A bill to stop President Obama's EPA from overregulating water rights reported out of the House Transportation Committee today. The bipartisan, Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015, requires the withdrawal of the Obama Administration's proposed Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. The Administration's WOTUS rule undermines the rulemaking process and many long-standing federal-state partnerships in regulating our country's waters.
After hearing from farmers throughout Texas, Congressman Blake Farenthold (TX-27), who supported this legislation said:
"Farmers need water. Without this bill, farmers would see greater expansion in federal control over both the land and water they use. Instead of bringing farmers, business leaders and stakeholders together, the EPA seeks expand their authority and if taken to the extreme could eventually regulate bodies of water like your swimming pool. This bill requires agencies to engage in outreach before promoting out of touch rules that are just bad -- bad for business, bad for states, bad for South Texas farmers, Coastal Bend builders, and private citizens."