[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 74 (Thursday, May 14, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E706]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          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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