[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 14 (Monday, January 25, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E54]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE 
       CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

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                               speech of

                             HON. ROD BLUM

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 13, 2016

  Mr. BLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Senate 
resolution S.J. Res. 22, introduced by my good friend and colleague 
from Iowa, Senator Ernst, to express my disapproval of the 
Environmental Protection Agency power grab through an expansive 
definition of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS).
  The WOTUS rule gives more control to federal agencies, like the EPA 
and the Army Corp of Engineers, while stripping authority from those 
who know our natural resources best such as farmers, ranchers, and 
state regulatory authorities. This is in direct contradiction of state 
laws, Supreme Court rulings, and existing compact agreements and has 
potentially devastasting consequences on our economy, our farmers, and 
the small businesses that create jobs in the First District of Iowa.
  I know the farmers and small businesses in my district do not want 
the heavy hand of Washington micromanaging their lands--especially 
without input from the state of Iowa. President Obama and the EPA must 
realize increasing regulatory burdens and compliance costs will fail to 
improve the water quality while only adding red tape for ordinary 
folks.
  Last year I voted for H.R. 1732, the Regulatory Integrity Protection 
Act and I intend to vote again for S.J. Res. 22 to protect Iowa's land, 
water and resources and to stop the executive overreach of the 
suffocating Obama Administration.

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