A resolution recognizing that mercury pollution can cause severe health problems, including permanent brain damage, kidney damage, and birth defects.

Senate Resolution

S.Res. 560

119th Congress

A resolution recognizing that mercury pollution can cause severe health problems, including permanent brain damage, kidney damage, and birth defects.

In Committee

Introduced:Dec 17, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Sheldon Whitehouse

D - RI

Cosponsors

8

Quick Stats

Summary

This Senate resolution formally recognizes mercury as a powerful neurotoxin that causes permanent brain damage, kidney damage, birth defects, and heart disease, and calls on the EPA not to loosen controls on mercury pollution from power plants. It notes that all 50 states maintain fish advisories for mercury-contaminated waterbodies, with over 3,700 advisories in effect.

Latest Action

Referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Introduced12/17/2025

StatusReferred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

ChamberSenate

Data from Congress.gov

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Vote Prediction

A resolution recognizing that mercury pollution can cause severe health problems, including permanent brain damage, kidney damage, and birth defects.

This Senate resolution formally recognizes mercury as a powerful neurotoxin that causes permanent brain damage, kidney damage, birth defects, and heart disease, and calls on the EPA not to loosen controls on mercury pollution from power plants. It notes that a

Community Breakdown

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This Senate resolution formally recognizes mercury as a powerful neurotoxin that causes permanent brain damage, kidney damage, birth defects, and heart disease, and calls on the EPA not to loosen controls on mercury pollution from power plants. It notes that all 50 states maintain fish advisories for mercury-contaminated waterbodies, with over 3,700 advisories in effect.

Bill Number: 560
Introduced: 12/17/2025
Status: Referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: A resolution recognizing that mercury pollution can cause severe health problems, including permanent brain damage, kidney damage, and birth defects.
Bill Number: 560
Sponsor: No sponsor
Status: Referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Introduced: 12/17/2025
Summary: This Senate resolution formally recognizes mercury as a powerful neurotoxin that causes permanent brain damage, kidney damage, birth defects, and heart disease, and calls on the EPA not to loosen controls on mercury pollution from power plants. It notes that all 50 states maintain fish advisories fo

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This Senate resolution formally recognizes mercury as a powerful neurotoxin that causes permanent brain damage, kidney damage, birth defects, and heart disease, and calls on the EPA not to loosen controls on mercury pollution from power plants. It notes that all 50 states maintain fish advisories for mercury-contaminated waterbodies, with over 3,700 advisories in effect.

Last updated: 12/26/2025

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Mercury is a powerful neurotoxin with no known safe exposure level
Burning coal, oil, and natural gas releases mercury into atmosphere
All 50 states maintain fish advisories; over 3,700 mercury advisories in effect
Fossil fuel power plants are largest U.S. source of mercury emissions
80 million Americans (17 million children) live within 3 miles of power plants
Gestational exposure can cause cerebral palsy, seizures, vision/hearing loss

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This resolution affects the EPA's mercury regulation of power plants, the coal and natural gas industries, and communities near power plants. It signals congressional opposition to relaxing the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS). Pregnant women and children are identified as particularly vulnerable populations. Fishing communities and subsistence fishers relying on potentially contaminated waters are implicitly recognized. The resolution supports continued EPA enforcement of mercury controls.

Policy Areas

No policy areas assigned yet.

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

560, 119th Congress (2025). "A resolution recognizing that mercury pollution can cause severe health problems, including permanent brain damage, kidney damage, and birth defects.". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/119-sres-560

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