A resolution recognizing that mercury pollution can cause severe health problems, including permanent brain damage, kidney damage, and birth defects.
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeMr. Whitehouse (for himself, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Markey, …
Summary
What This Bill Does
S.Res.560 is a non-binding Senate resolution that expresses the Senate's concern about mercury pollution from power plants. It formally recognizes that mercury is a dangerous neurotoxin that causes severe health problems including brain damage, kidney damage, and birth defects, and declares that the EPA should not weaken existing mercury emission controls on power plants.
Who Benefits and How
Public health advocates and environmental groups benefit from this resolution as it provides official Congressional support for maintaining strong mercury regulations. Communities living near power plants - particularly children and pregnant women who are most vulnerable to mercury exposure - would benefit from continued strong mercury controls if the resolution influences EPA policy. The resolution cites that approximately 80 million Americans live within 3 miles of fossil fuel-fired power plants.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Fossil fuel-fired power plants, especially coal-fired plants, would face continued compliance costs under existing mercury emission regulations if the EPA heeds this resolution. These plants emit mercury when burning coal, oil, and natural gas. However, since this is a non-binding resolution, it creates no direct legal obligations.
Key Provisions
- Formally recognizes that mercury is a powerful neurotoxin causing brain damage, kidney damage, birth defects, and heart disease
- Notes that fossil fuel-fired power plants are the largest source of mercury emissions in the United States
- Highlights that gestational mercury exposure is particularly dangerous, causing intellectual impairment, cerebral palsy, seizures, and developmental delays in babies
- Expresses that there is no known safe level of mercury exposure
- Declares it is the "sense of the Senate" that the EPA should not loosen controls on mercury pollution from power plants
Important Note
This is a Senate Resolution (S.Res.), not a bill. It is a non-binding expression of the Senate's position and does not create any legal requirements. It signals Congressional sentiment but does not compel EPA action.
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
A Senate resolution expressing that mercury pollution causes severe health problems and the EPA should not loosen controls on mercury emissions from power plants.
Policy Domains
Legislative Strategy
"Non-binding sense of the Senate resolution opposing weakening of mercury emission controls on power plants"
Likely Beneficiaries
- Public health advocates
- Environmental groups
- Communities near power plants
- Children and pregnant women (most vulnerable to mercury exposure)
Likely Burden Bearers
- Fossil fuel-fired power plants (would face continued regulation)
- Coal-fired power plant operators
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_epa"
- → Environmental Protection Agency
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