Portman celebrates passage of microbead blocking legislation

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) lauded the passage of the Microbeads Free Waters Act of 2015 in the House this week, pointing out the benefits to his home state, nearby Lake Erie, and the area's public and wildlife health.

“Plastic microbeads are devastating to wildlife and human health, and our bill implements a commonsense way to phase them out in a way that’s fair to Ohio companies and keeps them on a level playing field with their competitors,” Portman said.

Plastic microbeads are found in household products like scrubs, soaps and toothpaste. When used, they enter public water systems and eventually disperse into lakes and rivers, where they absorb toxins in the water before being consumed by wildlife and move up the food chain. The Microbeads Free Waters Act of 2015 clarifies the definition of these materials and creates uniform dates for barring their manufacture and sale.

“Lake Erie is not only a precious natural resource, but also essential for Ohio jobs and tourism and our bill takes appropriate steps to protect this important asset for Ohio,” Portman said. “I’m pleased it has passed the House and will continue to work for passage in the Senate.”