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Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after a House Appropriations Subcommittee approved the fiscal year 2016 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, which included Congressman Gosar’s language request prohibiting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) from using any appropriated funds for the proposed “Waters of the United States (WOTUS)” rule:
“The effort to stop the EPA’s federal water grab has gained momentum across the country, yet I remain committed to pursuing every single legislative option available to end this harmful regulation once and for all. I am pleased to see my efforts gain the support of numerous members on the Appropriations Committee who are united in the belief that the WOTUS rule undermines the federal-state water partnerships that have been incredibly successful to date.
“American small business owners, farmers and property owners are counting on elected leaders to push back against the big government policies of the EPA that threaten their livelihoods. I intend to ensure that they are able to continue pursuing their dreams by protecting the vital water resources they rely on.”
Additional:
The funding rider request that was made by Rep. Gosar and 103 other members of Congress to Chairmen Calvert and Simpson and Ranking Members McCollum and Kaptur of the House Appropriations Committee, can be found HERE. The language in the request is also contained in H.R. 594.
On January 28, 2015, Congressman Gosar introduced H.R. 594, the Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act, which can be found HERE. This bill prohibits the EPA and U.S. Corps of Engineering from “developing, finalizing, adopting, implementing, applying, administering, or enforcing” the proposed rule and any successor document, or any substantially similar proposed rule or guidance.
On March 25, 2014, the EPA and the Corps of Engineers released a proposed rule that would assert Clean Water Act jurisdiction over nearly all areas with even the slightest of connections to water resources, including man-made conveyances.
On May 12, 2015, the House passed H.R. 1732, the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act, by a vote of 261-155. This critical legislation requires the EPA and Corps of Engineers to formally withdraw the agencies’ proposed rule that would redefine WOTUS and any subsequent final rule. Congressman Gosar joined the Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Bill Shuster in introducing this bill. Click HERE to read more.
More than 200 organizations and local municipalities have publicly declared their opposition to the proposed WOTUS rule.
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a Business Meeting, today, June 10 and passed S. 1140, Federal Water Quality Protection Act. Click HERE to read more.
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