Rashae Williams 1

Public Policy Process

10/31/2022
Policy Research Project
1. Briefly describe the policy problem you researched
The current recycling policies in the United States of America are a concern. The waste being

produced in the United States is growing more quickly than the countries’ efforts to reduce or

recycle it. Much effort has been made in recent years by the Environmental Protection Agency to

outline concrete goals for recycling, but the current policies in place are not sufficient to reach

these goals and progress has been minimal. A large part of the problem isn’t just lack of proper

policies or legislation, but the difficulty each state faces in implementing national recycling

policies on a more local level, because of funding, resource, or community issues.

2. Which database did you search and why

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search: This database helps me understand the types of policies

being implemented on the state level. This will help me compare the changes being made and if

the varying policies work together to accomplish the national recycling goals. Recycling

implementation is usually the sole responsibly of the state and local legislation, so looking at

state policy will give me a more realistic understanding of the current state of affairs.

https://www.congress.gov/: By using this database I can more clearly understand the current

policies in place to reach the national recycling goals and see if the state policies in relation to

these are sufficient to accomplish each landmark. Because many policies are made on the federal

level, but then implemented on a state level, this will help me see what the United States is

working on already in terms of responsible recycling.

3. List the search terms entered into the database

a. NJ Legislation website: Terms: recycling, environment-solid waste and recycling

b. Congress.gov website: Terms: Recycling, environment

4. List the Bills found and for each by number, list the name of the Representative who
introduced each and describe its current status
NJ State Legislation: Narrowed my search to the 2018-2019, filtered out irrelevant bills.
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 A1208 (S4179) “Plastic Container Recycling Enhancement Act”. Representative: John F.

McKeon, Current status: Was introduced then Referred to Assembly Environment and Solid

Waste Committee (1/9/2018)

 A3770 Aca (1R) Requires State entities to recycle certain materials and provide recycling bins

in State buildings. Representative: Kevin J. Rooney. Status: Introduced then Reported out of

Asm. Committee with Amendments, and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee

(3/11/2019)

 A5681/5682 Establishes Recycling Market Development Council. Representative: Nancy J.

Pinkin. Status: Introduced then Referred and Reported from Assembly Committee as a

Substitute before the 2nd Reading. Then the bill was Passed after an assembly floor

amendment (1/13/2020).

 S3944 Establishes task force to study recycling streams in NJ and challenges faced by local

governments in running recycling programs. Representative: Christopher Bateman. Current

status: Introduced in the Senate then Referred to State Environment and Energy Committee

(11/18/2019).

 SCR137 Urges DEP and EDA to establish plastics recycling marketplace. Representative: Bob

Smith. Current status: Introduced in the Senate then Referred before being Reported from

Senate Committee for the 2nd reading, and then Passed by the Senate (40-0). The bill was

Received in the Assembly and Reported out again for agreement (2/14/2019).

Congress.gov: I narrowed my search to 2019-2020, filtered out irrelevant bills or committee

reports.

 H.R.4636 PLASTICS Act, to prevent and reduce marine debris and plastic waste.

Representative: Michael McCaul. Current status: Passed house. This is after the bill was
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amended, then debated for 40 minutes. The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the bill

by voice vote without objection. It has now been received by the Senate and referred to the

Committee on Foreign Relations.

 S.1982 -Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, to reduce, recycle, and prevent marine debris. Representative:

Senator Dan Sullivan. Current status: Became Law. This bill was first read twice by the

Senate, and referred to a committee, that amended the bill unanimously. It passed the Senate

with amendment unanimously and was received in the House and referred to another

committee and other various subcommittees. It was then considered under suspension of the

rules and debated and agreed to by voice vote. It was passed to the Senate, agreed to

unanimously and then presented to the president before becoming public law.

 H.R.7228 Plastic Waste Reduction and Recycling Act. Representative: Haley M. Stevens.

Current Status: Introduced

 H.R.8297 Advanced Recycling and Research Development Act of 2020. Requires Dpt. Of

Energy to implement research and projects to improve recycling. Representative: Anthony

Gonzalez. Current status: Introduced

 S.2941 RECYCLE Act. Requires EPA to award grants to community programs.

Representative: Senator Rob Portman. Current status: Introduced

5. List the committees involved in information the passage of the Bills.

NJ State Legislation: The two committees involved in passage of bills were Assembly

Environment and Solid Waste Committee and Senate Environment and Energy Committee.

Congress: The most common committees related to these bills were House-Natural

Resources; Foreign Affairs; Energy and Commerce; Science, Space and Technology. For the

Senate-Commerce, Science and Transportation; Environment and Public Works.

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6. Concluding paragraph summarizing your understanding of: the stages and

processes of public policy making and how official and unofficial stakeholders can
influence the policymaking agenda and policy choices.
In the New Jersey State Legislature Policy Making process, a bill is first drafted, then

introduced before being referred to a committee, or sent directly for a second reading. The

committee then considers the bill and can decide to report it the House with or without

amendments. After the second reading, there is usually a third reading and debate as necessary

before the House Vote. The bill can then be passed to the Second House for a vote and then

either amended and returned to the first House or passed. If the bill passes both Houses, it is sent

to the Governor, who either signs or vetoes the bill. If it is signed, then the bill becomes Law.

Federal Policy Making is similar to the state process. The Bill is first created and a

Representative sponsors the bill which is assigned to a committee. The bill is then either voted

on, debated, or amended by the House. If the bill passes, it moves to the Senate, assigned to

another committee and the process of voting, amending, or debate is repeated. If amendments are

made, it is returned to the House, and the process repeats until it passes through the House and

Senate by a majority vote and concurred amendments. The bill is sent to the President who can

either veto or sign the bill into Law. I think stakeholders have a great influence in policymaking.

Ideally, the Representatives introducing bills reflect the interests of their communities, which

influence policymaking. Representatives themselves are heavily involved in the debating and

amending process of bills. Without majority vote, bills cannot become Law.