[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15749]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                RULE FOR THE WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, today marks the closing of 
the comment period on the rule for the Waters of the United States 
under the Clean Water Act that has been proposed by the Federal 
Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
  Since the comment period opened, which was April 24 of this year, 
landowners, States, counties, and groups representing a diverse range 
of both economic and environmental stakeholders from across the country 
have filed more than a quarter million comments on a rule that 
threatens both our economy and the ability of States to effectively 
manage water quality.
  Through a strong State-Federal regulatory partnership that provides 
adequate flexibility to address water quality while accounting for 
local and regional variations and conditions, Pennsylvania has 
demonstrated a successful track record of improving and protecting the 
ecological health of its waters. Unfortunately, this new Federal policy 
poses a direct threat to the longstanding federalist approach empowered 
within the Clean Water Act.
  Today, Members of the Pennsylvania congressional delegation will join 
the thousands of other concerned citizens in opposing this flawed 
policy.

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