On the recordJune 25, 2014
Let me finish my point. Here is the point. This is a proposed regulation. So if you think further clarification is needed, there is an extended comment period. If you think we need to make further clarifications on issues--what we are trying to get at are practices that affect water that will go into our streams and rivers and in my case end up in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which in trying to clean up the bay we have to deal with. The success of the Chesapeake Bay Program is that all stakeholders are involved. We use the best science. We need everyone doing their fair share. Therefore, if your activities contribute to water flowing into the Chesapeake Bay watershed through our streams and rivers, yes, you are regulated under the Clean Water Act. But if you have a self- contained ditch that is not involved in that and are using it for irrigation, absolutely not. If you participate in the conservation programs, you don't have to worry about a new set of regulations. That is what this does. Our true leader on this has been Senator Whitehouse. I thank him very much on the climate change issues, on the environmental issues. He has been on the floor every day. I want to make sure my colleagues have a chance to express their views on this issue. It is critically important. I yield for my colleague from Rhode Island.
