H.R. 2018, Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011

Floor Speech

* Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 2018, the so-called Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act. It would be far more accurate to title this legislation the ``Dirty Water Act'' due to the damage it would inflict on our nation's waters.

* This legislation severely weakens the Clean Water Act by prohibiting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from challenging state water quality standards in cases when those standards threaten the quality of the nation's waters. Further, the bill removes the EPA's authority to protect water bodies and waterways from pollution resulting from mining, development and water resource projects. This unprecedented unraveling of federal authority would have very real and negative consequences for the country, especially my state of Minnesota.

* Minnesota is known as the land of 10,000 lakes. It is the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi River and the longest shoreline of Lake Superior--the largest of the Great Lakes. Our quality of life is inexorably linked with the quality of our state's rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands. Minnesota's economy depends on clean water to support its multibillion dollar tourism and outdoor recreation industry, which sustains tens of thousands of jobs. In addition to the economy, responsible EPA regulation helps to protect the health of millions of Minnesotans who rely on the Mississippi River and other surface waters for their drinking water. Minnesotan's strong commitment to clean water is best evidenced by passage of a state constitutional amendment in 2008 dedicating funding to protect and restore the states' waters--the first of its kind in the nation.

* H.R. 2018 undermines the ability of Minnesota or any other state to protect the quality of its waters. This legislation eliminates Clean Water Act protections that prevent states from setting lax environmental laws and weak enforcement policies that send pollution flowing over its borders into neighboring states. Minnesota's public health, economic vitality and quality of life should not be at the mercy of other states. H.R. 2018 is a serious threat to states' rights and demands a full and public debate. Unfortunately, House Republicans are rushing this highly controversial bill to the floor without holding even a single Committee hearing.

* The Clean Water Act is one of our country's most successful environmental laws. For over forty years, Democrats, Independents and Republicans have worked together to protect and restore America's waters using the authorities in this law. Members of Congress today have a responsibility to protect this important legacy. H.R. 2018 is an unprecedented attempt to dismantle the Clean Water Act and return to the days when waterways in America were so polluted they caught fire.

* H.R. 2018 is the latest in a series of Republican proposals that benefit polluters, not American families, communities or the vast majority of American businesses that follow the law. I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation and put an end to the Republicans' dangerous policy of regulatory retreat.

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