Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I don't think I have ever heard so much nonsense in such a short period of time. As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 7023, the Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act, of which I am a sponsor. In the five decades since its enactment, the Clean Water Act has helped improve the quality of water bodies throughout this country. H.R. 7023 is focused on improving sections 402 and 404 permitting processes under the Clean Water Act. The keyword here is ``improve,'' not remove, not eliminate, not undermine, but improve. Improving permitting under the Clean Water Act has been a priority of mine as chairman of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee. I have heard over the course of a number of hearings about the successes and challenges of the Clean Water Act. Throughout these conversations, one theme has become clear: Years of weaponization of this law by various administrations and radical activists are hurting our economy without providing any meaningful environmental benefit. Today, we have heard our colleagues from across the aisle say this legislation will gut the Clean Water Act by rolling back critical water protections, but the fact of the matter is that is just not so. This bill does not modify the scope of the Clean Water Act, nor does it change the current permitting requirements. Let me say that again. It does not change current permitting requirements.…”