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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10454 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10454
To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to
take appropriate actions to advance textile circularity, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 16, 2026
Ms. Pingree (for herself and Ms. Kamlager-Dove) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to
take appropriate actions to advance textile circularity, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Textile Waste Reduction Act''.
SEC. 2. ACTIONS RELATING TO TEXTILE CIRCULARITY.
(a) In General.--The Administrator shall take such actions as may
be necessary or appropriate to advance textile circularity, including
prescribing regulations as the Administrator determines necessary to
carry out this Act.
(b) Coordination.--In carrying out this section, the Administrator
shall coordinate and collaborate with covered stakeholders and take
into account the findings and activities of the Interagency Working
Group and the Advisory Board.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL TEXTILE CIRCULARITY STRATEGY.
(a) Establishment.--The Administrator shall establish and implement
a national strategy, to be known as the National Textile Circularity
Strategy, to advance textile circularity.
(b) Consultation; Public Comment.--In developing the National
Textile Circularity Strategy, the Administrator shall--
(1) provide an opportunity for public comment regarding the
National Textile Circularity Strategy for no fewer than 60
days; and
(2) in addition to providing such opportunity, solicit
input from covered stakeholders, which may take the form of a
public hearing, a workshop, or the solicitation of written
input.
(c) Needs Assessment.--
(1) Requirement.--The Administrator shall, in consultation
with States, units of local government, Tribal representatives,
and the Interagency Working Group, prepare, and include in the
National Textile Circularity Strategy, a needs assessment that
identifies the actions, data, and funding needed to implement
the National Textile Circularity Strategy.
(2) Methodology for collecting data.--In carrying out this
subsection, the Administrator shall--
(A) develop a methodology to be used by the
Administrator to collect data identified as needed in
the needs assessment described in paragraph (1); and
(B) identify the resources needed to implement such
methodology.
(3) Contents.--The needs assessment described in paragraph
(1) shall include--
(A) an identification of the types of data needed
to implement the National Textile Circularity Strategy,
including data relating to the scope and scale of
textiles, disaggregated by material composition or
product type, that are landfilled, combusted to recover
energy, recovered, or exported;
(B) data collected during the preceding 5-year
period by the Environmental Protection Agency, States,
and industry on the generation and disposition,
disaggregated by material composition or product type,
of textiles, including textiles that are repaired,
recycled, combusted to recover energy, landfilled, or
exported, for each year in such 5-year period;
(C) an analysis of textile repair, textile reuse,
textile recovery, textile recycling, and textile
hauling within the United States, including at the
local government level;
(D) an identification of entities involved with
such textile repair, textile reuse, textile recovery,
textile recycling, and textile hauling;
(E) an identification of Federal laws, and Federal
financial assistance and incentives, relating to
supporting textile repair, textile reuse, textile
recovery, textile recycling, and textile hauling;
(F) a description of economic conditions relating
to textile circularity and the potential to create or
scale viable end-markets for pre-owned textiles, or
textiles that are a result of textile recycling, in the
States, regionally in the United States, and globally,
including an analysis of the potential economic effect
of such creation or scaling;
(G) an analysis of the barriers (including Federal,
State, or local laws that present barriers, and any
gaps in legal authority that present barriers) to
implementation of the National Textile Circularity
Strategy, or to scaling textile recycling, and
potential solutions to such barriers, which may
include--
(i) an analysis of the cost of recovering
textiles and developing any infrastructure
needed to implement the National Textile
Circularity Strategy or scale textile
recycling;
(ii) workforce needs; and
(iii) funding solutions; and
(H) an identification of any need by the public for
education on textile circularity, and methods by which
the Administrator may provide such education.
(d) Initial Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to
Congress the National Textile Circularity Strategy.
(e) Updates; Annual Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the
Administrator submits the National Textile Circularity Strategy under
subsection (d), and annually thereafter, the Administrator shall--
(1) update the National Textile Circularity Strategy; and
(2) submit to Congress a report that includes--
(A) the updated National Textile Circularity
Strategy; and
(B) any lessons learned from implementing the
National Textile Circularity Strategy during the year
prior to such report.
(f) Publication of Information on Textiles.--The Administrator
shall--
(1) on the date on which the Administrator submits to
Congress the National Textile Circularity Strategy, publish on
the website of the Environmental Protection Agency the data
described in subsection (c)(3)(B) and the municipal solid waste
estimation methods; and
(2) update and publish such data and any updated
methodology at least once a year.
SEC. 4. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP ON TEXTILE CIRCULARITY.
(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--There is established an interagency group,
to be known as the Interagency Working Group on Textile
Circularity, to coordinate Federal activities on advancing
textile circularity, including Federal activities relating to
the development and implementation of the National Textile
Circularity Strategy.
(2) Charter.--
(A) Establishment.--Not later than 225 days after
the date of enactment of this Act, the heads of the
following entities shall develop and execute a charter,
memorandum of agreement, or similar mechanism to set
forth the goals and activities of the Interagency
Working Group:
(i) The Department of Energy.
(ii) The Department of State.
(iii) The Environmental Protection Agency.
(iv) The Federal Trade Commission.
(v) The National Institute of Standards and
Technology.
(vi) The National Science Foundation.
(vii) U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
(viii) The White House Office of Science
and Technology Policy.
(ix) Any other Federal entity that the
Administrator determines to be appropriate.
(B) Incorporation of leading practices.--In
developing and executing such charter, memorandum, or
mechanism, such heads shall, as applicable, follow, or
incorporate into the charter, memorandum, or mechanism,
the leading practices for interagency collaboration set
forth by the Government Accountability Office,
including that each member of the Interagency Working
Group shall sign such charter, memorandum, or
mechanism.
(b) Membership.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the execution
of the charter, memorandum of agreement, or similar mechanism
under subsection (a)(2), the head of each of the entities
listed in such subsection shall designate as a member of the
Interagency Working Group any officer or employee of the entity
who has the authority to provide the Federal financial
assistance or incentives, personnel, administrative support,
and technical services of the entity.
(2) Chair.--The Interagency Working Group shall be chaired
by the member designated from the Environmental Protection
Agency.
(c) Duties.--The Interagency Working Group shall--
(1) assist and advise the Administrator in developing,
updating, and implementing the National Textile Circularity
Strategy, including by providing data and resources identified
as needed in the National Textile Circularity Strategy;
(2) facilitate the sharing of information across the
Federal Government, including the White House, regarding the
advancement of textile circularity across the United States,
including information relating to the development and
implementation of the National Textile Circularity Strategy;
(3) develop a strategy to coordinate Federal interagency
efforts to advance textile circularity across the Federal
Government, including developing a common framework across the
Federal Government of principles, definitions, data, and
methods related to such efforts, in furtherance of the
activities of the National Textile Circularity Strategy; and
(4) make recommendations to each entity listed in
subsection (a)(2) regarding the strategy to coordinate Federal
interagency efforts developed under paragraph (3).
(d) Report to Congress.--The Chair of the Interagency Working Group
shall--
(1) not fewer than 60 days before the Chair of the
Interagency Working Group submits a report on the findings and
activities of the Interagency Working Group under paragraph
(3), submit to the Advisory Board a draft of such report;
(2) update such report, as appropriate, to address any
recommendations submitted by the Advisory Board; and
(3) not later than 1 year after the date on which the
Interagency Working Group is established, and not less
frequently than once every 2 years thereafter, submit to
Congress such report.
SEC. 5. ADVISORY BOARD TO THE INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.
(a) Establishment.--The Chair of the Interagency Working Group
shall establish an Advisory Board to the Interagency Working Group, to
provide ongoing advice to the Interagency Working Group on matters
relating to Federal activities on textile circularity, including by--
(1) providing ongoing advice on the development of, updates
to, and implementation of the National Textile Circularity
Strategy; and
(2) reviewing the draft described in section 4(d) and
making recommendations to the Interagency Working Group on such
draft.
(b) Appointment of Members.--
(1) Solicitation of nominations and recommendations.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Chair of the
Interagency Working Group shall establish and carry out
a process for soliciting, from the members of the
Interagency Working Group and the public, any
nomination or recommendation, respectively, of an
individual for appointment to the Advisory Board.
(B) Process requirements.--Such process shall--
(i) include the publication of a clear
description of the position on the Advisory
Board, and any qualifications for such
position, in advance of soliciting any
nomination or recommendation of an individual
for appointment to such position; and
(ii) allow individuals to recommend
themselves for appointment to the Advisory
Board.
(2) Conflicts of interest.--The Chair of the Interagency
Working Group shall establish and carry out a process to
identify and mitigate conflicts of interest with respect to
individuals nominated or recommended for appointment to the
Advisory Board, including establishing--
(A) requirements for the disclosure by such
individuals of any potential or perceived conflicts of
interest; and
(B) rules delineating the circumstances in which
such an individual is required to be recused or
disqualified.
(3) Appointment.--
(A) In general.--The Chair of the Interagency
Working Group shall appoint members to the Advisory
Board, each of whom shall demonstrate expertise on the
scientific, economic, industry, or community impacts of
textile circularity or a related field.
(B) Considerations.--In appointing members to the
Advisory Board, the Chair of the Interagency Working
Group shall--
(i) give consideration to any individual
nominated or recommended for appointment to the
Advisory Board; and
(ii) ensure that the members of the
Advisory Board represent an appropriate balance
of--
(I) scientific interests;
(II) industry interests;
(III) the interests of State and
local governments and Tribal
representatives; and
(IV) geographical interests.
(c) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Advisory Board shall consist of the
following members:
(A) 2 members who represent a textile producer.
(B) 1 member who represents a textile retailer.
(C) 2 members who represent organizations that
engage in textile recycling.
(D) 1 member who represents the natural sciences in
academia and studies textile circularity or a related
field.
(E) 1 member who represents the social sciences in
academia and studies textile circularity or a related
field.
(F) 2 members who represent organizations that
engage in textile recovery.
(G) 2 members who represent organizations that
engage in textile repair or textile reuse.
(H) 2 members who represent nongovernmental
organizations that the Chair of the Interagency Working
Group determines to be relevant.
(I) 1 member who represents a local government in a
policy or regulatory role relating to waste management
or disposal, environmental regulations, or recycling.
(J) 1 member who represents a State government or
Tribal Government in a policy or regulatory role
relating to waste management or disposal, environmental
regulations, or recycling.
(K) The Chair of the Interagency Working Group, who
shall serve in an ex-officio capacity and be a non-
voting member of the Advisory Board.
(2) Chair.--The Chair of the Interagency Working Group
shall appoint 1 member of the Advisory Board to serve as the
Chair of the Advisory Board.
(3) Term.--Each voting member of the Advisory Board--
(A) shall be appointed for a 2-year term;
(B) may be appointed to no more than 2 terms; and
(C) may not be appointed to consecutive terms.
(d) Meetings.--Not less frequently than twice each year, the
Advisory Board shall meet at a time and place that the Chair of the
Advisory Board designates, in consultation with the Chair of the
Interagency Working Group.
(e) Briefing.--The Chair of the Advisory Board shall brief the
Interagency Working Group on the findings and activities of the
Advisory Board as necessary or at the request of the Interagency
Working Group.
(f) Duration.--The Advisory Board shall terminate on the date that
is 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 6. PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION RELATING TO TEXTILE CIRCULARITY.
The Administrator shall--
(1) identify Federal financial assistance and incentives,
including grants, loans, subsidies, and other funding
opportunities, that are available to encourage and support
efforts by States, local governments, Tribal Governments, and
nongovernmental organizations to advance textile circularity;
(2) publish information about such Federal financial
assistance and incentives on the website of the Environmental
Protection Agency; and
(3) update such information at least twice each year.
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Advisory board.--The term ``Advisory Board'' means the
Advisory Board to the Interagency Working Group established
under section 5.
(3) Covered stakeholder.--The term ``covered stakeholder''
means a representative of--
(A) an industry that has expertise in textile
circularity or a related field;
(B) a research community that has expertise in
textile circularity or a related field;
(C) a nongovernmental organization that has
expertise in textile circularity or a related field;
(D) a State government;
(E) a local government; or
(F) a Tribal Government.
(4) Interagency working group.--The term ``Interagency
Working Group'' means the Interagency Working Group on Textile
Circularity established under section 4.
(5) Recover.--The term ``recover'', with respect to a
textile, means the process of collecting, sorting, and
processing textile waste for textile repair, textile reuse, or
textile recycling.
(6) State.--The term ``State'' means any of the several
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, or any other territory or possession of the United
States.
(7) Textile.--The term ``textile''--
(A) means an item made in whole or in part from
textile material; and
(B) does not include an item, made in whole or in
part from textile material, that is--
(i) a reusable product designed to collect
or absorb urine or feces; or
(ii) a mattress or piece of furniture.
(8) Textile circularity.--The term ``textile
circularity''--
(A) means a system of production (including design)
and management of textiles that minimizes the
generation of textile waste, maximizes the use of
resources (such as energy or water), and keeps textiles
in circulation for as long as possible; and
(B) includes textile repair, textile reuse, and
textile recycling.
(9) Textile material.--The term ``textile material'' means
natural or synthetic fiber, yarn, or fabric, including leather,
cotton, silk, jute, hemp, wool, viscose, nylon, and polyester.
(10) Textile producer.--The term ``textile producer'' means
a person who manufactures a textile and who owns or is the
licensee of the brand or trademark under which that textile is
offered for sale in, distributed for sale into, or sold in a
State.
(11) Textile recycling.--The term ``textile recycling''
means the process of using recovered textiles as raw materials
in the production of new textiles.
(12) Textile reuse.--The term ``textile reuse'' means the
use of a pre-owned textile without breaking such textile down
into the raw materials of such textile.
(13) Textile waste.--The term ``textile waste''--
(A) means any textile or textile material that is
discarded, including a textile or textile material
discarded by the textile industry or a consumer; and
(B) does not include a textile or textile material
that has been recovered.
(14) Tribal government.--The term ``Tribal Government''
means the government of an Indian Tribe, as such term is
defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(15) Tribal representative.--The term ``Tribal
representative'' means a representative of--
(A) an Indian Tribe, as such term is defined in
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304); or
(B) a Native Hawaiian organization, as such term is
defined in section 3 of the NATIVE Act (25 U.S.C.
4352).
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