Congressman Bishop Fights Against Overreaching Governmental Regulations

Press Release

Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) fought against overreaching governmental regulation by supporting the passage of H.R. 5078, the Waters of the U.S. Regulatory Overreach Protection Act of 2014. The bill rights the balance between the need to protect the environment and protect the livelihoods of Georgians by prohibiting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from executing proposed rules and definitions regarding streams and waterways under the Clean Water Act:

"I believe that regulations should be put to three basic tests: be based in sound science; be based on a cost-benefit analysis; and be based on plain common sense," said Congressman Bishop "In this light, I have concerns that the EPA's proposed regulation expands the definition of navigable streams and waterways in a manner that would stretch EPA's authority beyond the intent of Congress and would have a harmful impact on Georgia's farming communities, businesses, and others whose livelihoods depend on available water resources--an over-reach this bill will prevent."

H.R. 5078 passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 262 to 152. The measure prohibits the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing either guidance or a rule proposed earlier this year that seeks to clarify the federal government's authority to regulate certain intrastate waters under the Clean Water Act, and it requires the agencies to consult with state and local officials to develop a new regulatory proposal. For more information regarding the EPA's rules, please click here and here.

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