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119-sres-560119th Congress

A resolution recognizing that mercury pollution can cause severe health problems, including permanent brain damage, kidney damage, and birth defects.

Sponsored By: Senator 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.

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  • 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.

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Bill Overview

No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

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

  • Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 12/17/2025

  • Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 12/17/2025

  • Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 12/17/2025

  • Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]

    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.

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