Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (September 9, 2014) – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5078, the Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act of 2014 with a bipartisan vote of 262-152.  The bill prevents the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers from expanding their regulatory jurisdiction over ponds, streams, and ditches currently regulated by the states.

Congressional Western Caucus Co-Chairs Steve Pearce (NM-02) and Cynthia Lummis (WY-At Large) along with Western Caucus Chairman Emeritus Rob Bishop (UT-01) released the following statements in response to the passage of the bill:

“The EPA and Army Corp of Engineers’ proposed rule for Waters of the United States would have a devastating impact on western communities,” said Chairman Pearce.  “Increasing burdensome federal regulations will be extremely harmful for western farmers, ranchers, and small businesses that are already over-regulated by the federal government.  The proposed rule is another example of this administration’s continued attempt to unilaterally implement unnecessary federal regulations.  H.R. 5078 blocks this blatant federal overreach by prohibiting the implementation of the rule, allowing states and local officials to continue to effectively regulate their own waters. I call on my colleagues in the Senate to support the property rights of western communities and promptly act on this important piece of legislation.”

“Today’s passage of the Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act will ensure that waters currently under state management will remain under state management, where they belong,” said Chairman Lummis.  “Water is the single most precious natural resource, especially in the arid and semi-arid west, and the EPA’s proposed rule is yet another attempt at a water grab by federal agencies.  Without this legislation, the rule will extend the federal jurisdiction over water to the point where very few, if any, bodies of water would be left to the long-standing, expert, and efficient governance of the states.  This will disrupt water distribution, interfere with water rights, and raise costs for families and businesses along the way.  I thank the bill’s sponsor Rep. Southerland for his efforts on this matter.”

“The EPA is aggressively working to expand its regulatory and rulemaking authority. Decisions about water quality, use, and management are best made in coordination with officials at the local and state levels, and should not be decided solely by federal bureaucrats. The notion that water quality in our states would somehow be in jeopardy without the overreach of the EPA is bogus and unsubstantiated.  States, many of which are leaders on  research regarding water quality, are equally capable of ensuring that waters upstream and downstream have proper oversight,” said Chairman Emeritus Bishop.