This resolution celebrates the 40th anniversary of the International Coastal Cleanup, a volunteer-led effort that began in 1986 in Texas and has grown into the largest annual volunteer event in the United States. Since its inception, nearly 19 million volunteers from 155 countries have removed over 400 million pounds of ocean trash from beaches and waterways, with 2024 alone seeing over 486,000 volunteers collect 7.5 million pounds of trash globally. The resolution highlights that over 70 percent of trash collected in the U.S. through this program consists of single-use plastics, and the data collected by volunteers has created the world's largest ocean trash database, which has informed more than 290 scientific papers. The Senate resolution expresses support for the International Coastal Cleanup's goals, encourages Americans to participate in cleanup activities, and emphasizes the need to reduce plastic pollution both through local cleanup efforts and by addressing the problem at its source through reduced plastic production. Unlike most legislation, this resolution does not create new programs or require funding—it is a ceremonial measure expressing congressional support for an ongoing environmental initiative.
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