,i #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #abci ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #ab1 #bjbe,mr4 ,casten 7for himself and ,ms4 ,salazar7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency to establish a voluntary sustainable apparel labeling program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,voluntary ,sustainable ,apparel ,labeling ,act4 #b4 ,voluntary sustainable apparel labeling program 7a7 ,in general 7#a7 ,establishment ,the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency 7in this section referred to as the ,administrator7 shall carry out a voluntary sustainable apparel labeling program 7in this section referred to as the labeling program74 7#b7 ,consultation ,the ,administrator shall establish and operate the labeling program in consultation with the ,secretary of ,agriculture and the ,federal ,trade ,commission4 7#c7 ,regulations ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,administrator shall finalize regulations to carry out the labeling program4 7b7 ,requirements ,under the labeling program-- 7#a7 any person that sells an article of apparel may submit an application to the ,administrator to enter the article of apparel into the labeling program2 7#b7 the ,administrator shall specify the information to be included in an application under paragraph 7#a72 7#c7 the ,administrator shall review any application submitted under paragraph 7#a7 and make a determination regarding whether to include the article of apparel in the labeling program-- 7,a7 on the basis of whether the ,administrator believes the person submitting the application will adhere to the requirements of the labeling program2 and 7,b7 not on the basis of an assessment of the benefits to the environment associated with the article of apparel2 7#d7 a person 7referred to in this section as a participant7 that sells an article of apparel that the ,administrator has determined to include in the labeling program 7referred to in this section as the participating article of apparel7 may attach a label 7referred to in this section as the apparel sustainability label7 to-- 7,a7 the participating article of apparel2 or 7,b7 packaging used for the sole purpose of containing the participating article of apparel2 7#e7 the ,administrator shall establish requirements for the visual form of the apparel sustainability label that shall-- 7,a7 convey the information described in paragraph 7#f7 to the consumer in a manner that is determined by the ,administrator to be most useful to the consumer at the point of sale in making apparel purchasing decisions2 7,b7 not convey that any given article of apparel is acceptable or unacceptable1 but instead provide the consumer a numerical quantification of the information described in paragraph 7#f72 7,c7 employ words1 numbers1 and imagery1 as specified by the ,administrator2 7,d7 convey the fact that the information on the apparel sustainability label has been verified under requirements established by the ,environmental ,protection ,agency2 and 7,e7 include a logo to help the consumer identify the label as being associated with the labeling program2 7#f7 the information included on the apparel sustainability label shall-- 7,a7 convey a numerical summary of the best available information regarding the total greenhouse gas emissions released throughout the full life cycle of the participating article of apparel and its input materials1 including in association with-- 7i7 growing of plant fibers and other agricultural inputs2 7ii7 manufacture of the nonagricultural input materials2 7iii7 manufacture of the participating article of apparel2 7iv7 packaging2 7v7 transportation of the input materials and the participating article of apparel2 7vi7 storage2 7vii7 presentation in a retail apparel establishment2 7viii7 consumer use1 including the energy used to-- 7,i7 wash the participating article of apparel2 and 7,,ii7 prepare the participating article of apparel for use1 including by ironing or pressing2 7ix7 end-of-life reuse1 recycling1 treatment1 and disposal of the participating article of apparel and its packaging2 and 7x7 any other aspect of the full life cycle of the participating article of apparel associated with greenhouse gas emissions2 7,b7 convey a summary of the voluntary commitment made regarding the participating article of apparel1 as reported under subsection 7c77#a72 and 7,c7 provide electronic access immediately available to the consumer at the point of sale through a quick response 7,,qr7 code or similar mechanism to additional information relevant to the consumer1 which shall include-- 7i7 the complete information described in subparagraph 7,a7 regarding the participating article of apparel2 7ii7 the complete information provided under subsection 7c77#a7 regarding the participating article of apparel2 7iii7 the database established under subsection 7d72 and 7iv7 such other information as the ,administrator determines to be relevant to the consumer2 7#g7 if the participant is the manufacturer of the participating article of apparel1 and not the retail establishment selling the participating article of apparel to the end consumer1 this fact shall be made clear on the apparel sustainability label2 7#h7 if requested by a participant1 the information pertaining to the participating article of apparel that is conveyed under paragraph 7#f77;,a7 shall be divided into-- 7,a7 information identified under clauses 7i7 through 7v7 of paragraph 7#f77;,a71 for which the participant shall be responsible for reporting2 and 7,b7 information identified under clauses 7vi7 through 7ix7 of paragraph 7#f77;,a71 for which the ,administrator shall be responsible for estimating on the basis of the typical use of the participating article of apparel2 7#i7 the distinction between the sources of information referred to in subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 of paragraph 7#h7 shall be made clear on the apparel sustainability label2 7#aj7 no information or imagery shall be included on the apparel sustainability label that has not been specified by the ,administrator pursuant to paragraphs 7#e7 and 7#f72 7#aa7 the ,administrator shall establish the method by which the information included on the apparel sustainability label shall be verified1 which verification shall-- 7,a7 be conducted in accordance with uniform standards for the collection and analysis of the information for all participating articles of apparel2 7,b7 require the use of the best available scientific information2 7,c7 specify the requirements for entities to be authorized to measure1 monitor1 verify1 and report the information2 7,d7 be informed by the established international standards for carbon accounting for product life cycle assessment1 including-- 7i7 the ,,iso #adjdj and ,,iso #adjdd standards of the ,international ,organization for ,standardization2 and 7ii7 protocols established under the ,greenhouse ,gas 7,,ghg7 ,protocol program of the ,world ,business ,council for ,sustainable ,development and the ,world ,resources ,institute1 including-- 7,i7 the ,,ghg ,protocol for ,product ,accounting and ,reporting2 and 7,,ii7 ,publicly ,available ,specification #bjej2 and 7,e7 be informed by and generally align with the current best practices for validating such information in the apparel industry2 7#ab7 in establishing the requirements described in paragraphs 7#e71 7#f71 and 7#aj71 the ,administrator-- 7,a7 shall consult with an expert advisory panel composed of apparel industry stakeholders2 and 7,b7 may consult with such panel either-- 7i7 by establishing a ,federal advisory committee under chapter #aj of part ,i of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code 7commonly referred to as the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act72 or 7ii7 through a negotiated rulemaking under subchapter ,,iii of part ,i of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code 7commonly referred to as the ,negotiated ,rulemaking ,act72 7#ac7 the ,administrator shall establish a program by which entities shall be certified to perform the activities under paragraph 7#aa77;,c72 7#ad7 beginning #g years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and every #e years thereafter1 the ,administrator shall-- 7,a7 publish a report on the effectiveness1 as determined by the ,administrator1 of the labeling program in achieving objectives1 including such effectiveness in-- 7i7 providing consumers information that consumers find useful2 and 7ii7 reducing the greenhouse gas emissions associated with apparel throughout the full life cycle as described in paragraph 7#f77;,a72 7,b7 review and revise the regulations under this section to increase such effectiveness1 as determined by the ,administrator1 of the labeling program with respect to the two objectives listed in clauses 7i7 and 7ii7 of subparagraph 7,a72 and 7,c7 report to the ,congress any recommendations for amendments to this section that1 in the determination of the ,administrator1 would improve such effectiveness2 and 7#ae7 the ,administrator shall provide technical assistance1 including through consultants1 in reporting information as required in accordance with the labeling program1 otherwise participating in the labeling program1 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions1 to-- 7,a7 participants2 7,b7 entities seeking to become participants2 and 7,c7 entities seeking to become certified under paragraph 7#ac74 7c7 ,voluntary commitments 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator shall carry out a program under which a participant may agree to-- 7,a7 a voluntary commitment to reduce the total greenhouse gas emissions released throughout the full life cycle of participating articles of apparel and their input materials1 as described in subsection 7b77#f77;,a72 and 7,b7 make publicly available1 including on the participant's website1 sustainability information pertaining to the participant or the participating article of apparel that is determined by the ,administrator to be based on the best available scientific information4 7#b7 ,establishment ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall establish the program required by paragraph 7#a74 7#c7 ,encouragement2 technical assistance ,the ,administrator shall encourage participants1 and provide technical assistance to participants1 to agree to voluntary commitments under this subsection4 7#d7 ,no mandate ,this subsection does not authorize the ,administrator to impose any mandate4 7d7 ,database ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall establish a database to provide easy access to consumers and apparel industry stakeholders to information pertaining to the labeling program1 including-- 7#a7 explanations of the objectives and the methodologies of the ,administrator in establishing the requirements described in subsection 7b72 7#b7 the information described in subsection 7b77#f7 with respect to each participating article of apparel2 7#c7 the voluntary commitments of each participant as reported under subsection 7c72 and 7#d7 any additional available information on the sustainability of apparel that the ,administrator determines to be-- 7,a7 useful to the consumer and apparel industry stakeholders2 and 7,b7 based on the best scientifically available information4 7e7 ,consumer outreach 7#a7 ,program ,not later than #c years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall establish a program to inform consumers about the labeling program4 7#b7 ,requirements ,the consumer outreach program established under paragraph 7#a7 shall-- 7,a7 provide retail apparel establishments educational materials and other information to be conveyed to consumers regarding the labeling program2 7,b7 provide technical assistance to retail apparel establishments regarding the labeling program and the materials and information described in subparagraph 7,a72 and 7,c7 reach the public through a wide range of means1 including public service announcements and advertising4 7f7 ,penalties for fraudulent use of label 7#a7 ,in general ,any person that violates a requirement of this section shall forfeit and pay to the ,united ,states a civil penalty of not more than #aj1jjj for each such violation4 7#b7 ,separate violations ,each separate violation of a requirement of this section shall be a separate offense1 except that in a case of a violation through continuing failure to obey or neglect to obey an order by the ,administrator under this section1 each day of continuance of such failure or neglect shall be deemed a separate offense4 7#c7 ,equitable relief ,in a civil action brought under this section1 the ,united ,states district courts are empowered to grant mandatory injunctions and such other equitable relief as such courts deem appropriate4 7g7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,apparel industry stakeholders ,the term apparel industry stakeholders means-- 7,a7 suppliers and vendors of apparel manufacturers2 7,b7 apparel manufacturers2 7,c7 retail apparel establishments2 7,d7 entities that measure1 monitor1 verify1 and report information described under subsection 7b77#f72 7,e7 institutions of higher education2 7,f7 consumer organizations2 and 7,g7 other experts1 as determined by the ,administrator4 7#b7 ,greenhouse gas ,the term greenhouse gas includes each of the following3 7,a7 ,carbon dioxide4 7,b7 ,methane4 7,c7 ,nitrous oxide4 7,d7 ,sulfur hexafluoride4 7,e7 ,any hydrofluorocarbon4 7,f7 ,any perfluorocarbon4 7,g7 ,nitrogen trifluoride4 7,h7 ,any fully fluorinated linear1 branched1 or cyclic-- 7i7 alkane2 7ii7 ether2 7iii7 tertiary amine2 or 7iv7 aminoether4 7,i7 ,any perfluoropolyether4 7,j7 ,any hydrofluoropolyether4 7,k7 ,any other fluorocarbon1 except for a fluorocarbon with a vapor pressure of less than #a mm of ,hg absolute at #be degrees ,celsius4 7#c7 ,greenhouse gas emission ,the term greenhouse gas emission means the release of a greenhouse gas into the ambient air4 7#d7 ,retail apparel establishment ,the term retail apparel establishment means a person that sells an article of apparel to a consumer4