Sunday, May 19, 2024

Nov. 14, 2014 sees Congressional Record publish “RULE FOR THE WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES”

Volume 160, No. 139 covering the 2nd Session of the 113th Congress (2013 - 2014) 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.

“RULE FOR THE WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H7985 on Nov. 14, 2014.

The publication is reproduced in full below:

RULE FOR THE WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES

(Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, today marks the closing of the comment period on the rule for the Waters of the United States under the Clean Water Act that has been proposed by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Since the comment period opened, which was April 24 of this year, landowners, States, counties, and groups representing a diverse range of both economic and environmental stakeholders from across the country have filed more than a quarter million comments on a rule that threatens both our economy and the ability of States to effectively manage water quality.

Through a strong State-Federal regulatory partnership that provides adequate flexibility to address water quality while accounting for local and regional variations and conditions, Pennsylvania has demonstrated a successful track record of improving and protecting the ecological health of its waters. Unfortunately, this new Federal policy poses a direct threat to the longstanding federalist approach empowered within the Clean Water Act.

Today, Members of the Pennsylvania congressional delegation will join the thousands of other concerned citizens in opposing this flawed policy.

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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 160, No. 139