H.R.4236: Reducing Waste in National Parks Act

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Sep 6, 2019

Reducing Waste in National Parks Act

This bill directs each regional office of the National Park Service (NPS) to establish a program to recycle and reduce the use of disposable plastic bottles within each NPS unit located in its region.

NPS regional offices may eliminate the sale of water in disposable plastic bottles within their NPS units after having considered several specified factors. Where, prior to enactment of this bill, an NPS unit does not offer water for sale in disposable plastic bottles, the unit may continue that practice if it submits to the regional office an evaluation of those factors.

NPS regional offices shall develop for each NPS unit a proactive visitor education strategy to address visitor expectations of water availability and explain the rationale for the program.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] · D–IL

Committees

Natural Resources Committee

32 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Feb 27, 2020
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Sep 9, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.
Sep 6, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Sep 6, 2019
Introduced in House
Sep 6, 2019
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Sep 6, 2019 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 3768 · Reducing Waste in National Parks Act

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.4236 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.4236, 116th Congress: Reducing Waste in National Parks Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/4236

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2019-09-06.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr4236/BILLS-116hr4236ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:08:21Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.4236 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.4236 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4236, 116th Congress: Reducing Waste in National Parks Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/4236

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2019-09-06.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr4236/BILLS-116hr4236ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:08:21Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4236 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.4236 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4236, 116th Congress: Reducing Waste in National Parks Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/4236

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2019-09-06.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr4236/BILLS-116hr4236ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:08:21Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4236 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.4236 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4236, 116th Congress: Reducing Waste in National Parks Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/4236

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2019-09-06.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr4236/BILLS-116hr4236ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:08:21Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4236 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.