Jerry Moran: “6 weeks ago, the Environmental Protection Agency, six States, including Mr. Goodlatte's own State of Virginia and the…”

“6 weeks ago, the Environmental Protection Agency, six States, including Mr. Goodlatte's own State of Virginia and the District of Columbia, ended years of stalling and released detailed plans to reduce Chesapeake Bay pollution to meet minimal water quality standards over the next 15 years. Meeting those science-based and legally required goals is going to require a significant and sometimes costly effort from all the citizens, towns, cities and States that are part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. This year's Chesapeake Bay Foundation State of the Bay Report suggests that recent pollution-cutting measures are in fact beginning to show results. We've seen increased crab and oyster populations and an increase in underwater grasses. The bay is coming back to life. The agreed-upon, negotiated, detailed, multistate plans have the potential to finally restore the Chesapeake Bay if everyone does his part. The amendment, though, would block any Federal agency's ability to work with the States in meeting pollution reduction targets for the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed. If we don't meet this obligation, the farmers, municipalities, and businesses in all the States will be economically harmed.”