Providing for Congressional Disapproval of the Rule Submitted By the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency

Floor Speech

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Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution to repeal the Biden administration's waters of the United States rule.

Since President Biden was sworn into office, the regulatory actions of his administration have cost the private sector nearly $360 billion in compliance costs and an estimated 220 million man-hours in new paperwork requirements. Later this month, when this rule is finalized, these numbers will get even higher.

Yesterday, the Committee on Small Business held a hearing to speak directly with the people who are going to be affected by this damaging regulation. We heard from Ms. Katherine English of Florida, who became a water attorney to ensure her family farm that has been in operation for over 100 years, could continue to thrive. She told us that this rule is so complicated that she will not know if even simple land adjustments on her own private property would open her up to fines from the Federal Government.

We also heard from Mr. Frank Murphy, from the great State of Texas, who develops real estate. He shared that this new rule will cause him to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in redundant environmental reviews and could delay many projects indefinitely.

For any business, certainty is key, and unfortunately, this rule is leaving many people in the dark on if they will be in compliance with the new regulations.

I support this resolution because it is giving a voice to the small businesses that have been ignored by the unelected bureaucrats at the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers. That is why this resolution is supported by over 100 business groups. Congress must act and listen to the voices of Main Street America on how this regulation will kill jobs and damage the American economy.

In God we trust.

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