Political Quotes

“this amendment restricts expansion of Federal authority, and it is a Federal authority attempting to encompass all the wet areas of farms, ranches, and suburban homes all across America, so this amendment is designed to restrict that expansion of Federal authority. Specifically, the amendment eliminates this administration's guidance to implement this expansion of Federal authority. Through proposed guidance--that is the key phrase here, ``guidance''--Federal agencies are preparing to expand the definition of ``waters of the United States.'' I think it would make sense that people would inherently understand what waters of the United States would be. But the Federal Government is preparing to expand the definition to include ditches, including dry areas--other dry areas where water happens to flow and when it only flows even for a short duration after a rainfall. The American people know that should not be considered waters of the United States. Federal regulations have never defined ditches and other upland drainage features as ``waters of the United States.'' But this draft guidance coming out of Washington does do that, and it will have a huge impact on farmers, ranchers, and small businesses that need to put a shovel in the ground to make a living. The EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers' guidance amounts to a Federal user fee for farmers and ranchers to farm the land they own.…”