WIPPES Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2964) to require the Federal Trade Commission to issue regulations requiring certain products to have ``Do Not Flush'' labeling, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this particular bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2964, the Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act, or the WIPPES Act.

Wastewater treatment systems have been increasingly impacted by clogs resulting from the flushing of nonflushable wipes. These drainage issues are expensive to repair and can be a headache for both homeowners and municipalities.

Based on the available data, there is a disconnect between consumer understanding of whether certain wipes products are flushable based on the information directed toward consumers.

To address the ongoing infrastructure and environmental issues caused by the misinformed flushing of nonflushable wipes, consumers must be clearly notified when a wipe is nonflushable, which is what H.R. 2964 would achieve.

H.R. 2964 would require covered entities to label covered products clearly and conspicuously with ``Do Not Flush'' labels and symbols.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative McClain from the great State of Michigan. She is doing an outstanding job, and I thank her for her leadership on this important issue.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this particular piece of legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. McClain).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge a ``yes'' vote. This bill is necessary. It is very practical. Let's get it out of the House as soon as possible. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the WIPPES Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation that I introduced alongside Congresswoman Peltola of Alaska, Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, and Senator Susan Collins of Maine.

I thank my friend, Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, for moving this bill through the Energy and Commerce Committee and for the committee's unanimous support.

According to the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, the additional costs to wastewater treatment systems that nonflushable wipes bring is more than $440 million, including more than $18 million in my home State of Michigan. This jeopardizes critical infrastructure in communities across the country, and costs to repair this damage are often forced onto the taxpayer.

This bill aims to be a solution to this nearly half-billion-dollar problem. Ensuring needed information is provided to consumers will prevent damage to wastewater systems and actually save taxpayers millions in repair costs.

We have worked with industry and wastewater systems around the country to draft legislation, and I am glad to say this bill has the full support of many of these organizations.

This commonsense legislation, based on laws adopted by several States around the country, will help address this problem, protect our wastewater systems from critical damage, and save taxpayer dollars. Industry knows this. Wastewater stakeholders know this. The Energy and Commerce Committee knows this, as well.

Again, I thank Chairwoman Rodgers and the Energy and Commerce Committee for their support, and I urge the entire House to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 2964, the WIPPES Act.

The improper disposal of nonflushable wipes can damage critical plumbing and wastewater infrastructure and lead to environmental contamination and pollution.

A 2020 analysis by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies found that wipes result in approximately $441 million a year in additional operating costs for our clean water utilities.

Stakeholders across the country have expressed the need for manufacturers to clearly label their wet wipe products so consumers know how to properly dispose of them. H.R. 2964, the WIPPES Act, ensures that wipe manufacturers and other covered entities clearly and conspicuously label nonflushable wipes as such.

Requiring ``Do Not Flush'' labels on the packaging of nonflushable wipes sold in the United States will empower consumers to help protect our plumbing and wastewater infrastructure and reduce pollution and environmental contamination.

Mr. Speaker, I commend Representatives Peltola and McClain for their leadership on this issue, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, again, this is an important bill in terms of protecting our clean water. I urge everyone to support it on a bipartisan basis.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I was absent from the floor and the roll call votes for the Motions to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 6543 and H.R. 2964. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 248, H.R. 6543, and YEA on Roll Call No. 249, H.R. 2964.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be present to cast my vote on Roll Call No. 248 and Roll Call No. 249. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 248 and YEA on Roll Call No. 249.