January 13, 2016 - Congressman Tom McClintock delivered the following remarks on the House floor:
In Support of S.J.Res. 22 - Disapproving the EPA “Waters of the US” Rule
House Chanmber, Washington, D.C.
January 13, 2016
Mr. Speaker:
Congress gave the EPA jurisdiction only over navigable bodies of water large enough to support ship traffic. The EPA’s rule takes control over virtually every body of water in the United States, including many agricultural and drainage ditches, ornamental lakes, and small creeks and streams on private property. In 2010, Mr. Oberstar introduced a bill to grant them this power, but the Pelosi Congress refused to pass it. So, the EPA has decided to seize this power anyway.
This rule not only threatens to upend 150 years of state water and property rights laws, but also presents us with a grave challenge to our Constitution. If allowed to stand, it means that Congress’ exclusive legislative powers have now passed unrestricted to the Executive – including the power to repeal existing laws that guarantee to states supremacy over their waters, and the power to amend laws to seize vast new executive authority, in direct defiance of Congress.
This rule must not stand.
Source: Congressman Tom McClintock
