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Waste and Illegal Property Eradication (WIPE) Act
To authorize the use of expeditionary solid waste disposal systems by the Department of Defense and to provide funding for solid waste disposal systems, with an offset, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill authorizes the Department of Defense to use expeditionary solid waste disposal systems to destroy illicit contraband including counterfeit materials, illegal narcotics, unauthorized military gear, and classified materials. The systems would be available to military installations, forward operating bases, and partner security forces to support border security, drug interdiction, and contraband elimination operations. The bill prohibits the use of open-air burn pits for disposing of such materials and hazardous waste. It provides $8.95 million in fiscal year 2026 funding for these disposal systems, offset by reducing funding for open-air burn pits by the same amount.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25] (D-CA)
2 cosponsors
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Raul Ruiz’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- NULL $112,200
- DAVITA $15,500
- US ACUTE CARE SOLUTIONS $14,100
- CHANDI GROUP USA, INC. $13,200
- ST. GEORGE'S UNIVERSITY $13,200
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Raul Ruiz → · Outside spending →
Actions (2)
- Jul 17, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. · house
- Jul 17, 2025 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 17, 2025
Mr. Ruiz (for himself, Ms. Tenney, and Mr. Bilirakis) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
A BILL
To authorize the use of expeditionary solid waste disposal systems by the Department of Defense and to provide funding for solid waste disposal systems, with an offset, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Waste and Illegal Property Eradication (WIPE) Act”.
SEC. 2. USE OF SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS BY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
(a) Expeditionary Solid Waste Disposal Systems.—
(1) In general.—The Secretary of Defense may use expeditionary solid waste disposal systems for the destruction of illicit contraband, including seized counterfeit materials, unauthorized military gear, illegal narcotics, and classified materials.
(2) Availability of systems.—The expeditionary solid waste disposal systems units deployed under paragraph (1) shall be—
(A) equipped to support operations related to border security, narcotic interdiction, and the elimination of contraband; and
(B) made available to military installations, forward operating bases, and partner security forces as needed to assist in countering infiltration and unauthorized use of military assets of the United States.
(b) Prohibition on Use of Open-Air Burn Pits To Dispose of Certain Material.—The Secretary of Defense may not use open-air burn pits for the disposal of illicit contraband, classified military equipment, or hazardous waste materials.
(c) Funding.—
(1) In general.—The amount otherwise authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2026 for Other Procurement, Army, shall be increased by $8,950,000, with the amount of such increase to be available for solid waste disposal systems.
(2) Offset.—The amount otherwise authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2026 for Operation and Maintenance, Army, Additional Activities, Overseas Operating Costs, shall be reduced by $8,950,000, with the amount of such reduction to be derived from amounts for the use of open-air burn pits in contingency operations. <all>
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