Press Releases
Congressman Jason Smith: EPA Administrator Should Listen to MissouriansSmith says EPA Administrator should listen to Missourians and abandon “Waters of the United States” power grabToday, Congressman Jason Smith (R-MO) called on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy to listen to the concerns of farm families during her two-day visit to the Show-Me-State. McCarthy is in Missouri Wednesday and Thursday to push proposed new regulations that would expand her agency’s reach into the lives of every American. The proposed new regulations, known as the “Waters of the United States” would potentially allow the EPA to regulate nearly every area of the ground that gets wet or has flow during rainfall. The rule would expand the EPA’s reach to cover every pond, puddle, temporary and small wetlands, irrigation ditches or similar collection of water. Smith has called the proposal an overreach of federal authority. “Administrator McCarthy should hear the concerns of Missouri farmers and ranchers. My constituents have told me the ‘Waters of the United States’ proposal is a gross overreach of federal power that would hurt Missouri’s rural economy and force farmers and ranchers to jump through costly and needless regulatory hoops,” said Smith. “The EPA has declared war on rural America. The ‘Waters of the United States’ is just the latest assault on farmers and ranchers across rural America. These Washington bureaucrats do not understand and do not appreciate our rural way of life. I plan to work with my constituents to fight this intrusive and ineffective proposal.” Smith is encouraging his constituents to submit public comments to the EPA and voice their concerns with the proposed “Waters of the United States.” Comments can by submitted online, by email or by regular mail. The deadline to submit comments is October 20, 2014.
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