Francis Rooney: “The Federal Government is attempting yet another power grab in our own backyards. A new rule proposed by the EPA will…”

“The Federal Government is attempting yet another power grab in our own backyards. A new rule proposed by the EPA will mandate the most significant expansion of Federal Government water regulation in more than a quarter of a century. In Florida alone, preliminary costs to projects in eight counties are estimated at over $182 million. In my district, all this rule will do is make it harder for farmers to grow food and more difficult for local businesses to thrive. Floridians understand and respect our waterways unlike any other State. Environmentalists, farmers, and businesses have all come together in Florida to protect our environment and eliminate water pollutants. And their efforts are working. The Obama administration, in its never-ending quest to bypass Congress and the States, is seeking to upend this functioning dynamic. Therefore, I rise today to encourage my colleagues to support Congressman Steve Southerland's bill, H.R. 5078, the Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act. ____________________”