# The SIPS Act: What You Need to Know About Federal Straw Rules

This bill, called the "Stop Ineffective Paper Straws Act," prevents the federal government from requiring or using paper straws in its facilities and contracts. Instead, it mandates that any straws used by federal agencies must be as strong and durable as plastic straws. The law applies to five major federal organizations: the Office of Management and Budget, the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, the Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, and NASA.

Here's what this means in practical terms: When these federal agencies buy supplies or hire contractors to provide services in their buildings, they cannot require paper straws or penalize anyone for using plastic straws. Any company bidding for a federal contract has to promise that they won't push paper straws and that any straws they provide will meet plastic straw durability standards. Essentially, the bill locks in the use of durable straws across these specific federal agencies and prevents them from switching to paper alternatives in the future.

For most Americans, this won't have a direct impact on daily life since it only affects what happens inside federal buildings and federal contracts. However, it does signal a policy choice about environmental regulations—the bill prevents federal agencies from using their purchasing power to promote paper straws as an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic. If you work for one of these federal agencies or do business with them as a contractor, you'll need to follow these straw requirements when working in their facilities.