Date: 2011-07-13
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank the good intentions of the gentleman. but I am concerned by the interpretation. Let me just share with you very briefly my own State. In my own State. Im aware of how tributaries can impact the body of water they flow into. Currently there is a dead zone. an area of low oxygen where marine life cannot survive. in the Gulf of Mexico. This dead zone. estimated to reach 9.421 square miles. is due to increased levels of nitrogen and phosphorus that washed into the gulf from the Mississippi River and other tributaries. This legislation prevents the EPA from regulating criteria for pollutants that cause dead zones. We are the protectors of Americas assets. its waterways. its drinking water. the ability to have the opportunity for clean water for our fish and fishing. I ask you. lets go back to the drawing board. If we have States that are already participating. lets demand. in an administrative process. for EPA to restrain itself. but lets not take away the underlying power that is going to allow us to have clean drinking water and for someone who lives in Crestwood to be able to be possibly cancer free. I ask my colleagues to support this amendment. Mr. Chair. I rise today in support of my amendment to H.R. 2018 "The Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011." My amendment restores the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to work with state governments to establish standards ensuring all Americans have access to clean and safe water. My amendment strikes the entire bill. The Clean Water Act (CWA) was designed to encourage collaboration between state agencies and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in order to develop acceptable standards for maintaining the safety of our nations bodies of water. The EPA was created in 1970 to ensure that our air. land. and water receive adequate protection from pollution and we must allow them to do so for the benefit of all Americans. The Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act is absolutely not the way to protect our nations water bodies. The EPA has the expertise and resources for research. standardsetting. monitoring and enforcement with regard to five environmental hazards: air and water pollution. solid waste disposal. radiation. and pesticides. EPA represents a coordinated approach to each of these problems. Seeking to limit the extent to which the EPA can oversee the safety of our water supply threatens the health of American citizens across the country. The EPA has not only the right. but the responsibility to update state water pollution regulations and permit procedures if they discover new threats to health or the environment. The EPA must remain involved in regulating water pollution to ensure a cohesive policy that protects all states from pollution. Should the authority to regulate water pollution levels be given solely to the states. there would be no way to regulate waterways that pass through multiple states. As a Representative from Texas. a Gulf Coast state. I am aware of how tributaries can impact the body of water they flow into. Currently. there is a dead zone. an area of low oxygen where marine life cannot survive. in the Gulf of Mexico. This dead zone. estimated to reach 9.421 square miles. is due to increased levels of nitrogen and phosphorus that washed into the gulf from the Mississippi River and other tributaries. This legislation prevents the EPA from regulating criteria for pollutants that cause dead zones. My Republican colleagues feel we must pass this bill urgently. They will tell their constituents. and all of the American people that the Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act is necessary to issue permits and avoid backlog in mining facilities. factories. agriculture. and other businesses. What my friends on the other side of the aisle will not tell you is that this legislation is helping business at the risk of our nations health. Those who support this bill will not mention that EPA regulation prevents toxic chemicals and biological agents from entering our surface water bodies and groundwater. Apparently. those championing this legislation do not feel the American people deserve to know the serious health risks that can result from drinking or bathing in polluted water. Breathing the vapors of a polluted water source. consuming meat or vegetables affected by polluted water. and consuming fish that have been exposed to polluted water are all potentially harmful. Mr. Chair. I offer this amendment to strike the entire Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act to protect not only my constituents in the 18th district of Texas. but Americans across the nation from the diseases that result from water pollution. Diseases such as typhoid. hepatitis. encephalitis. and others caused by pathogens in water. Surely the EPA. the states. and the industries involved can work together to prevent pollution levels in surface and groundwater from causing cancer. or serious damage to the liver. kidneys. nervous system. reproductive system. or endocrine system. Surely. we are not willing to sacrifice the health of this nation to pass a bill to benefit industry. A study conducted by Cornell University concluded that water pollution accounts for 80% of infectious diseases. and 5 million deaths per year. I urge my colleagues on either side of the aisle to consider the enormous gamble this Congress is taking by reducing regulations to keep our water safe. Supporting my amendment will strike the dangerous Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act. and provide an opportunity for new legislation that fosters compromise between the EPA. the states. and stakeholders. without compromising water quality and endangering the health of American citizens. [From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency]