Providing for Consideration of HR 5078, Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act of 2014, and Providing for Consideration of H. Res. 644, Disapproval of the Administration's Failure to Notify Congress Before Releasing Individuals from Guantanamo Bay

Floor Speech

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Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this rule and the underlying legislation.

This rule will expand the regulatory jurisdiction of the EPA and Corps and, in turn, place more restrictions on landowners who will fall under this new umbrella of jurisdiction.

It has been said many times from others that our side is, at best, uncaring about the environment and, at worst, we actually want to make the environment terrible. I think what we have got to deal with here is the Clean Water Act has provided a good parameter and needs to be continued to work because it has a clear direction and a clear parameter of how you bring in bodies of water and what is under that jurisdiction.

I think what has happened here and what is a concern that I have heard from my constituents especially in north Georgia, and all over the country as I have traveled in the past few weeks talking in different parts of the country, is about what is the actual role in dealing with this waters of the USA and what are we taking jurisdiction from.

This is not just an agricultural issue, Madam Speaker. This is also an internal issue for the rural and urban areas, because what is being talked about here is taking under consideration navigable waterways that have never been thought of in my part of the world, many times, as any more than a dry ditch, and they will simply say: We are not dealing with dry ditches. In fact, a dry ditch will not be uncovered. However, there is a caveat that basically says that when water from that dry ditch flows into another waterway, then it could be considered navigable. And I don't know about anybody else, Madam Speaker, but in my part of the world, I have never seen a ditch run uphill and stop. A ditch is running to somewhere.

This is simply a landgrab that takes land away from owners who could use this land in very productive and very carefully thought-out ways in their own localities and States, and actually takes it away. This is nothing more, frankly, than a landgrab that is based on a desire to put political agendas ahead of property owners. That is why I support the rule and I will support the underlying bill dealing with the Waters of the USA Act.

I rise also in support of our underlying bill, as well. And we have got to understand that the law clearly states the President shall notify Congress of any release of Guantanamo Bay detainees. It clearly states this. And if changing or breaking that law isn't enough, the President released five of the most dangerous detainees held at Guantanamo Bay. These Taliban leaders have orchestrated plans to engage in hostilities against Americans and in association with al Qaeda. By his own admission, there is the possibility that these detainees would return to the fight.

As someone who has been in that fight over the past 10 years and has been over there, they do not need any help. They do not need their poster heroes coming back to them and giving them support, even though they have been off the battlefield. This was wrong.

My friend from Florida says they are message bills.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, let's be sort of open and transparent, which is what the American people want here. There is not a bill that hits the floor of this House that is not a message bill. It sends a message of the priorities of the Congress. It sends a message of the priorities of the people that we represent. Yes, they are messaging bills. They are messaging bills for Florida. They are messaging bills for Georgia. They are messaging bills for the American people. What happened in this instance is the message was loud and clear from the executive office, saying: I don't care what the law says, I am going to do it anyway.

That is a bad message, Mr. President, and we need to stop it.

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