Tracey Mann: “I thank Chairman Graves for yielding. Mr. Speaker, agricultural producers have been forced to operate their businesses…”

“I thank Chairman Graves for yielding. Mr. Speaker, agricultural producers have been forced to operate their businesses under three different definitions of water in the last 10 years, and this most recent rule removes longstanding bipartisan exemptions for common water features like ponds and streams found on family farms and other private property. With this vote, Congress has a golden opportunity to stand up not only for people who feed, fuel, and clothe us all, but also for all Americans whose businesses and private lives will be affected by this Big Government encroachment onto their property. While President Biden would like to federally regulate every small stream, ditch, and puddle from sea to shining sea, American producers have been the careful custodians of their own resources for centuries. They are the original conservationists, and their livelihoods already depend on their voluntary efforts to care for their water resources. How we vote today will speak volumes. We can either tell Americans that we believe the Federal Government knows best, or we can tell them that the Federal Government should get out of their way and let them do what they do best. I know where I stand.”