[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 130 (Thursday, September 11, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1397]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES REGULATORY OVERREACH PROTECTION ACT OF 2014

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                               speech of

                           HON. HAROLD ROGERS

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 9, 2014

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5078) to 
     preserve existing rights and responsibilities with respect to 
     waters of the United States, and for other purposes:

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Chair, I rise today in favor of H.R. 
5078, the Waters of the U.S. Regulatory Overreach Protection Act.
  Over the last five years, we have seen attempt after attempt to add 
layers of environmental red tape to any economic development that our 
states, counties, and cities may undertake. The new ``Waters of the 
United States'' proposal is no different. With this, the EPA seeks to 
gain jurisdiction over most of the country by claiming authority to 
regulate dry beds, ditches, pipes, farmland ponds and anywhere water 
could conceivably run. They would require local communities, businesses 
and individuals to navigate the costly and time-consuming process of 
obtaining additional permits for activities around these waters, making 
it harder to mine coal, to construct roads and shopping centers, and 
even to build homes. This is one of the largest federal power grabs we 
have ever witnessed in this country, and there is no question that the 
economic impact would be profound.
  In my home state of Kentucky, mining permits have ground to a halt 
and onerous regulations are shuttering power plants, threatening the 
fossil energy industries that have been the backbone of our energy 
security for decades. I am dismayed at efforts that this Administration 
has undertaken with the express purpose of eliminating coal from our 
nation's energy supply, despite the fact that this fuel provides a 
cheap, abundant source of energy that keeps energy costs down and 
productivity up. With this bill, we stand firm against the latest 
attempt by the EPA to put up road blocks for those working to create 
jobs. These efforts are fruitless attempts to legislate through 
regulation, and the Congress must exercise its prerogative to prevent 
this kind of bureaucratic overreach that would be crippling for the 
U.S. economy. H.R. 5078 will uphold the federal-state partnership to 
regulate the Nation's waters, allowing states to continue regulating 
certain waters within their individual boundaries, and providing 
farmers, construction companies, energy suppliers, and manufacturers 
with much needed certainty as they work to create jobs and grow the 
economy.
  I urge a ``yes'' vote on H.R. 5078.

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