John Hostettler: “I rise in support of H.R. 961, the Clean Water Act reauthorization. We have a chance, with this bill, to provide a great…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 961, the Clean Water Act reauthorization. We have a chance, with this bill, to provide a great amount of regulatory relief to the American farmer. Farmers depend on the land to make a living, so they are last ones who want to jeopardize ground water with poor ecological practices. But an out-of-control bureaucracy has caused nightmare after nightmare for farm families by implementing a ridiculous definition of wetlands that prohibits producers from farming or improving their property because of puddles in their fields. I am particularly distressed that the National Academy of Sciences would sacrifice sound science for the sake of partisan politics, as shown by the timing of their recent release on wetlands. I commend my colleague, Mr. Shuster, my colleague, Mr. Hayes, and all the others who had a role in providing this much-needed sanity. I urge my colleagues who are interested in getting the government out of the American farmer's way, to support H.R. 961. Oh, by the way, did you notice the Republicans just produced a balanced budget?”