House passes measure blocking Biden administration ban on plastic straws

The House advanced a measure that would prohibit the Biden administration from implementing a ban on plastic straws as part of a provision in a larger spending bill that could get struck down in the Senate.

Lawmakers passed its seventh appropriations bill on Friday, advancing a $34.8 billion measure to fund the Interior Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, and a number of related agencies. Included in that bill is an amendment proposed by Rep. John Rose (R-TN) that would prevent the Interior Department from banning the sale of plastic straws on public lands and in national parks.

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“On every issue, the Biden Administration puts progressive politics over science,” Rose said in a statement. “Whether it be electric vehicles or plastic straws, President Biden is committed to advancing his progressive priorities at the cost of their ineffectiveness and unpopularity. In Congress through the appropriations process, I will work to ensure these draconian, heavy-handed approaches never see the light of day.”

The legislation comes in response to an announcement from Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in June that the Biden administration would implement a plan to phase out single-use plastics on public lands by 2032. The department finalized that plan in September, detailing different ways to cut down on the distribution of single-use plastic on department-managed lands.

However, Rose pushed back on those plans, arguing alternatives to single-use plastic, such as paper straws, may not be more environmentally friendly. The Tennessee Republican pointed to a study published in the Food Additives and Contaminants journal that found a majority of paper straws are made with “forever chemicals” such as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

“We have to ask: Why is the Department of 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?” Rose said in prepared remarks on the House floor. “Additionally, paper straws are absolutely despised by many Americans because they start to become soggy almost immediately when put into a drink.”

“The American people do not want their government dictating what type of straws they can drink from,” he continued. “A yes vote on my amendment is a resounding repudiation of the nanny state the Biden administration is currently building via edicts from unelected bureaucrats.”

The proposal was met with criticism from some House Democrats who mocked Rose for filing the motion.

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“We currently have a war going on in Ukraine with Russia, Israel with Hamas. And we are trying to face climate change and so many serious issues,” said Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME). “And we’re here debating a plastic straw — whether or not plastic straws should be used, whether or not they’re the best alternative. I mean, I understand. It’s complicated — what is the best kind of straw to use? A reusable straw, a paper straw, a plastic straw.”

The amendment was adopted through a voice vote during a late-night vote series on Thursday and was included in the appropriations bill that advanced through the lower chamber on Friday morning. The appropriations bill now heads to the Senate, where it is likely to face Democratic opposition and changes to its text — meaning Rose’s amendment may not see final passage.