Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR-04)

In 1972, Congress enacted the Clean Water Act to support clean water, healthy communities, and industries throughout our economy. When farmers and ranchers, builders, and manufacturers obtain a permit to start a project, the Clean Water Act is meant to serve as a tool to protect clean water for our nation. Unfortunately, over the years, the federal government has weaponized the Clean Water Act to delay, stall, or block permits for critical energy, transportation infrastructure, and other commercial projects.

 For example, far-left activists often misuse the Clean Water Act’s regulatory processes to lock up key energy projects, stifling domestic energy production capabilities - forcing American businesses to turn to our foreign adversaries, such as China, for critical resources.

 When our regulatory systems get in the way of essential projects, it can have widespread negative impacts on rural communities, the economy, and our competitiveness on the global stage in energy and manufacturing. That’s why I worked with my colleagues on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to advance the Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act, comprehensive legislation that will end the weaponization of the Clean Water Act by making commonsense reforms to cut red tape and streamline the permitting processes for farmers and ranchers, energy producers, builders, and more.

 The Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act reduces overburdensome regulatory requirements, removes EPA’s “retroactive veto,” and safeguards good-faith permit holders from unnecessary delays and frivolous lawsuits as they work to complete projects, all while continuing to protect clean water for Americans. The commonsense reforms in this bill strengthen the Clean Water Act’s original intent while increasing our ability to complete energy and infrastructure projects on budget and on time – ultimately bolstering the U.S. economy and global competitiveness.