EPA Overregulation

Floor Speech

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Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I am pleased to be here this morning with the distinguished Senator from South Dakota, as well as the esteemed Senators from both Kansas and Wyoming, to talk about this regulation that is clearly an overreach by the EPA. It needs to be addressed. We have measures to address it.

As the Senator from South Dakota said so well, this is a regulation that is a huge problem for our farmers and ranchers, but really, as he said, we have been hearing from almost every industry sector that this is a big-time problem that needs to be addressed, and needs to be addressed now.

So, as I said, we have legislation both in committee--I have legislation in the Appropriations Committee, in the Energy and Water Subcommittee, that would address it--and the good Senator from Wyoming has legislation that he has filed, and he is requesting a floor vote.

But in both cases, whether it is in committee or here on the floor, what we are saying is give us a chance to vote on this issue. This is an important issue for the American people and Senators need to indicate where they stand. I do not know why everybody should not be proud to do that--to vote on this regulatory overreach and to address this challenge for the American people. It is a very straightforward issue.

That is what we are here to discuss and debate this morning, and we sincerely hope, as we continue to highlight this very important problem, the leadership of this body is going to step up on behalf of the American people and allow--allow--the Senate to address it through its rightful duty, which is to vote on issues important to the American people.

To continue this important dialog, I turn to the Senator from Kansas and ask for his comments on behalf of his constituents in his State in terms of what he is hearing and the problems this waters of the U.S. proposed regulation put forward by the EPA creates in the great State of Kansas.

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Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I would like to thank, again, the Senator from Kansas. He is somebody who has been involved in agriculture for--well, he is still a very young man--he is somebody who has been involved in agriculture for a long time and certainly understands what goes into farming.

Think about it. Farmers and ranchers work the land, but that is also their home. Who knows the land better? Who knows the streams and the potholes and the ditches and the roads, who knows their land better than a farmer or a rancher? And who is more concerned about it? Really. Who is more concerned about it? That farmer or somebody who works at the EPA here in Washington, DC? That is important to think about as we look at this kind of regulatory overreach that goes to the very private property rights that are the foundation of this country.

I thank the Senator from Wyoming for his leadership and for the legislation he has put together that he has filed and that we should be voting on right now that I am very pleased to cosponsor.

I would ask the Senator from Wyoming for his comments on this issue and his legislation.

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Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I would like to thank, again, the Senator from Kansas. He is somebody who has been involved in agriculture for--well, he is still a very young man--he is somebody who has been involved in agriculture for a long time and certainly understands what goes into farming.

Think about it. Farmers and ranchers work the land, but that is also their home. Who knows the land better? Who knows the streams and the potholes and the ditches and the roads, who knows their land better than a farmer or a rancher? And who is more concerned about it? Really. Who is more concerned about it? That farmer or somebody who works at the EPA here in Washington, DC? That is important to think about as we look at this kind of regulatory overreach that goes to the very private property rights that are the foundation of this country.

I thank the Senator from Wyoming for his leadership and for the legislation he has put together that he has filed and that we should be voting on right now that I am very pleased to cosponsor.

I would ask the Senator from Wyoming for his comments on this issue and his legislation.

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Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, that is our point. We understand that people bring different points of view to this deliberative body, but the point is this: This is an important issue that affects virtually all Americans, that affects our economy, that affects our farmers, our ranchers, our businesses, the energy sector. You name it.

When we have something of this importance, we have an absolute responsibility to the people of this country to show where we stand on the issue, meaning we have a responsibility to vote on this and the other important issues before this body. That is what we are asking for.

We are saying everybody has a right to bring their point of view and their opinion, but we all have a right and a responsibility to vote on these important issues. That is what we are asking for, a vote on this important issue for the benefit of the American people.

I yield the floor.

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