Political Quotes

“I rise today to discuss EPA's joint proposed rule redefining waters of the United States. Claims to the contrary notwithstanding, EPA has once again thrown down the gauntlet with this massive expansion of Federal jurisdiction. This new rule in its essence declares almost every body of water to be within Federal regulatory jurisdiction. By conjuring up even the most remote connection to a navigable body of water, EPA is now claiming they can regulate ponds, ditches, and even low-lying areas that are actually dry during most of the year. EPA seems to think it has jurisdiction if there is just a chance that a speck of dirt can travel through a stream, a pond, or even a field to traditional navigable water, and that is clearly not what Congress intended. But the EPA, the Army Corps of Engineers, and even the USDA are touting that they listened to agriculture and that farmers' and ranchers' concerns were, in fact, reflected in this proposal. But if this 370-page rule actually provides certainty and maintains exemptions for farmers, as EPA claims, then why are most farm groups so opposed to it? We have seen EPA become better and better at messaging to farmers, but unfortunately the actual language of the regulations--their very aggressive approach--really hasn't changed one bit. While EPA has shown a willingness to meet and to listen, the reality is that the words on paper really are what matter.…”