Water, Cosmetics, and Unwanted Pharmaceuticals Study Act

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Apr 18, 2018

Water, Cosmetics, and Unwanted Pharmaceuticals Study Act

This bill amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to require the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out a study on the presence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in sources of drinking water. The study must identify:

pharmaceuticals and personal care products that have been detected in the sources;

the levels at which the pharmaceuticals and products have been detected;

the origins of pharmaceuticals and products found in drinking water;

the effects of the pharmaceuticals and products on humans, the environment, and the safety of drinking water; and

methods to control, limit, treat, or prevent the presence of pharmaceuticals and products in sources of drinking water.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] · D–IL

Committees

Energy and Commerce Committee

0 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.

Apr 18, 2018
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Apr 18, 2018
Introduced in House
Apr 18, 2018
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 · Apr 18, 2018 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Aug 11, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.5548 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.5548, 115th Congress: Water, Cosmetics, and Unwanted Pharmaceuticals Study Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5548

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2018-04-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr5548/BILLS-115hr5548ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:35:41Z. 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.5548 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.5548 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.5548, 115th Congress: Water, Cosmetics, and Unwanted Pharmaceuticals Study Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5548

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2018-04-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr5548/BILLS-115hr5548ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:35:41Z. 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.5548 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.5548 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.5548, 115th Congress: Water, Cosmetics, and Unwanted Pharmaceuticals Study Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5548

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2018-04-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr5548/BILLS-115hr5548ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:35:41Z. 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.5548 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.5548 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.5548, 115th Congress: Water, Cosmetics, and Unwanted Pharmaceuticals Study Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5548

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2018-04-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr5548/BILLS-115hr5548ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:35:41Z. 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.5548 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.