Congress Sends Ocean Plastics Bill to White House

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration would get more authority to deal with plastic pollution in the oceans under a bill that is heading to the president’s desk.

The House passed S. 756 on a voice vote. The bill has already passed the Senate unanimously. The White House didn’t respond to questions about whether President Donald Trump would sign the measure.

The legislation renews a marine debris program at NOAA and would also give the agency’s head the power to declare a “severe marine debris event.”

Plastics that don’t biodegrade easily can collect in the ocean and wash up ...