On the recordMarch 25, 2015
I urge my colleagues to support the Stabenow amendment. This amendment would establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund that would do a few things. First of all, it would ensure that the Clean Water Act is focused on protecting water quality, upholding the existing exemption in the Clean Water Act for agriculture, ranching, and forestry that has existed for decades so our foresters and ranchers have the certainty they need. It would ensure that we rely on scientific evidence as we examine the impact that water quality has on the different types of water bodies, and it provides certainty to landowners and rural communities that are guided by the scope of the Clean Water Act. I appreciate my colleague from Wyoming and his approach. I believe mine is much more specific. It is deficit neutral instead of spending neutral, so it allows us to offset any changes we would like to make to support these efforts through either revenues or spending cuts as opposed to a spending-neutral reserve fund. Most importantly, it makes very clear support for both the Clean Water Act and agriculture. I thank the Chair. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The time of the Senator has expired. The Senator from Wyoming.
