Washington,
DC- Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-Channahon) today released the
following statement on the passage of H.R. 5078, the Waters of the
United States Regulatory Overreach
Protection Act of 2014. H.R. 5078 prevents the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) from expanding its jurisdiction into state and
local waters, which would drastically increase its regulatory influence
in rural areas. Congressman Kinzinger is a cosponsor
of the bill.
"The
last thing that hardworking farmers need are more unnecessary rules and
regulations from the federal government," said Kinzinger. "I was proud
to cosponsor and vote for
a bill that protects Illinois farmers and keeps the EPA out of their
way."
In
the past year, both the EPA and the US Army Corps of Engineers have
advanced rulemakings that would expand the definition of "waters of the
United States" under the Clean Water
Act. H.R. 5078 prohibits the EPA and the US Army Corps of Engineers
from changing the definition and keeps waterways under state
jurisdiction.