House Committee Unanimously Approves Southerland Bill to Rein in EPA Overreach

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, II applauded the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s unanimous approval today of legislation he introduced to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers from extending federal regulatory powers to almost any body of water in America. The Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act (H.R. 5078) preserves the successful federal-state partnership under the Clean Water Act that has regulated U.S. waters for over 40 years.

“I am pleased that Republicans and Democrats on the committee acted in a bipartisan fashion to recognize the role that states must play in regulating waters within their respective boundaries,” said Southerland. “By turning back the administration’s brazen power grab, we’ve stood in defense of a federal-state partnership that has worked for 40 years under the Clean Water Act. As a result, we’ve taken the first step in restoring certainty for the farmers, manufacturers, and construction and transportation industries that drive America’s economic growth.”

“Associated Industries of Florida and our members applaud today’s passage of Congressman Southerland’s Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act of 2014,” said Brewster Bevis, senior vice president of State and Federal Affairs for the Associated Industries of Florida. “Enactment of this legislation is vital to protecting Florida’s employers from job-killing overreach by the Federal government, specifically the EPA. Through our Florida H2O Coalition, we are committed to water quality and quantity issues facing Florida and today’s action by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee speaks volumes.”

“Today, the members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee reaffirmed their commitment to protecting family farms and ranches from unconstitutional government intrusion with the passage of H.R. 5078,” said John Hoblick, President of the Florida Farm Bureau. “I’m proud that a member of Florida’s Congressional delegation, Rep. Steve Southerland, has chosen to champion this issue for Florida’s growers.”

NOTE: To watch Rep. Southerland’s committee statement on H.R. 5078, please click here. Also, please find a summary of Southerland’s legislation by clicking here.