On the recordMay 12, 2015
I thank the gentleman. Mr. Chairman, this legislation puts the legislative agenda of a well- heeled few ahead of the Nation's--our taxpayers'--drinking water. It aims to protect the rights of speculators and developers over the need to conserve and reuse every precious drop of water that falls in our State. The bill potentially creates new opportunities for individuals to overturn decades of Western water law for their own personal benefit. Mr. Chairman, many of us have had many concerns with the proposed rule--the original one. But I appreciate that the administration has addressed those concerns and most of the concerns of the States and the stakeholders. The administration has pledged to work with stakeholders on implementation of the rule once it is final, which should happen in the next few months. So, today, we will hear many platitudes that this bill is not about killing the rule but about simply asking for public comment. Yet such statements ignore the fact that the House just passed a rider, as was pointed out, in the Energy and Water bill to block the bill from taking effect and blocking any change to the existing rulemaking or guidance. So, Mr. Chairman, today's rhetoric that this is simply an attempt to gather more public comment is simply that--just words. I urge my colleagues to vote against H.R. 1732.
