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119-s-2334119th Congress

Waste and Illegal Property Eradication (WIPE) Act

Sponsored By: Senator Welch, Peter [D-VT]

Introduced

Summary

Expeditionary solid waste disposal systems would be authorized for the Department of Defense to destroy seized counterfeit goods, unauthorized military gear, illegal narcotics, and classified materials, and the bill would ban the use of open-air burn pits for those disposals.

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  • Military installations and forward operating bases would be able to receive and use deployable disposal systems to eliminate illicit contraband and unauthorized U.S. military items.
  • Border security and narcotics interdiction efforts would get systems that support operations and could be made available to partner security forces to counter infiltration and misuse of U.S. equipment.
  • The bill bars open-air burn pits for disposing illicit contraband, classified military equipment, or hazardous waste materials, changing how those items must be handled.
  • For FY2026 the bill would increase the Army’s Other Procurement account by $9.0 million to buy these systems and reduce Army Operation and Maintenance, Overseas Operating Costs by $9.0 million as an offset.

*For FY2026 this shift would be budget-neutral for the Army because the $9.0 million increase is offset by an equal reduction in Army O&M.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Military mobile waste disposal rules

If enacted, the Defense Department would be allowed to use mobile solid waste disposal units to destroy seized contraband. That includes counterfeit goods, unauthorized military gear, illegal drugs, and classified materials. The bill would also ban the use of open-air burn pits to dispose of those items or hazardous waste. These units could support border security, narcotic interdiction, bases, and partner forces.

Army funding shift for waste systems

If enacted, the bill would add $8.95 million to Army procurement for solid waste disposal systems in FY2026. It would cut Army operation and maintenance overseas operating costs by $8.95 million in FY2026. The cut must come from amounts tied to using open-air burn pits in contingency operations.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Welch, Peter [D-VT]

VT • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]

    AK • R

    Sponsored 7/17/2025

  • Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 7/17/2025

  • Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 7/17/2025

  • Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 7/17/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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