To authorize the use of expeditionary solid waste disposal systems by the Department of Defense and to provide funding for solid waste disposal systems, with an offset, and for other purposes.
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMr. Ruiz (for himself, Ms. Tenney, and Mr. Bilirakis) introduced …
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Waste and Illegal Property Eradication (WIPE) Act authorizes the Department of Defense to use mobile solid waste disposal systems for destroying seized contraband, including counterfeit materials, unauthorized military gear, illegal drugs, and classified documents. The bill shifts $8.95 million from open-air burn pit operations to fund these disposal systems.
Who Benefits and How
The Department of Defense gains new authority and dedicated funding to destroy contraband using cleaner technology. Military personnel and veterans benefit from the prohibition on open-air burn pits, which have been linked to respiratory illnesses and other health problems. Companies that manufacture expeditionary solid waste disposal systems may see increased demand for their products.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The bill is budget-neutral within the Department of Defense, so no new taxpayer funds are required. However, contingency operations that previously relied on open-air burn pits will need to adapt to new disposal methods, which may require logistical adjustments at forward operating bases.
Key Provisions
- Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to use expeditionary solid waste disposal systems for destroying seized counterfeit materials, unauthorized military gear, illegal narcotics, and classified materials
- Makes disposal systems available to military installations, forward bases, and partner security forces for border security and narcotics interdiction
- Prohibits the use of open-air burn pits for disposing of contraband, classified equipment, or hazardous waste
- Provides $8.95 million for solid waste disposal systems by reducing funding for open-air burn pit operations
- Supports efforts to counter infiltration and unauthorized use of U.S. military assets
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
The bill authorizes the Department of Defense to use expeditionary solid waste disposal systems for destroying illicit contraband, including seized counterfeit materials, unauthorized military gear, illegal narcotics, and classified materials. It provides funding for these systems with an offset from funds allocated for open-air burn pits.
Policy Domains
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of Defense
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
The Act may be referred to as the Waste and Illegal Property Eradication (WIPE) Act.
The Secretary of Defense is authorized to use expeditionary solid waste disposal systems for the destruction of various types of illicit contraband, including seized materials and unauthorized military gear. The bill also specifies that open-air burn pits cannot be used for disposing of such items.
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology