Political Quotes

“We are here today because the Supreme Court in 2001 and again in 2006 determined that the EPA and the Corps of Engineers' definition of waters of the United States was too broad, and it directed them to narrow that rule, that definition, to bring it into compliance and within the four corners of the law. This poster here indicates the absurdity of what we are dealing with. Clearly, you wouldn't have folks out on a kayak in a field fishing. It is simply nonsensical. That is what we are facing today. The EPA and the Corps of Engineers didn't come back and say, ``We are going to reduce the footprint. We are going to reduce the area that is now subject to the jurisdiction of the Corps under waters of the U.S.'' They came out with a rule that actually expanded it. They came out with a rule that the cost of compliance didn't decrease, as you would expect, based upon the rulings of the Supreme Court. The cost of compliance grew, and there were many reports about discourse within the Corps of Engineers and the EPA in regard to the approach that is being taken today. This is simply absurd to come in and attempt to regulate snow melt and drainage and things like that. Mr. Speaker, in my home State of Louisiana, we drain about 42 percent of the contiguous landmass of North America. It is one of the largest watersheds in the world. You can't take a definition of waters of the U.S. and try and apply it to Arizona and Louisiana. Waters of the U.S.…”