OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act

Floor Speech

Date: July 7, 2015
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Environment

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Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, I thank Ms. McCollum for her work on this bill and to Bobby Scott and Don Beyer for joining me in this effort. I rise in opposition to this amendment.

Just yesterday, the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals upheld EPA authority to set Chesapeake Bay pollution limits, which have led to the best cleanup progress in over 25 years. For the Bay, as with so many other waters across the country, the Clean Water Act backstop is critical to ensure that states are meeting their commitments.

In Maryland, we have cities working to manage stormwater and farmers implementing best management practices to stop runoff. But for all our efforts, we will never have a clean and healthy Bay if pollution runs downstream from Pennsylvania, New York, or West Virginia.

With our enormous watershed, encompassing 64,000 square miles, six States, and

D.C., everyone must do their fair share. And to do that is through the Clean Water Act's Federal backstop. I strongly oppose this amendment and urge my colleagues to do the same

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