Political Quotes

“Woman, I just want to say Asian carp, is a very troubling situation. In fact, we've got the snakeheads in this part of the country that can walk on dry land from river to river and pond to pond. Something's happening, and it's not good. But I'm glad that the issue was raised. Madam Chairwoman, I do have an amendment with our colleague, John Dingell. The amendment simply strikes section 107 of this bill. The reason for doing that is that section 107 would prevent the Corps of Engineers from updating regulations and guidance defining what waters and wetlands are subject to the Clean Water Act. Even though everyone, including the building industry, agrees there's confusion regarding what waters fall under Federal jurisdiction, section 107 would deliberately continue this confusion. In fact, many private commercial interests have gone on record in support of clarifying the term ``waters of the United States,'' but that clarification would be prohibited under section 107 of this bill. Madam Chairwoman, there have been two Supreme Court cases on this subject: Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County in 2001 and Rapanos in 2006. Combined, these two rulings have created confusion and uncertainty regarding the limits of the Federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. In layman's terms, the Court called into question the Federal Government's jurisdiction the further away the water was from where you could float a boat all year long.…”