November 9, 2026 — U.S. Representative Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina) has introduced the Plastics Understanding and Removal through Government Evaluation (PURGE) Act that, if passed, would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to study and test solutions for removing microplastics.
“Microplastics are present everywhere in the environment, including our rivers, oceans, and seafood,” Mace’s office said in a release. “The PURGE Act demands answers. What works. What it costs. And whether it can be put to use at water treatment and environmental facilities.”