Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, Jim Risch, and 18 other Republican colleagues have urged President Biden to reconsider his administration's stance on constraints related to manufacturing and the development of target lists for banning certain chemicals and plastic products globally. The senators expressed concern over the administration's shift in policy during ongoing negotiations at the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) aimed at addressing plastic pollution.

"It is unfortunate the administration appears to have succumbed to pressure from extremist environmental activists and now supports constraints on manufacturing and the development of target lists that identify chemicals and plastic products to be banned around the world in the potential treaty," stated the senators.

The letter highlights a change in U.S. policy that could impact years of progress towards a treaty designed to end plastic pollution while supporting American manufacturing through innovative product designs and recycling technologies. "This last-minute change in U.S. policy could sabotage years of positive collaboration and progress in brokering a treaty that ends plastic pollution, unlocks innovation, and, importantly, that could be ratified by the U.S. Senate," they continued.

The senators emphasized the need for U.S. leadership in tackling plastic pollution globally but warned against any agreement that might harm American manufacturing or increase costs for consumers. "A treaty that fails to gain the support of two thirds of the Senate will embolden countries like China who leak significant amounts of plastic waste into the environment," they concluded.

Joining Cassidy and Risch were Senators Dan Sullivan, Shelley Moore Capito, Ted Cruz, Pete Ricketts, Todd Young, Kevin Cramer, Mike Crapo, John Boozman, Ted Budd, Marsha Blackburn, Markwayne Mullin, John Kennedy, John Cornyn, John Barrasso, Thom Tillis, Cynthia Lummis, Roger Wicker, and Lindsey Graham.

In their letter addressed to President Biden, they urged him to focus on securing a treaty aligned with U.S. interests that would effectively address plastic pollution without compromising American jobs or consumer costs.