Reducing Waste in National Parks Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Oct 7, 2021

Reducing Waste in National Parks Act

This bill directs the National Park Service to establish a program for the National Park System to reduce disposable plastic products and, if applicable, eliminate the sale and distribution of disposable plastic products.

Each regional office of the National Park Service must eliminate the sale of water in disposable plastic products and the sale and distribution of other disposable plastic products after consideration of several specified factors (e.g., the costs and benefits to overall operations).

Each regional office must develop a proactive visitor education strategy to address visitor expectations of water availability and explain the rationale for the program and its implementation.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] · D–OR

Committees

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

8 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Oct 7, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Oct 7, 2021
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Introduced in Senate · Oct 7, 2021 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Discuss S.2960, 117th Congress: Reducing Waste in National Parks Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2960

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-10-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s2960/BILLS-117s2960is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. 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 S.2960 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 S.2960, 117th Congress: Reducing Waste in National Parks Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2960

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-10-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s2960/BILLS-117s2960is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. 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 S.2960 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.

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Discuss S.2960, 117th Congress: Reducing Waste in National Parks Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2960

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-10-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s2960/BILLS-117s2960is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. 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.

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View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.2960, 117th Congress: Reducing Waste in National Parks Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2960

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-10-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s2960/BILLS-117s2960is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. 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 S.2960 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.