I’M SOLEDAD O’BRIEN. WELCOME TO. MATTER OF FACT. YOU THINK IT WOULD BE ALL GOOD NEWS? THRIVING BUSINESSES LOOKING TO HIRE. BUT COMPANIES ACROSS AMERICA ARE HITTING A SNAG. THERE HAVE BEEN MORE JOB OPENINGS THAN PEOPLE TO WORK THEM, AND THEY SAY A LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS MAKING IT HARD TO RECRUIT. MOST PEOPLE WILL SAY, I JUST CAN’T FIND A PLACE TO LIVE. WE HEAD TO WISCONSIN, WHERE SEVERAL BUSINESSES ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE SHORTAGE, AND IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, THEY’RE GETTING READY TO HOST THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION. AS DONALD TRUMP LOCKS IN THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT, WE GET SOME CONTEXT ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE SECOND IN COMMAND. IT WAS A JOKE, BUT THE VICE PRESIDENCY REALLY HAS BECOME SIGNIFICANT. WELL, HE SAYS THE VICE PRESIDENCY IS AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT JOB. AND AMERICANS SAY THE POSTAL SERVICE IS ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE FEDERAL AGENCIES. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO REACH EVERY AMERICAN. WILL THE CHANGES HAPPENING NOW PROTECT ITS FUTURE? THOSE STORIES RIGHT NOW ON MATTER OF FACT, BUYING A HOME OFTEN CONSIDERED A STAPLE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM, IS NOW OUT OF REACH FOR MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THE U.S. FOR ABOUT 4 MILLION HOUSING UNITS SHORT AND THAT’S HAVING A REAL IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY. WHILE BUSINESSES MAY BE THRIVING AND LOOKING TO GROW, A LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING MAKES IT HARD FOR THEM TO RECRUIT WORKERS IN WISCONSIN. THEY NEED AT LEAST 140,000 NEW HOUSING UNITS BY 2030. THAT’S LESS THAN SIX YEARS AWAY. OUR CORRESPONDENT JESSICA GOMEZ TRAVELED TO SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, WHERE FOUR FAMILY OWNED BUSINESSES ARE JOINING FORCES TO CREATE A SOLUTION. HOW FAR SHOULD I GO WITH THE TAPE? JAMIE AND JAKE THOMPSON PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THEIR BRAND NEW HOME IN SHEBOYGAN FALLS, WISCONSIN. IT FEELS GREAT. LIKE I NEVER THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD BE IN THIS POSITION. IT’S ALREADY LOOKING BETTER THAN WHAT IT WAS. SO YES, WITH MORE THAN $80,000 IN COMBINED STUDENT LOAN DEBT, THE 28 YEAR OLDS DIDN’T HAVE NEARLY ENOUGH FOR A DOWN PAYMENT. WE WERE DEFINITELY THINKING THAT WE WOULD BE RENTING AN APARTMENT FOR QUITE A LONG TIME BEFORE WE EVEN GOT A HOUSE. I AM A SENIOR SUPPLY CHAIN ANALYST FOR THE SERVICE PARTS TEAM. JAMIE WORKS FOR KOHLER, THE COMPANY KNOWN FOR ITS KITCHEN AND BATH FIXTURES. IT’S NOT AS TRENDY AS OUR MODERN BRANDS, AND PART OF THE REASON SHE’S NOW A HOMEOWNER. WE ALL CARE VERY MUCH ABOUT THE STABILITY AND THE THE ABILITY TO THRIVE WITH OUR WORKFORCE. LAURA KOHLER, CHIEF SUSTAINABLE LIVING OFFICER AND GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER OF THE COMPANY’S FOUNDER. WE HAVE 160 ROLES OPEN RIGHT NOW FOR THIS LOCATION. THAT IS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY AT A GREAT BRAND, A GLOBAL BRAND, ONE THAT’S 150 YEARS OLD, BUT MOST PEOPLE WILL SAY, I JUST CAN’T FIND THE PLACE TO LIVE. LIKE A LOT OF PLACES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, WE’RE LOOKING AT 1500 ENTRY LEVEL HOUSES THAT WE NEED. DON HAMMOND, CHAIR OF THE SHEBOYGAN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. HE SAYS THE RURAL COUNTY ON THE SHORES OF LAKE MICHIGAN HAS NEARLY 2000 OPEN POSITIONS. ABOUT 30% OF THE WORKFORCE HERE IN MANUFACTURING JOBS. WHEN THEY TALK TO POTENTIAL PEOPLE LOOKING TO MOVE UP HERE, AND THERE’S NOT A PLACE FOR THEM TO MOVE TO, YOU KNOW, WHO WANTS TO MOVE A FAMILY OF FOUR INTO AN APARTMENT? THEY WANT TO MOVE INTO A HOUSE. AND SO THAT’S WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO BUILD FOR THEM. THE COUNTY WITH HELP FROM FOUR MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILY OWNED COMPANIES, INCLUDING KOHLER, TEAMED UP EACH DONATING $2 MILLION TO FUND NEW ENTRY LEVEL HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS. THIS IS THE BEDFORD, ONE OF THREE MODELS THAT WE HAVE 1350FT, THREE BEDROOMS, TWO BATHS. THE HOME SOLD AT COST FOR JUST MORE THAN $300,000, WITH $65,000 IN DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. BUT THERE ARE CONDITIONS BUYERS CAN’T EARN MORE THAN 140% OF THE COUNTY’S MEDIAN INCOME. NOW, ABOUT $130,000, AND THEIR TOTAL NET WORTH CAN’T. EXCEED $350,000. WE’RE NOT LOOKING FOR, YOU KNOW, VRBO’S OR FLIPPERS OR ANY OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. WE WANT PEOPLE THAT REALLY WANT TO MAKE A HOME HERE IN SHEBOYGAN COUNTY. THE FIRST TWO DEVELOPMENT PHASES,. 95 HOMES IN TOTAL, EXPECTED TO BE BE FINISHED BY THE END OF 2026, WITH PREFERENCE GOING TO THOSE MOVING INTO THE COUNTY AND FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS. I AM PERSONALLY VESTED IN THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE I WAS RAISED HERE, LOUIS GEN TEEN CEO OF SARGENTO FOODS, THE THIRD GENERATION CHEESE MANUFACTURING COMPANY. AMONG THOSE DONATING TO THE INITIATIVE, I SAID, SIGN ME UP AND LET’S FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO IT. AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID. ALTHOUGH WE MIGHT BE COMPETING, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR WORKFORCE AND OUR LABOR NEEDS, WE ALL ARE FAMILY OWNED BUSINESSES THAT UNDERSTAND THE BIGGER PICTURE OF JUST HAVING A GOOD, HEALTHY, THRIVING COMMUNITY. IMAGINE THIS DORMITORY WAS BUILT RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE MAIN OFFICE AND THE FACTORY BACK AT KOHLER, PROVIDING EMPLOYEE HOUSING IS NOTHING NEW. THE COMPANY’S NOW FIVE STAR RESORT ONCE DORMITORIES FOR EUROPEAN IMMIGRANT WORKERS. ONCE THEY SAVED ENOUGH, THE COMPANY BUILT HOMES FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES TO BE HOMEOWNERS? YOU REALLY START TO THINK ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND HOME OWNERSHIP IS THE BASE OF THAT. IT REALLY CREATES THE ROOTS FOR A FAMILY. SO I THINK IF MORE COMPANIES REALLY UNDERSTOOD THAT THEY CAN HELP WITH STABILIZING COMMUNITIES, THEY WILL FIND AND REAP THE BENEFITS OF THAT OVER TIME. OUR PAPER TOWEL HOLDER FOR JAKE AND JAMIE THOMPSON, GRATITUDE FOR THE UNEXPECTED BENEFIT THEY RECEIVED A SHOT, THEY SAY AT THE AMERICAN DREAM. I’M LIKE, OH, LIKE OUR HOUSE IS SO CUTE. LIKE I LOVE IT. I’M OBSESSED WITH IT. SO IT’S A NICE FEELING. SO IT’S HOME. YEP. MHM. IN SHEBOYGAN COUNTY WISCONSIN, FOR MATTER OF FACT I’M JESSICA GOMEZ. THE FORWARD FUND HOPES TO BUILD ABOUT FOUR HOMES PER MONTH OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, WITH THE GOAL OF 4 TO 500 HOUSES IN TOTAL. A PERSON DOESN’T HAVE TO WORK FOR ANY OF THE COMPANIES BEHIND THE EFFORT IN ORDER TO BUY ONE OF THE HOMES NEXT ON MATTER OF FACT, PICKING A VICE PRESIDENT IS A POLITICAL CALCULATION. PRESIDENTS ARE TRYING TO TO COMMUNICATE INFORMATION IN CHOOSING THEIR RUNNING MATES. BUT HOW MUCH DOES THE SECOND NAME ON THE TICKET ACTUALLY IMPACT PEOPLE’S VOTES FOR PRESIDENT? PLUS, A VISIT TO ONE OF THE MOST REMOTE PARTS OF THIS COUNTRY. IT’S NOT OKAY TO JUST CUT US OFF WHERE THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE PROVIDES. ONE OF THE ONLY MEANS OF CONNECTION TO THE REST OF THE WORLD, AND WE HAVE A LOOK AT A POTENTIAL BREAKTHROUGH TO MAKE MORE OF OUR CLOTHING RECYCLABLE. YOU’RE WATCHING MATTER OF FACT, AMERICA’S NUMBER ONE NATIONALLY SYNDICATED PUBLIC AFFAIRS NEWS MAGAZINE. THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION, IS ABOUT TO GET UNDERWAY. THE FOUR DAY EVENT IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, CULMINATES WITH A SPEECH FROM FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP OFFICIALLY ACCEPTING THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT. LET’S TAKE A MOMENT, THOUGH, TO TALK ABOUT THE OTHER HALF OF THE TICKET. THE VICE PRESIDENCY. IT’S A ROLE THAT OFTEN DOESN’T MAKE HEADLINES, BUT IN RECENT HISTORY, IT’S GROWN AND BEGUN TO PLAY AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE OVAL OFFICE AND IN GOVERNING AMERICA. JOEL GOLDSTEIN STUDIES THE VICE PRESIDENCY, AND HIS MOST RECENT BOOK IS THE WHITE HOUSE VICE PRESIDENCY THE PATH TO SIGNIFICANCE. MONDALE TO BIDEN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME. WHAT HAS BEEN THE ROLE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT HISTORICALLY? FOR MOST OF OUR HISTORY, MOST OF WHAT VICE PRESIDENTS DID WAS PRESIDE OVER THE SENATE, WHICH WASN’T A VERY FULFILLING JOB AFTER THE NEW DEAL. AND WORLD WAR TWO. IS THE PRESIDENCY BECAME MORE IMPORTANT. THE VICE PRESIDENT SORT OF WAS PULLED INTO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH DURING A NUCLEAR AGE, AND THE COLD WAR. THE PRESIDENT HAD MORE RESPONSIBILITIES, AND IT BECAME MORE IMPORTANT WHO THE VICE PRESIDENT WAS REALLY FOR PURPOSES OF PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION. THERE WAS A TIME, CERTAINLY IN MY CHILDHOOD, WHERE IT SEEMED LIKE BEING VICE PRESIDENT WAS KIND OF A JOB. YOU WERE STUCK IN AND ALSO, I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT KIND OF A LITTLE IRRELEVANT. AM I RIGHT ABOUT THAT? I THINK ABSOLUTELY, IT WAS A JOKE. I MEAN, PEOPLE MADE JOKES ABOUT THE VICE PRESIDENT. EVEN VICE PRESIDENTS DID. BUT I THINK OVER THE PERIOD OF TIME SINCE THE CARTER PRESIDENCY, THE VICE PRESIDENCY REALLY HAS BECOME SIGNIFICANT. THERE IS THIS PARADOX THAT DURING THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT THERE HASN’T BEEN A UNPLANNED PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION, THE VICE PRESIDENCY HAS GROWN, BUT IT’S AN OPERATING POSITION. SOMEBODY WHO IS A CLOSE ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT, SOMEBODY WHO HAS WHO HAS FREQUENT ACCESS TO THE PRESIDENT, SOMEBODY WHO TAKES ON IMPORTANT ROLES DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY, UM, HELPING THE PRESIDENT DO HIS OR HER JOB AS YOU RESEARCH THE ROLE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT, WHAT DO YOU FIND THAT THE THE PICK TELLS YOU THE CHOICE IS ALWAYS MADE WITH AN EYE TOWARDS THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. SO POLITICS IS ALWAYS A FACTOR. PRESIDENTS ARE TRYING TO COMMUNICATE INFORMATION ABOUT THEMSELVES IN CHOOSING THEIR RUNNING MATES. THEY’RE TRYING TO SHOW THAT THEY MAY MAKE DECISIONS WELL AND THEY’RE TRYING TO SEND MESSAGES ABOUT WHAT THEY VALUE, BOTH POLICY WISE AND IN TERMS OF THE PEOPLE WHO THEY ASSOCIATE WITH IS THERE EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS THAT PEOPLE, VOTERS REALLY CARE ABOUT THE VICE PRESIDENCY ROLE? MOST PEOPLE, I THINK, HAVE REACHED THE CONCLUSION THAT VICE PRESIDENTIAL PICKS ONLY AFFECT THE ELECTION, SORT OF AT THE MARGIN, THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE GOING TO VOTE BASED ON THEIR PREFERENCES FOR THE PERSON AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET. BUT MANY OF OUR RECENT ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN DECIDED AT THE MARGINS. AND OF COURSE, IT’S NOT THE MARGIN OF THE POPULAR VOTE, IT’S THE MARGIN IN THE HALF A DOZEN OR TEN COMPETITIVE STATES. THE OTHER WAY PLACE WHERE VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IS HOW THEY PERFORM THEIR CAMPAIGN ROLES. ARE THEY ABLE TO SEND MESSAGES ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE THAT HE OR SHE REALLY CARES ABOUT? DIFFERENT GROUPS OR DIFFERENT ISSUES? SO THAT’S WHERE A VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND, YOU KNOW, IF THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE OF A FEW THOUSAND VOTES IN A STATE THAT’S DECIDED BY THAT MARGIN, THEY MAY HAVE AN ELECTORAL IMPACT. EVEN THOUGH MOST PEOPLE VOTE BASED ON THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES. JOEL GOLDSTEIN IS THE AUTHOR OF THE WHITE HOUSE VICE PRESIDENCY THE PATH TO SIGNIFICANCE. MONDALE TO BIDEN. SO NICE TO TALK TO YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. COMING UP FROM CREATING A NETWORK OF ROADS TO HELPING PARENTS MAIL THEIR CHILDREN TO RELATIVES, THE HISTORY OF THE POSTAL SERVICE IS AN INCREDIBLY QUAINT. AND YOU KNOW, FULL OF AMERICANA. THE FASCINATING STORY OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE. PLUS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SUN SAFETY MISINFORMATION SPREADING ON TIKTOK. WELCOME BACK TO MATTER OF FACT, A FOREVER POSTAGE STAMP IS GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE, COSTING YOU $0.05 MORE FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF $0.73. IT’S THE SECOND INCREASE THIS YEAR, AND IT’S PART OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE’S PLAN, CALLED DELIVERING FOR AMERICA. THE GOAL IS TO STABILIZE AND MODERNIZE THE POSTAL SERVICE. AFTER SLOWING DOWN MAIL IN RESPONSE TO FINANCIAL PROBLEMS, SOME SENATORS, THOUGH, HAVE CALLED FOR THE PROJECT TO BE SCRAPPED, SAYING INCREASED PRICES WILL ACTUALLY HURT THE POST OFFICE AND ITS CUSTOMERS. THE USPS PROVIDES A VITAL SERVICE, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE LIVING IN REMOTE AREAS. OUR SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR, JOEY CHEN, LOOKS AT THE POST OFFICE’S PAST AND WHAT’S IN STORE FOR ITS FUTURE. BETHEL, ALASKA IT’S NOT AN ISLAND, BUT YOU CAN’T GET THERE BY ROAD BECAUSE THERE ISN’T ONE. SO IF YOU WANT ANYTHING DELIVERED, IT’S USUALLY GOING TO BE BY PLANE. IN THIS PART OF AMERICA, A FIRST CLASS LETTER IS A LIFELINE. I DON’T THINK THAT MOST PEOPLE KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE OUT HERE. MELANIE FREDERICKS IS A MEMBER OF THE NATIVE YUPIK COMMUNITY UP HERE. SHE KNOWS INTERNET SERVICE IS NOT A GIVEN. AMAZON TRUCKS DON’T DELIVER, BUT THIS IS AMERICA TWO. AND FREDERICK SAYS IT NEEDS THE CONNECTIONS. ONLY THE POST OFFICE DELIVERS JUST LIKE WITH ANYTHING ELSE THAT CONNECTS US TO EACH OTHER AND CONNECTS US TO THE REST OF THE WORLD, THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, IT’S NOT OKAY TO JUST CUT US OFF. ANOTHER STAMP WILL TAKE YOU 3800 MILES FROM BETHEL, WAY DOWN TO MARYLAND’S EASTERN SHORE, WHERE I ASKED SANDI SEPP IF SHE THINKS HER WORK IS VERY MUCH DIFFERENT FROM THE POST OFFICE UP THERE. I’M GOING TO SAY NOT AS A RURAL CARRIER. YOU’RE YOU ARE THE CONNECTION. WE ALWAYS USED TO SAY WE WERE THE POST OFFICE ON WHEELS, THE VERY FIRST POSTMASTER GENERAL, BEN FRANKLIN, CREATED A NETWORK OF ROADS ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST WHERE YOU CAN STILL FIND OLD POST ROADS TODAY. BY THE EARLY 1900S, AMERICANS TRUSTED THE POSTAL SERVICE. SO MUCH THAT PARENTS USED PARCEL POST TO MAIL THEIR CHILDREN, A PRACTICE THE POSTMASTER GENERAL BEGGED THEM TO STOP THE SERVICES LONG PROVIDED OPPORTUNITY. TODAY, NEARLY 4 IN 10 WORKERS ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND A FULL 40% ARE WOMEN. AND DESPITE ITS DIRE FINANCIAL STRAITS, SOME, LIKE NEW YORKER WRITER CASEY CEP, ARGUE WE CAN’T AFFORD TO LOSE THE POSTAL SERVICE. I MEAN, LOOK, I THINK THAT A LOT OF OUR LIVES HAVE MOVED ONLINE, BUT NOT ALL OF IT. CONTRARY TO WHAT MANY BELIEVE, TAXPAYERS DON’T FUND POSTAL SERVICE OPERATIONS. ALL THOSE STAMPS AND PACKAGES DO. IN FACT, SUPPORTERS ARGUE IF CONGRESS WOULD JUST LIFT THE DEMANDS IT PUT ON THE USPS TO FUND WORKER HEALTH CARE AND RETIREMENT. SEVEN DECADES IN ADVANCE, THE POSTAL SERVICE COULD EVEN BE PROFITABLE. BUT EVEN IF IT WEREN’T, WE WOULD STILL WANT IT. EVEN IF IT WEREN’T PROFITABLE, WE WOULD STILL WANT TO BE ABLE TO REACH EVERY AMERICAN, REGARDLESS OF ZIP CODE, WHICH IS WHAT THE FOUNDING FATHERS INTENDED. 245 YEARS AGO TO CONNECT AMERICANS FOR MATTER OF FACT, I’M JOEY CHEN ON MARYLAND’S EASTERN SHORE. AHEAD ON MATTER OF FACT SORTING FACT FROM FICTION ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO PROTECT YOUR SKIN THIS SUMMER. PLUS, WHY SO MANY OF OUR CLOTHES ARE SO HARD TO RECYCLE, AND WHAT SCIENTISTS ARE DOING ABOUT IT. TO STAY UP TO DATE WITH MATTER OF FACT, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AT MATTEROFFACTTV. THE WORLD’S HEAT STREAK CONTINUES 2024 IS ON TRACK TO BE THE WARMEST YEAR EVER, BUT DESPITE THE HARSH SUN, THERE’S A GROWING MOVEMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AGAINST SUNSCREEN, AND THAT’S HAVING AN IMPACT ON PEOPLE’S HEALTH. A SURVEY BY THE ORLANDO HEALTH CANCER INSTITUTE FOUND THAT 1 IN 7 ADULTS UNDER THE AGE OF 35 BELIEVE DAILY SUNSCREEN USE IS MORE HARMFUL THAN DIRECT SUN, AND NEARLY A QUARTER THINK THAT DRINKING WATER AND STAYING HYDRATED PREVENTS SUNBURN. WHAT? NO. ANYWAY, THIS IS ALARMING. DOCTORS RESEARCH SHOWS THAT SUNSCREEN PROTECTS FROM THE ULTRAVIOLET RAYS IN SUNLIGHT, WHICH ARE A LEADING FACTOR FOR SKIN CANCER. THAT DISEASE AFFECTS 1 IN 5 AMERICANS. IT INCLUDES MELANOMA, ONE OF THE DEADLIEST TYPES OF SKIN CANCER. THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY REPORTS AN ESTIMATED 100,000 PEOPLE WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH MELANOMA EVERY YEAR, AND OF THAT GROUP, 8000 WILL DIE. DOCTOR ARIF KAMAL IS THE CHIEF PATIENT OFFICER AT THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY. SINCE SUNSCREENS WERE FIRST DEVELOPED, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING THE QUESTION IS THERE MORE HARM THAN GOOD THAT COMES FROM THEM? CLEARLY, THE ANSWER IS NO. THE SUN GIVES OFF ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION, WHICH CAUSES CANCER, BY CHANGING OUR OUR DNA. AND SO REDUCING THAT ULTRAVIOLET EXPOSURE IS WHAT HELPS THE MOST THAT CAN BE DONE IN TWO MAJOR WAYS. THE FIRST IS PHYSICAL BARRIERS OR PROTECTION, LIKE CLOTHING, AND ALSO THEN PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL BARRIERS. AND THAT’S WHAT COMES FROM SUNSCREEN. BESIDES GETTING PEOPLE TO WEAR SUNBLOCK, THERE’S ALSO A PUSH TO GET PEOPLE ACCESS TO BETTER SUNSCREENS. A 1938 US LAW SLOWS DOWN THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION’S ABILITY TO APPROVE. THE MORE EFFECTIVE SUNSCREENS THAT ARE SOLD IN EUROPE AND IN ASIA. BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE CALLING FOR THE FDA TO SPEED UP APPROVALS STILL AHEAD ON MATTER OF FACT, A LOOK AT AN EFFORT TO CUT DOWN ON THE AMOUNT OF CLOTHES ENDING UP IN LANDFILLS. FINALLY, WE THROW OUT A LOT OF CLOTHES. THE LATEST FIGURES SHOW THAT IN 2018 ALONE, MORE THAN 9 MILLION TONS OF CLOTHING AND SHOES ENDED UP IN LANDFILLS. BUT NOW RESEARCHERS ARE WORKING ON A NEW WAY TO HELP RECYCLE MORE CLOTHING, SYNTHETIC MATERIALS LIKE POLYESTER ARE IN MOST FABRICS, OFTEN COMBINED WITH NATURAL MATERIALS LIKE COTTON, AND THAT CAUSES A RECYCLING PROBLEM BECAUSE THE SYNTHETIC FIBERS CAN’T BE SEPARATED FROM THE NATURAL, RECYCLABLE TEXTILES. UNTIL NOW, RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE HAVE CREATED A PROCESS THAT BREAKS DOWN THE CHEMICAL BONDS IN POLYESTER WHILE LEAVING COTTON AND NYLON INTACT. AND WHAT’S LEFT IS AN ORGANIC COMPOUND THAT CAN BE REUSED OR RECYCLED. NOW, THERE ARE STILL A FEW HURDLES TO OVERCOME BEFORE THE METHOD CAN BE SCALED. THE SOLVENT USED TO BREAK DOWN POLYESTER IS EXPENSIVE, AND IT’S UNCLEAR WHAT TO DO WITH THE LEFTOVER NYLON FIBERS BECAUSE THE PROCESS DEGRADES THEM SIGNIFICANTLY. STILL, IT IS WORTH WATCHING AS SCIENCE TACKLES FASHION WASTE. THAT’S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF MATTER OF FACT, I’M SOLEDAD O’BRIEN. I’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT WEEK TO WATCH MORE STORIES LIKE THIS. ANY TIME, HEAD TO MATTEROFFACTTV.