Congressman Tom Marino (PA-10) issued the following statement regarding today's news of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) finalized Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule:
"Though I am not surprised, it still bewilders me that the EPA is so quick to disregard the authority of Congress. The issuance of this rule is a slap in the face to state governments across the nation. To expand their purview over local wetlands and waterways, especially in this manner, just goes to show this Administration is disengaged and disinterested in the 30 states, from both parties, that raised serious concerns about this rule.
Rather they issued the rule anyway because bureaucrats in Washington operate within a culture of disrespect. It matters not if their rule undermines the Clean Water Act nor does it matter if they hurt famers and businesses in the process. All they care about is their agenda.
I say it all the time, unchecked regulation from the federal leviathan hurts us, not helps us. The EPA saw we passed the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act that disallowed this rule but they issued the rule anyway. If you need an example of government gone wild, this is it."