Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Sam Graves, for his leadership on this issue. Mr. Chairman, let me describe the situation that we are facing right now. The Clean Water Act, as has been noted, was enacted decades and decades ago. There haven't been changes that altered the way that States are able to grant water certification under section 401 of the Clean Water Act. There have been no changes that have altered the way that this act takes place. Yet, in recent history, States have begun using the Clean Water Act in its 401 water certification section in a way that simply weaponizes it. The States' decisions in many cases to object to projects being built in their States have nothing to do with water certification. I can cite example after example, including by some of my friends on the other side of the aisle, who may be in the Chamber, where their States have objected to pipelines on grounds that, again, have nothing to do with clean water. This is a weaponization that has occurred in just recent history. All the amendment does that the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Rouzer) led in this case is it simply ensures that the interpretation of the Clean Water Act is consistent with congressional intent when this was implemented decades ago. Mr. Chairman, let me give you a practical effect of how this has impacted communities and how it has impacted American citizens. Years ago, they had a cold winter.…”