[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 123 (Friday, August 1, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1322]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                REDUCING REGULATORY BURDENS ACT OF 2013

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 30, 2014

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the so-called 
``Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act,'' which would roll back clean water 
protections and allow untracked pesticide pollution in our rivers and 
streams.
  More than two and a half years ago, the Environmental Protection 
Agency put in place basic pesticide protections by requiring a general 
permit for the direct application of pesticides into waterways. Nearly 
2,000 waterways are already contaminated by pesticides, harming fish 
and amphibians and potentially accumulating in people who eat those 
fish. The commonsense permit does not affect land applications of 
pesticides, maintains existing agricultural exemptions, and allows for 
immediate spraying to protect the public from vector-borne diseases.
  Today's legislation would roll back the permitting rule, leaving 
pesticide application unmonitored and our waterways vulnerable to 
contamination. I urge a ``no'' vote.

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