes no. Miss Trahan. Miss Trahan votes no. Miss Fletcher. Mister Ocasio-Cortez. Mister Arkincloss. Mister Arquinclaus votes no. Mister Carter of Louisiana. Mister Menendez. Mister Menendez votes no. Mister Mullin. Mister Mullin votes no. Mister Lansman. Mister Lansman votes no. Miss McCullen. Miss McCullen votes no. Chairman Guthrie. Chairman Guthrie votes aye.

Are there any, Mister Latta?

Aye.

Mister Latta votes aye.

Carter, Georgia?

Mister Carter of Georgia is not recorded.

Carter votes aye.

Griffith.

Mister Carter of Georgia votes aye.

Aye.

Mister Griffith votes aye.

Balderson.

Mister Balderson is not recorded. Mister Balderson votes aye.

Obernolte.

Mister Obernolte votes aye.

Fulcher.

Mister Fulcher votes aye.

Uh, Bodegon.

This is is not recorded. Is Batagon votes no.

Is Shikowsky recor- is Mishikowsky, Mishikowsky recorded?

Mis- Mishikowski is not recorded.

Okay. Mishikowsky?

Mishikowski is not recorded. Mishikowski votes no.

Mishiket?

Mishiket is not recorded. Mishiket votes no.

Anyone else? Yeah, who are you pointing to?

Yeah, who are you pointing to? No.

Anyone that's not been record,

No.

anyone who wants to present?

No, I'm not. No. No.

Seeing none, uh the clerk will report.

Mister Chairman, on that vote, there were twenty-five ayes and eighteen noes.

The ayes have it and the bill is adopted. The chair calls up H R seven five O two and asks the clerk to report.

Mm.

Yeah, we will all be able to report that.

Committee Print of H R seventy-five O two.

That object's the first year in the bill's dispense with and the bill will be open for amendment at any point, so ordered, does anyone seek to be recognized? on the bill. Mister Langworthy is recognized for five minutes to speak on the bill.

Thank you, Mister Chairman, and thank you for including my bill, H R seventy-five O two, the Recycled Materials Attribution Act, on today's full mark-up agenda. My bipartisan legislation establishes a clear nationwide standard for recycled content claims, giving American manufacturers the certainty that they need to invest in innovative recycling technologies while ensuring that consumers can trust the claims that they see on products. American manufacturers are constantly finding new ways to make better use of the materials already in our economy, strengthening domestic supply chains and turning materials that would otherwise go to waste into valuable inputs for new products. But our laws and our regulations need to keep pace with that innovation, and today, manufacturers increasingly use what is known as mass balance accounting to track recycled materials through complex manufacturing processes. But simply, when recycled and traditional materials are combined during production, mass balance accounting allows manufacturers to reliably track how much recycled material enters the supply chain and appropriately attribute that amount to the products that come out. This approach is particularly important by advanced recycling technologies and manufacturing processes where recycled and conventional feedstocks cannot always be physically separated through every stage of production. The Recycled Materials Attribution Act establishes a federal framework recognizing mass balance accounting as an acceptable way to substantiate recycled content claims provided those claims are backed up by independent, third-party certification systems. At the same time, this bill makes clear that consumers deserve accurate information. It prohibits companies from making misleading recycled claims, and requires those claims to be supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence. It also directs the Federal Trade Commission to update its green guide, to reflect these standards and give the FTC the authority to enforce the law against deceptive claims. That balance is important. We should encourage American companies to invest in new recycling technologies and manufacturing processes without creating a system where anybody can simply slap a recycled label on a product without being able to back it up with fact. And manufacturers operating across state lines should not have to navigate through a growing patchwork of conflicting state standards on how these claims are made. This legislation establishes one consistent national standard so that businesses know the rules of the road and consumers know they can trust the claims that they actually see. Ultimately, this is about giving American manufacturers certainty, encouraging investment in innovation here at home, and recognizing technologies that can help put more recycled material back into productive use. I'm very proud to lead this bipartisan legislation, and I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have joined me in this effort. And I urge my colleagues to support the Recycled Materials Attribution Act. And before I yield back, I'd like to enter into the record the Progressive Policy Institute's report entitled "The Waste Diversion Benefits of Expanding Advanced Recycling."

Do you have a date on that?

Um, it is May twenty twenty six.

Perfect. Without objection?

And thank you, Mister Chairman, and I yield back.

No, I'm not, I wanna speak. Okay. Um, so ordered. And now recognize the gentleman from New Jersey, ranking member of the committee, Mister Palon, for his topic.

Thank you, Mister Chairman. And I move to well, I'm gonna speak in opposition to the bill. And that's because improving recycled content labels is critical to providing transparency and clarity to consumers. But unfortunately, I don't believe that this bill does that, I think it does the opposite. Under the guise of preventing misleading claims, the bill opens the door for the use of a misleading accounting method that would allow producers to cook the books and claim fictionally high recycled content claims in products that may actually contain little to zero recycled content. And as a result, under this bill a plastic soda bottle, for example, could include a hundred percent recycled content claim on the label, it actually contained just about ten percent re recycled plastic. And this accounting process does not verify the actual recycled content in a particular product and is inherently misleading, I think. The the APA even cited concerns with this method in comments to the Federal Trade Commission on the proposed revised green guides, calling the practice deceptive. And while I appreciate the desire to eliminate misleading claims and provide consumers with more clarity I know the the sponsors on both sides are trying to do that. But I do not, I don't think that allowing manufacturers to claim a product contains a hundred percent recycled content when it really contains a much lower percentage is dispelling consumer confusion I think it creates more confusion. And this bill could also have cascading consequences for our nation's recycling system by hurting demand for truly recycled materials. The bill also takes the very wor- worrisome step of opening up recycling to fuel generation. And I have to be clear, turning plastic into fuel is not recycling. And finally, this bill also preempts state laws, the right of states are taking the lead on recycling efforts nationwide. States are our testing ground, and we can we sh- we can and should learn from their efforts, not undermine them with a weak federal standard. So, you know, I also should mention, you know, I represent the Jersey Shore. um a lot of concern about um about uh plastics and and plastic pollution uh i want to work together to tackle the plastic crisis in a meaningful way but i don't believe that's what this bill accomplishes so i urge my colleagues who oppose the bill and i yield back mister chairman