[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 16, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H7532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PROTECTING THE CLEAN WATER PARTNERSHIP

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss 
the Clean Water Act, which was passed in 1972 and was designed as a 
State and Federal partnership.
  The law's success can be attributed to the recognition that States 
have the primary responsibility of regulating and protecting waters 
within their individual boundaries. For the past four decades, this 
framework has served to improve pollution control and continues to be 
supported by Democrats and Republicans alike.
  Unfortunately, a recent proposal by the Environmental Protection 
Agency, commonly known as the Waters of the United States, would 
undermine this partnership and intrude upon State and local 
prerogatives related to land use and planning, environmental 
stewardship, and economic growth.
  This past week, the House passed with bipartisan support H.R. 5078, 
the Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act. 
Now, this legislation prohibits the Federal Government from moving 
forward with this misguided proposal and protects our farmers, our 
landowners, and local municipalities by upholding the Federal-State 
partnership that has yielded success in protecting our environment and 
enhancing water quality.

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