The new trend in Congress is to overextend the arm of the federal government, whether it is health care, spending on new programs, or energy legislation. Recently, I sat in on a hearing where once again the majority’s ideas did not match those of the American people.

As a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I attended a hearing on the 37th Anniversary of the passage of the Clean Water Act.  This legislation has brought about significant changes in water quality across the country and implemented a system of federal and state regulation over water pollution.

However, Congress is now preparing for the introduction of the Clean Water Restoration Act, which includes numerous proposals to increase the scope of the Clean Water Act and severely hinder the daily lives of millions of Americans.  

The most troubling provision would change the phrase “navigable waters” to “waters of the United States” within the Clean Water Act.

What may seem like a small change would give the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers jurisdiction over essentially all wet areas within a state.

This oversight includes groundwater, ditches, pipes, municipal storm drains, gutters, and farmland and would impede agricultural activities and infringe on the rights of private property.

In this difficult economy where a majority of states are facing budget deficits, this proposal imposes additional unfunded mandates on state and local governments.

I strongly oppose removing the word “navigable” from the Clean Water Act and will join my colleagues in rejecting the Clean Water Restoration Act when it comes before the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. 

In 37 years, the Clean Water Act has drastically improved the quality of water in the United States.  However, dramatically increasing the role of the federal government in controlling waters on private property would produce dire consequences for Americans.