Smith: EPA broke the law in Waters of the U.S. push

Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) responded this week to a report that the Environmental Protect Agency (EPA) broke the law in promoting its controversial Waters of the U.S. rule.

According to a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the EPA broke the law through the use of an application called Thunderclap that allows for the simultaneous sharing of a social media message across multiple social media accounts and platforms, including Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr. The GAO said that the use of Thunderclap was an unauthorized use of the EPA’s appropriations and found the agency in violation of a grassroots lobbying prohibition.

“GAO’s report provides independent confirmation of the Committee’s investigation that the EPA engaged in covert attempts to skirt anti-lobbying laws in collusion with environmental activists,” Smith said. “Earlier this year, I demanded information from EPA and conducted interviews with senior EPA officials about the agency’s inappropriate lobbying of outside organizations to generate grassroots support. At a July hearing this year with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, Environmental Subcommittee Chairman Jim Bridenstine presented evidence that the agency and its officials inappropriately pressured EPA personnel to use their social media accounts to promote positive comments on EPA rules, including the Waters of the U.S. rule.

“Furthermore, the GAO report states that the EPA used appropriated funds for the purpose of grassroots lobbying, which is illegal under U.S. law. GAO’s findings independently confirm that the EPA is willing to break the law in order to implement this administration’s extreme environmental agenda.”