Providing for Congressional Disapproval of A Rule Submitted By the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency--Veto Message From the President of the United States (H. Doc. No.

Floor Speech

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Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.J. Res. 27, the Congressional Review Act joint resolution of disapproval targeting the clean water restoration rule.

Our waterways, like the mighty Hudson and Mohawk Rivers that flow through my district in New York's capital region, are key economic engines as drivers of heritage tourism and outdoor recreation, as well as cherished gathering spaces for our communities, if we indeed care for them.

The Biden administration's clean water restoration rule restores protections for the rivers, the streams, and the wetlands that constituents in all of our district areas rely upon.

I will reinstate key safeguards to stop big polluters from recklessly dumping waste into our water systems and damaging the fragile wetlands that are so crucial for the resilience of our coasts.

Importantly, the rule is grounded in science. An important fact. It restores the same science-based approach that Presidential administrations have utilized for decades to assess the conditions of upstream waters to protect the health of downstream ecosystems and communities.

Our water systems are fragile and interconnected. As an engineer, I know the importance of using a science and data-driven approach to achieve the very best results for our communities.

The dangerous legislation before us today is an attempt to overturn these finalized regulations. This is an attack on the clean water that is critical to the health of our communities, our Nation's economy, and particularly our agricultural and energy sectors.

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to oppose it.

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