The House of Representatives on Tuesday voted in favor of H.R. 5078, the Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act of 2014.
The bill prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers from enacting authority over new water sources or imposing new regulations without state or local approval.
It passed by a 262 to 152 margin with support from both sides of the aisle, including from Reps. John Shimkus (R-Ill.), Jim Renacci (R-Ohio), Lee Terry (R-Neb.) and Mac Thornberry (R-Texas).
“The actions being pursued by the EPA and the Army Corp of Engineers would be extremely harmful to the farmers in my district and many others across Pennsylvania,” Dent said. “I’m pleased that the House took this important step today to ensure that the EPA does not unnecessarily expand their authority into waters that are under Commonwealth jurisdiction and already regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and 66 county conservation districts.”
The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and Milk Producers Council were among the many Pennsylvania entitites supporting the measure.
Introduced in the House of Representatives on July 11, the bill will now be considered in the Senate.