“PERSONAL EXPLANATION” published by Congressional Record on May 14, 2015

Volume 161, No. 74 covering the 1st Session of the 114th Congress (2015 - 2016) was published by the Congressional Record.

The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.

“PERSONAL EXPLANATION” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E706 on May 14, 2015.

The publication is reproduced in full below:

PERSONAL EXPLANATION

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HON. RAUL RUIZ

of california

in the house of representatives

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, as I was summoned to serve on jury duty in my district, I was unable to be present for votes on the House floor on May 12, 2015. Below is an explanation of how I would have voted and why.

I would have voted for H.R. 606, the Don't Tax Our Fallen Public Safety Heroes Act, which excludes benefits paid to survivors of public safety officers killed in the line of duty from federal income tax. While such federal survivor benefits are generally exempt from taxation, this bill would ensure that the grieving families of brave officers who give their life in the line of duty do not also bear an unexpected income tax burden.

I would have voted for Rep. Edwards's amendment to H.R. 1732, the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act, which aims to address criticisms of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed rule defining

``Waters of the United States.'' This amendment would have clarified that the new definition does not expand the scope of EPA's authority under the Clean Water Act, and provided specific exemptions that help prevent spikes in the cost of water in our desert communities.

However, I would have voted against final passage of H.R. 1732, the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act, which would prevent the EPA from finalizing a proposed rule clarifying which bodies of water are subject to the Clean Water Act. This bill would undermine the EPA's ability to safeguard our water supply, and invalidates the thousands of public comments submitted on the proposed rule without even seeing the final product.

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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 161, No. 74