Rep. Nancy Mace Introduces the PURGE Act to Target Microplastics in America’s Waters

WASHINGTON, D.C., (Nov. 6, 2026) - Today, Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) introduced the Plastics Understanding and Removal through Government Evaluation (PURGE) Act, legislation directing the Environmental Protection Agency to study and test strategies to remove microplastics from the environment and our water supply and prevent plastics from breaking down into persistent microplastic and nanoplastic particles.

Microplastics are present everywhere in the environment, including our rivers, oceans, and seafood. The PURGE Act demands answers. What works. What it costs. And whether it can be put to use at water treatment and environmental facilities.

The bill focuses on two approaches: removing microplastics already in our environment through filtration and capture, and engineering plastics to break down naturally instead of fragmenting into persistent microplastic and nanoplastic particles.

"Microplastics are in our water and on our dinner plates, and we have yet to know what actually works to stop them," said Congresswoman Mace. "The PURGE Act puts the EPA to work finding real solutions, tested in the real world and measured by hard science. No more guessing. No gimmicks. Our families deserve a microplastic-free future, and we intend to deliver it."

The PURGE Act:

• Directs the EPA to study anti-microplastic strategies, including their effectiveness, cost, toxic byproducts, and impact on recycling, and report to Congress within 180 days.
• Establishes a five-year pilot program testing these strategies in at least three different sites across diverse geographic regions, including riverine, coastal, and municipal wastewater settings to the extent practicable.
• Requires the EPA to set measurable success standards before any testing begins.
• Prioritizes solutions capable of working with existing water treatment and stormwater infrastructure, without substantial new construction.
• Requires biodegradation to be verified through molecular-level testing, not visual inspection or mass-loss measurements alone.
• Requires coordination with NOAA, the U.S. Geological Survey, and state environmental agencies.
• Requires a final report to Congress on pilot results within one year of the program's conclusion.

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