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house Bill H.R. 1732

Keeping the EPA From Implementing a New Rule for What Waters are Covered Under the CWA

Argument in favor

Prevents the EPA from over-regulating national bodies of water like tributaries and adjacent waters. Shields water-heavy industries like agriculture.

Buster's Opinion
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04/19/2015
EPA is a overblown agency that needs to go it has over stayed it welcome get Rid of it
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Timothy's Opinion
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04/21/2015
The EPA has way too much authority without oversight and often abuses that authority.
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David's Opinion
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04/21/2015
They already have power to regulate certain things about water ways. Seems like another power grab.
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Argument opposed

Significantly weakens the ability of the EPA to regulate bodies of water, especially when dealing with agricultural runoff in drainage ditches.

BananaNeil's Opinion
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04/19/2015
The EPA's intention is to prevent our planet from being trashed.. Banning their ability to regulate water is a HUGE step in the wrong direction. We are in a climate crisis! We cannot allow for the GOP to continue stripping the EPA of it's ability to effectively do it's job.
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Brian's Opinion
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04/19/2015
The Epa is vital to protecting the country from human activities. Stripping it off authority gives free reign to dangerous and neglectent companies only after a profit
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StratonGarrard's Opinion
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04/19/2015
The regulation of our natural resources is of utmost importance to our survival; thus, deregulating our water supply is in fact detrimental to our chances of survival and is thus a fallacy.
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What is House Bill H.R. 1732?

In April 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed rule change to the Clean Water Act (CWA).  The new rule would more clearly defining the waters the EPA has regulatory control over (like tributaries and adjacent waters). This bill would withdraw the proposed rule.

In other words, the bill would prevent the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from expanding the scope of the Clean Water Act to cover waters that currently occupy a legal gray area. 

The EPA and the Corps would have to create a new rule after reviewing public comments for the original the 2014 rule. They would also have to head a regulatory analysis for that proposed rule, with an accompanying EPA report. 

State and local officials, stakeholders, and other interested parties would have to be consulted before attempting to set down which waters and wetlands are covered by the CWA. 

Impact

People who use bodies of water, U.S. agricultural industry, its customers, waterways, marshlands, other bodies of water, The Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Cost of House Bill H.R. 1732

$5.00 Million
The CBO estimates that implementing this bill would cost $5 million over 2016-2020.

More Information

In Depth: Opponents of the April 2014 revision to the Clean Water Act, like sponsoring Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), argue that the EPA is overreaching its power:

“The Administration’s proposed rule and its regulatory fallout will have real economic costs and consequences for states, local governments, farmers, builders, other stakeholders, and private citizens. Instead of legitimately consulting these parties, the Administration flouted the rulemaking process, rushed this rule forward, and is now close to putting it into practice. 

Other bill supporters claim that the EPA would use its extended authority to over-regulate farming, which would harm agriculture and trigger higher food prices.

Opponents of the bill contend that the EPA's rule bolsters the CWA's ability to protect clean drinking water — as tributaries and adjacent waters impact down stream water quality. 

AKA

Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015

Official Title

To preserve existing rights and responsibilities with respect to waters of the United States, and for other purposes.

bill Progress

  • Not enacted
    The President has not signed this bill
  • The senate has not voted
      senate Committees
      Committee on Environment and Public Works
  • The house Passed May 12th, 2015
    Roll Call Vote 261 Yea / 155 Nay
      house Committees
      Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
      Water Resources and Environment
    IntroducedApril 13th, 2015
Log in or create an account to see how your Reps voted!
    Buster's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    04/19/2015
    EPA is a overblown agency that needs to go it has over stayed it welcome get Rid of it
    Like (15)
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    Share
    BananaNeil's Opinion Against
    ···
    04/19/2015
    The EPA's intention is to prevent our planet from being trashed.. Banning their ability to regulate water is a HUGE step in the wrong direction. We are in a climate crisis! We cannot allow for the GOP to continue stripping the EPA of it's ability to effectively do it's job.
    Like (67)
    Follow
    Share
    Brian's Opinion Against
    ···
    04/19/2015
    The Epa is vital to protecting the country from human activities. Stripping it off authority gives free reign to dangerous and neglectent companies only after a profit
    Like (32)
    Follow
    Share
    StratonGarrard's Opinion Against
    ···
    04/19/2015
    The regulation of our natural resources is of utmost importance to our survival; thus, deregulating our water supply is in fact detrimental to our chances of survival and is thus a fallacy.
    Like (26)
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    elliottschwartz's Opinion Against
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    04/19/2015
    Isn't this the whole point of having the EPA?
    Like (22)
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    Xn's Opinion Against
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    04/19/2015
    This is an outrageous attack on the people's right to clean water. The EPA should be stricter not weaker. This is a slap in the face to all the people.
    Like (18)
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    James's Opinion Against
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    04/19/2015
    Why would they be banned? Their whole purpose is to protect the environment. That includes fresh water sources as well as other natural resources.
    Like (14)
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    Mikeizzo1993's Opinion Against
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    04/19/2015
    Why let a third party regulate water? Why not let the corporations that have continuously poisoned water with oil spills and illegal dumping regulate it? Talk about a bill straight from the crony capitalists' mouths.
    Like (11)
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    zcoston's Opinion Against
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    04/19/2015
    We need the EPA to protect us especially in such a risky and dangerous environment we live in now, with corporations using hydraulic fracturing and polluting water supplies.
    Like (9)
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    Timothy's Opinion In Favor
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    04/21/2015
    The EPA has way too much authority without oversight and often abuses that authority.
    Like (9)
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    David's Opinion In Favor
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    04/21/2015
    They already have power to regulate certain things about water ways. Seems like another power grab.
    Like (5)
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    Josh's Opinion Against
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    04/19/2015
    Water and air are the most critical national resources we have. The EPA is a critical check and balance to industry, protecting the lives of all Americans. Weakening the EPA's power to regulate water safety would be unbelievably stupid.
    Like (5)
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    Sabra18's Opinion In Favor
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    04/20/2015
    The EPA is a bureaucratic nightmare that thinks it has the authority to legislate. It needs to be abolished and control returned to locals
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    Dporebski1289's Opinion In Favor
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    04/27/2015
    The EPA and radical environmentalists have repeatedly put the livelihoods of thousands of people at risk due to over-regulation. The most recent example is the expansive drought that has hit Southern California. The redirecting of millions of tons of water into the Pacific Ocean all in order to protect a 2-3 inch fish (smelt) is ridiculous. Thousands are losing their jobs and water is being heavily rationed and regulated in the affected region. All because of a fish. It is regulatory overreach such as this that harms our economy and puts people out of work. Enough is enough.
    Like (4)
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    Cary's Opinion In Favor
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    05/02/2015
    Farmland water? Um, yea you can focus your efforts elsewhere thanks, though.
    Like (3)
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    hectord's Opinion Against
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    04/19/2015
    The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) exists for this exact purpose. Someone is getting a fat check to push this bill.
    Like (2)
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    Robbie's Opinion Against
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    04/30/2015
    All Americans should have the right to clean and safe drinking water, as well as modern sewer and sanitation services. The people deserve the advocation of our right to these basic waterworks services, which the Environmental Protection Agency has provided since its inception. We should expand and foster its ability to protect our water resources for those of us living today and for the many generations of Americans that follow.
    Like (2)
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    RobertAllport's Opinion In Favor
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    04/23/2015
    the EPA would use its extended authority to over-regulate farming, which would harm agriculture and trigger higher food prices.
    Like (2)
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    James's Opinion Against
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    04/20/2015
    This is just a dumb idea. "Hey let's not regulate water(including drinking water!!).How did we ever became a first world nation.
    Like (2)
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    Daniel's Opinion Against
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    05/07/2015
    The EPA makes policies based off of real science. They need the ability to implement conservation acts without being constrained by this bill.
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