WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) today released the following statement regarding the House passage of bipartisan legislation to block the Obama administration from implementing a proposed rule to unilaterally expand the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. The bill passed the House 262-152.
“As part of the EPA’s radical overreach, the Obama Administration wants to expand the definition of ‘navigable waterways’ to include every drainage ditch, backyard pond and puddle – a move that threatens the ability of farmers and landowners alike to make decisions regarding their private property,” Scalise said. “If allowed to move forward, this near-limitless extremist regulation will be the catalyst for higher prices, costly litigation and the loss of more American jobs. The continued abuses, overreach and attempted power grabs from the Obama EPA is unacceptable. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to act swiftly and pass this much-needed legislation to protect hard-working taxpayers. I applaud Congressman Steve Southerland for introducing this critical bill.”