Preventing Clean Water Act Expansion
Preventing a Dramatic Expansion of Federal Water Regulations
The Obama Administration and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are pushing a dramatic expansion of federal jurisdiction over waters and wet areas in the United States. This massive federal jurisdiction grab was the subject of failed legislation in the 110th and 111th Congresses. Strong bipartisan opposition prevented this costly and intrusive legislation from moving through the House and Senate.
Broadening the scope of the Clean Water Act and the federal government's reach into our everyday lives would adversely affect the nation’s economy, threaten jobs, invite costly litigation, and expand the federal government’s authority over state, local and private property rights.
Although such an expansion of federal authority has failed to gain traction in the Congress, the Administration is pushing its expansionist agenda by attempting to circumvent continued Congressional opposition and the regular federal regulatory process. On June 7, 2012, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved bipartisan legislation introduced by Full Committee Chairman John L. Mica, Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Bob Gibbs and other Members of Congress to halt EPA's attempts to illegally expand federal power under the Clean Water Act and potentially extend the government’s regulatory reach to every ditch, puddle and pond in the country.
Regulation of the nation's waters must be done in a manner that responsibly protects the environment without an unnecessary and costly expansion of the federal government. Preventing an unreasonable and burdensome regulatory agenda will ensure that taxes for small businesses, farmers and families do not needlessly increase, and will protect employers’ ability to create new jobs.
Press Releases:
- June 12, 2012: Chairmen Gibbs and Harris Question EPA Efforts to Expand Clean Water Act Authorities
- June 7, 2012: Committee Votes to Curb EPA Power Grab
- April 27, 2012: House Bill Halts Administration’s Power Grab & Expansion of Water Regulation
- March 28, 2012: Congressional Republicans Continue to Put Pressure on Obama Administration to Halt Water Guidance Overreach
- November 8, 2011: Bicameral Letter to EPA & Corps of Engineers Regarding Clean Water Act Rulemaking
- November 3, 2011: EPA's Clean Water Act Jurisdiction Spurs Bicameral Concern
- April 27, 2011: Mica & Gibbs Respond to Administration’s Release of Guidance on Clean Water Act Expansion
- April 18, 2011: Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Calls for Administration to Halt “Guidance” to Dramatically Expand Clean Water Act Jurisdiction
- April 21, 2010: Committee Republicans Respond to Reintroduction of Massive Expansion of Clean Water Act
- April 18, 2008: Inhofe, Mica United Against Federal Land Grab Legislation
- April 16, 2008: Unprecedented Federal Jurisdiction Grab Could Lead to Regulation of Every Wet Area in the Country
- October 18, 2007: Redefining Wetlands Could Open Jurisdictional Pandora’s Box
- July 17, 2007: Clean Water Bill May Lead to Massive Expansion of Federal Jurisdiction Say Committee GOP Leaders
Committee Hearings:
- April 16, 2008: The Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007
- July 17, 2007: Status of the Nation’s Waters, including Wetlands, Under the Jurisdiction of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act
- July 19, 2007: Status of the Nation’s Waters, including Wetlands, Under the Jurisdiction of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Part II
- October 18, 2007: The 35th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act: Successes and Future Challenges
