A resolution recognizing that mercury pollution can cause severe health problems, including permanent brain damage, kidney damage, and birth defects.
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced
Summary
Mercury pollution is a serious public health hazard. This Senate resolution would recognize mercury as a powerful neurotoxin, explain how fossil fuel combustion sends mercury into air, water, and the food chain, and urge the EPA not to weaken limits on mercury from power plants.
Show full summary
- Families who eat fish would be affected: ingestion of fish from contaminated waters is the most common exposure route, and states maintain fish advisories — more than 3,700 advisories were reported across the U.S. as of 2025.
- Children and pregnant people face special risks: about 80,000,000 people live within three miles of a fossil fuel–fired power plant, including roughly 17,000,000 children; prenatal exposure can cause severe, lasting developmental harms.
- The resolution highlights that fossil fuel–fired power plants are the largest U.S. source of mercury and states there is no known safe level of exposure.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill
Free Policy Watch
You just read the policy. Now see what it costs you.
Pick a topic. PRIA runs your household against live legislation and sends you a free personalized readout.
Pick a topic to get started
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
RI • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Chris Van Hollen
MD • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Tammy Duckworth
IL • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Peter Welch
VT • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Take the PRIA Score to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in