Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce passed Congressman Randy Weber’s (TX-14) bipartisan H.R. 6832, the Packaging and Claims Knowledge (PACK) Act, by a vote of 25-18, clearing the way for consideration by the full House of Representatives.

The vote marks the PACK Act’s third major milestone in less than two months. The legislation received a hearing before the Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee on July 22nd, advanced through the Subcommittee on September 1st, and has now passed the full Energy and Commerce Committee.

“Today, consumer protection won,” said Congressman Weber. “Families should not need a law degree to figure out which bin their garbage goes into, and American manufacturers should not need 50 different rulebooks to label the same product nationwide. The PACK Act backs these claims with independent third-party certification, giving Americans clearer, more trustworthy information.”

“We passed the Subcommittee. We cleared the full Committee 25-18. Now, the PACK Act is charging toward the House floor,” Weber continued. “Folks, the Golden State’s garbage law, S.B. 343, should not become America’s rulebook. We are putting the costly patchwork behind us and moving one commonsense national framework closer to the finish line.”.

The PACK Act would:

• PROTECT CONSUMERS: Requires recyclable, compostable, and reusable packaging claims to be accurate and independently certified.
• HELP LOWER COSTS: Replaces conflicting state labeling requirements with one consistent framework for products sold nationwide.
• KEEP CLAIMS VOLUNTARY: Gives businesses the choice to make covered packaging claims while holding those claims to clear standards.
• CREATE ONE NATIONAL FRAMEWORK: Directs the Federal Trade Commission to administer consistent requirements with input from the Environmental Protection Agency and a new advisory council.
• PRESERVE STATE AND LOCAL CONTROL: Keeps decisions about solid waste, recycling programs, and infrastructure investment with states.
  

The legislation has earned support from a broad coalition of manufacturers, retailers, consumer product companies, and trade associations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Dow, National Association of Manufacturers, Consumer Brands Association, American Beverage Association, Consumer Technology Association, General Mills, Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, Nestlé USA, Keurig Dr Pepper, and McCormick & Company, and others.

The PACK Act is cosponsored by U.S. Reps. Troy Balderson (R-OH), Buddy Carter (R-GA), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Neal Dunn (R-FL), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Russ Fulcher (R-ID), Adam Gray (D-CA), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), David Joyce (R-OH), Nick Langworthy (R-NY), Laurel Lee (R-FL), Addison McDowell (R-NC), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Barry Moore (R-AL), Michael Rulli (R-OH), Bryan Steil (R-WI), Glenn Thompson (R-PA), and Tony Wied (R-WI).

Watch the full exchange here.

Read my full op-ed in 535 News here.

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