Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, this amendment, which I am offering jointly with Congress Members Welch and Pingree, would ban polystyrene products in our food service facilities here in the House. Mr. Chairman, in 2011, the new Republican majority in the House instituted the use of polystyrene containers in our food service facilities. This amendment would prohibit the use of funds to purchase polystyrene products for use in the House cafeteria and eateries. Removing polystyrene would show our concern for the health of our visitors and our employees, and for the future of our environment. We should be using recyclable and biodegradable products and avoiding polystyrene foam packaging. Over 20 years ago, McDonalds and other for-profit fast-food restaurants replaced polystyrene foam with recyclable and paper board containers. The House of Representatives is the only place within the Capitol Complex to revert back to Styrofoam products. Neither the Senate, the Library of Congress, nor the Capitol Visitors Center food services use polystyrene food products out of concern for the health of their patrons. We should be leading by example, and this amendment provides a way through which we can show environmental responsibility to the thousands of constituents who visit our offices each year. We should be concerned about their health and that of our employees. Polystyrene is also very difficult to recycle.…”