Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024

Floor Speech

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Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Posey) which would reduce funding for the Office of Air and Radiation under the EPA by 50 percent.

The EPA's Office of Air and Radiation is one of the most radical, out-of-touch, and burdensome regulatory authorities in the Federal Government that most Americans have never heard of. They are essentially charged with carrying out the Biden administration and progressive Democrats' job and economy killing Green New Deal agenda.

The unelected bureaucrats at the Office of Air and Radiation have repeatedly targeted small business industries--people's livelihoods and the way of life for thousands of Americans--with little or no regard.

It is time the American people's Representatives in this body, the U.S. House, say enough is enough and remove the EPA's boot from the neck of the American people.

Mr. Chair, there is no better way to start than supporting Mr. Posey's amendment, and I urge my colleagues to join me in doing so.
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Mr. ROSE. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment to H.R. 4821, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

In June, the Biden administration's Department of the Interior led by Secretary Deb Haaland issued an order to phase out the use of single use plastics, including plastic straws, by 2032.

My amendment is straightforward. My amendment will prevent the Department of the Interior from banning the sale of plastic straws on public lands and national parks.

According to a study published in the journal Food Additives and Contaminants, paper straws may not be more eco-friendly than plastic straws. The majority of the paper straws in this study included perfluoroalkyl substances and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, which are often referred to as forever chemicals.

According to a recent article in USA Today, scientists in Belgium tested 39 brands of straws made of paper, bamboo, plastic, and stainless steel found in shops, supermarkets, and restaurants across the country.

The article continued that: ``These `eco-friendly' plant-based straws are not necessarily a more sustainable alternative to plastic straws, said the study's conclusion, because they can be considered as an additional source of PFAS exposure in humans and the environment.''

Mr. Chairman, we have to ask: Why is the Department of the Interior rushing to ban plastic straws in national parks when it is far from clear whether or not there is any environmental benefit to switching to paper straws?

Additionally, paper straws are absolutely despised by many Americans because they start to become soggy almost immediately when you put them into a drink. I think probably, Mr. Chairman, most Americans have experienced exactly that.

So, Mr. Chair, I include in the Record the text of this USA Today article titled ``Not so eco-friendly? Paper straws contain more `forever chemicals' than plastic, study says.'' [From USA Today, Aug. 28, 2023] Not So Eco-Friendly? Paper Straws Contain More `Forever Chemicals' Than Plastic, Study Says (By Mary Walrath-Holdridge)

Not a fan of those paper straws that have replaced disposable plastic ones in the name of being eco-friendly? As it turns out, some of those efforts to save the environment may have been in vain.

A new study, published Thursday in the journal Food Additives and Contaminants, found evidence of ``forever chemical'' PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in the majority of both paper and bamboo straws tested.

Scientists in Belgium tested 39 brands of straws made of paper, bamboo, plastic and stainless steel found in shops, supermarkets and restaurants across the country.

Of the straws tested, almost all contained some concertation of PFAS, which are often used during manufacturing to make products water resistant. Out of the total 39 tested, the chemicals were detected in 27, none of which were stainless steel.

Paper straws, on the other hand, were the most likely to contain PFAS, with 18 out of 20, or 90%, of paper brands testing positive. They were also found in four out of five bamboo straws, three out of four plastic straws and two out of five glass straws. not so eco-friendly?

Eighteen different PFAS were detected in total, though overall in low concentrations. The chemical most commonly found, however, was perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) which was banned globally in 2020.

``These `eco-friendly' plant-based straws are not necessarily a more sustainable alternative to plastic straws,'' said the study's conclusion, ``because they can be considered as an additional source of PFAS exposure in humans and the environment (e.g. after degradation in landfills or through incomplete incineration) .''

The study also discovered PFAS that are known to be highly water soluble, meaning they have the potential to bleed from the straw into a drink, but did not investigate this component further.

The researchers proposed that, while manufactures could intentionally be coating their plant-based straws in chemicals to make them water-repellent, the presence of PFAS could also be attributed to contaminated soil or an unintended consequence of material recycling. The authors suggested further analysis and studies be conducted to determine the primary source of contamination in the straws and how the chemicals may impact drinks and people consuming them.

This Belgian study comes on the heels of a 2021 U.S. study, which found the presence of 21 PFAS in paper and other plant- based straws versus no measurable amounts in plastic ones.

While PFAS were present in most straws tested, the low concentration, paired with the limited extent to which people use straws, means they don't pose an immediate risk to humans.

Small amounts of PFAS are not harmful in and of themselves, but rather their ability to build up over time, including in the human body, is what poses the most risk. Even with these findings, plant-based straws are still better for the environment than straight-up plastics.

As stainless-steel straws are reusable long-term and all tested PFAS-free, the study authors suggest the use of these straws for bother environmental and health-related reasons. what are pfas?

PFAS stands for ``per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances,'' and refers to a collection of long-lasting chemicals that take a very long time to slowly break down in the environment.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PFAS are widely used and persist for long periods of time in the environment, meaning they are found in the blood of people and animals around the world, as well as air, water, soil and in low levels in foods, packaging and household products. what health risks are associated with pfas?

While scientists are still working to determine the extent to which PFAS impact us, animals and our environment, they are already associated with a list of health concerns.

According to the EPA, PFAS have been linked to:

Reproductive effects such as decreased fertility or increased high blood pressure in pregnant women.

Developmental effects or delays in children, including low birth weight, accelerated puberty, bone variations, or behavioral changes.

Increased risk of some cancers, including prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers. Reduced ability of the body's immune system to fight infections, including reduced vaccine response.

Interference with the body's natural hormones.

Increased cholesterol levels and/or risk of obesity. where are pfas usually found?

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), PFAS can be found in hundreds of products we use daily. In some cases, they are approved for use in limited amounts by the FDA, such as in food packaging.

They are commonly found in:

Stain- and water-resistant fabrics and carpeting.

Cleaning products.

Paints.

Fire-fighting foams.

Cookware.

Food packaging

Food processing equipment.

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Mr. ROSE. Mr. Chairman, the American people do not want their government dictating what type of straws they can drink from.

A ``yes'' vote on my amendment is a resounding repudiation of the nanny state that the Biden administration is currently building via edicts from unelected bureaucrats.

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Mr. ROSE. Mr. Chair, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.

Mr. Chair, it is time to get the government out of our drinks. I understand the concern that my colleague expresses, Mr. Chair, but I would say that the best way to avoid the need for congressional intervention would be for the administration to not be chasing its tail trying to force American consumers to make choices that are absolutely not clear in terms of the environmental impact that they would have.

The plastic straw ban being implemented by the Department of the Interior is fundamentally and fatally flawed. Numerous scientific studies have cast serious doubts as to whether or not paper straws are more environmentally friendly than plastic straws.

Mr. Chair, just listen to these headlines regarding paper straws.

From the National Post, ``It turns out all those paper straws are bad for the environment too.''

From U.S. News & World Report, ``'Eco-Friendly' Paper Straws Contain Harmful PFAS Chemicals.''

Finally, from KSL News, ``Paper straws are no better than plastic, research says.''

Mr. Chair, I include in the Record these several articles. [From nationalpost.com, Aug. 29, 2023] It Turns Out All Those Paper Straws Are Bad for the Environment (By Tristin Hopper)

Canada has legislated the mandatory adoption of paper straws just in time for new evidence to emerge that the new straws may be just as unsustainable as their plastic predecessors.

A new study published in the journal Food Additives and Contaminants examined more than 20 different brands of plant- based straws and found high levels of toxic chemicals in almost all of them.

``These `eco-friendly' plant-based straws are not necessarily a more sustainable alternative to plastic straws,'' concluded a research team based at Belgium's University of Antwerp.

Straws examined by the researchers were largely found to be laden with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as ``forever chemicals.''

This not only means that the straws likely aren't biodegradable, but that they are vectors for chemicals considered hazardous to human and environmental health.

The report noted that even in situations where a plant- based straw doesn't become litter, it will most likely end up in a landfill where it will spend the rest of its lifecycle ``releasing PFAS further into the environment.''

``Straws made from plant-based materials . . . are often advertised as being more sustainable and eco-friendly than those made from plastic. However, the presence of PFAS in these straws means that's not necessarily true,'' environmental scientist Thimo Groffen said in a press statement.

Canada is in the midst of an all-out drive to prohibit the distribution of single-use plastics, with plastic straws being one of the most visible targets of the ban.

In December 2022, Environment Canada made it illegal to manufacture or import plastic straws, cutlery and checkout bags, among others. At the end of this year, the sale of those products will also become prohibited. The transition is not free; even according to the most optimistic estimates of the Government of Canada, the average Canadian can expect to pay $50 apiece in the higher costs of plastic alternatives.

The University of Antwerp team performed chemical analysis on 39 different types of straws sourced from Belgium supermarkets and fast food outlets: 20 paper, five glass, five bamboo, five stainless steel, and four plastic.

Only the stainless-steel straws were found to be completely PFAS-free. The steel straws were also the only type that could realistically be recycled. Researchers were surprised to discover that even glass straws contained measurable amounts of forever chemicals.

As to why these chemicals were so widespread in alternative straws, one reason is that they were added to make the products water-repellent. The Belgian study also noted that it might be partially unintended; with so many paper straws made from recycled materials, manufacturers might be unwittingly using raw ingredients that were previously infused with PFAS.

Although Canada's straw ban has often pitched as a means to protect ocean health, the vast majority of plastic in the world's oceans comes from a handful of countries (largely in South Asia) that dump their waste directly onto beaches or into rivers.

In Canada, by contrast, the vast majority of single-use plastics are captured by existing waste-management systems. A 2019 report commissioned by Environment Canada determined that of the 3,268 kilotonnes of plastic waste Canada generated in 2016, 3,239 kilotonnes were ``collected.''

Ottawa has also done little to no research on the environmental impacts or the potential unintended consequences of finding alternatives to single-use plastics. A Government of Canada report on alternatives to plastic straws and checkout bags simply advises retailers to find products that won't be ``problematic.''

That same report touts how Starbucks replaced plastic straws in 2019 with specialized ``strawless'' lids, but fails to note that the new lids actually contain more plastic than the prior cup/straw combo. ____ [From U.S. News & World Report, Aug. 25, 2023]

`Eco-Friendly' Paper Straws Contain Harmful PFAS Chemicals (By Cara Murez)

``Straws made from plant-based materials, such as paper and bamboo, are often advertised as being more sustainable and eco-friendly than those made from plastic,'' said researcher Thimo Groffen, an environmental scientist at the University of Antwerp in Belgium. ``However, the presence of PFAS in these straws means that's not necessarily true.''

For this study, published Aug. 24 in the journal Food Additives and Contaminants, Groffen and colleagues tested 39 straw brands in a variety of materials for poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Straws were paper, bamboo, glass, stainless steel and plastic. Each straw went through two rounds of testing for PFAS.

PFAS were found in 69 percent of the straws. Testing detected 18 different PFAS.

These chemicals were found in 90 percent of paper straws; about 80 percent of bamboo straws; 75 percent of plastic straws, and 40 percent of glass straw brands.

PFAS were not detected in any of the five types of steel straws tested.

The most commonly found PFAS was perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which has been banned worldwide since 2020.

Testing also detected trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFMS). These ``ultra-short- chain'' PFAS are highly water soluble and so might leach out of straws into drinks, according to the study.

These all may pose limited risk to human health because people tend to use straws only occasionally and chemical concentrations were low, researchers said. But the chemicals can build up in the body for years.

``Small amounts of PFAS, while not harmful in themselves, can add to the chemical load already present in the body,'' Groffen said in a journal news release.

It's not known if the straws contained the PFAS to waterproof them or because of contamination from soil used to grow materials or water used in manufacturing.

PFAS are used in many everyday products, including nonstick pans and outdoor clothing. They make these items resistant to water, heat and stains, but break down very slowly over time and can persist in the environment for thousands of years.

They're associated with health problems, such as lower response to vaccines, lower birth weight, thyroid disease, increased cholesterol levels, liver damage, kidney cancer and testicular cancer.

A recent U.S. study found PFAS in plant-based drinking straws as well. While some countries have banned single-use plastic products, plant-based alternatives have become popular.

Researchers said the prevalence of PFAS in the straws suggests they were added as a waterproof coating.

``The presence of PFAS in paper and bamboo straws shows they are not necessarily biodegradable,'' Groffen said. ``We did not detect any PFAS in stainless steel straws, so I would advise consumers to use this type of straw--or just avoid using straws at all.'' [From KLS.com, Sept. 3, 2023] Paper Straws Are No Better Than Plastic, Research Says (By Mariah Maynes)

Plastic straws have long been vilified for their negative impact on the environment. In efforts to be more environmentally friendly, many businesses and consumers have adopted paper straws as an alternative.

Despite well-meaning attempts to cause less harm to the environment by using paper instead of plastic, researchers found that paper straws are just as bad.

Christian Britschgi, a reporter for Reason Magazine, said Belgian researchers conducted a study to examine 39 straw brands. The straws were made with different materials like paper, plastic, metal, and bamboo.

The researchers measured the presence of polyfluoroalkyl substances. The chemicals are common in consumer products and industrial processes.

The chemicals are often called ``forever chemicals'' because they do not break down in the environment, according to the CDC. The lack of regular decomposition means these paper straws can move through soil and water, contaminating food and drinking water. Bioaccumulation can cause health problems in animals.

Research has found that these forever chemicals are hazardous to the environment and to human health. Research has found that exposure to certain levels of polyfluoroalkyl substances can result in adverse health risks, the EPA said. Some examples are decreased fertility, increased risk of developing some cancers and reduced immunity, among other conditions. Research into adverse health effects related to these forever chemicals exposure is ongoing.

Human consumption of products derived from animals that were exposed to bioaccumulation, breathing contaminated air or drinking contaminated water, or certain occupations such as chemical manufacturing, are all examples of exposure to polyfluoroalkyl substances. Paper vs. plastic straws

Researchers found that the paper straws all contained polyfluoroalkyl substances. The paper straws contained higher concentrations of forever chemicals than their counterparts constructed with other materials.

Plastic straws also contain these forever chemicals, but in lower concentrations. About 70 percent of the plastic straws examined by the researchers contained the chemicals.

The only type of straw that did not contain polyfluoroalkyl substances was the steel option, researchers found. Steel straws are a reusable option.

Britschgi said the emissions and pollution produced from making straws should be taken into account when determining how environmentally friendly they are.

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Mr. ROSE. Mr. Chair, my amendment will stop the nonsense that the Biden administration is trying to force upon the American people through the Department of the Interior by prohibiting any funds from being used to implement, administer, apply, enforce, or carry out any plastic straw prohibitions.

Mr. Chair, in closing, I urge Members to vote ``yes'' on my amendment and the underlying bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

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