Congressional Record—Senate S7755
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November 4, 2015 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7755 water. That seems like an absurd no- Earlier this week parts of the State tion continues to disregard the will of tion for anybody who is in this body. were again hit hard with heavy rain- the Congress, the warnings of the This is a completely false and elitist fall, compounding the effects of last courts, and the preferences of the claim. I firmly believe that Members month’s historic flooding associated American people. How long will we on both sides of the aisle can all agree with the hurricane. If the Environ- continue to let the partisan Obama ad- we value clean water. I love nothing mental Protection Agency moves for- ministration dictate our course of ac- more than going out on Lake Norman ward with waters of the United States, tion in the Congress and for the coun- back in my home State or spending it will severely restrict the local gov- try? We must stop this unfunded man- time fly-fishing in the mountains of ernment’s ability to quickly react date and alleviate the burdens on our North Carolina or spending time on the when we are recovering from events. farmers and business owners, not pun- rivers near our coast, but under this Imagine this. Imagine a water event ish them. rule virtually every nook and cranny of or a hurricane or a rain like we had in If we do not stop the implementation the country would be subject to EPA South Carolina, which dumps 1 foot or of this egregious rule right now, we are control. There is a risk that puddles in 2 feet of water on an area that has been setting a dangerous precedent and we our backyards and ditches and crop cropland, cultivated, and harvested by are betraying the trust of many Ameri- fields will be regulated in the same farmers—let us say in North Carolina cans. I urge my fellow colleagues manner our States regulate—prop- or South Carolina. This rule is going to today: Let us stay strong on this bill. erly—our beautiful lakes and rivers. make it almost impossible for that Let us send a message to the President One thing is clear under the waters of farmer to begin recovering imme- that he should sign this resolution into the United States, WOTUS, there is no diately because of the uncertainty of law and get back to healing this econ- clarity. There is complete uncertainty the regulations that come with waters omy. and layer upon layer of bureaucratic of the United States. Not only will Thank you. redtape. Our landowners, our farmers, they suffer the ravages of the storm, The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. our ranchers, and business owners they will also suffer the ravages of this SCOTT). The Senator from Missouri. across the country will be subject to poorly thought-out policy overreach. Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, I ask compliance costs, new fines, and the The policy raises many questions. unanimous consent that the cosponsors risk of litigation—all at the discretion For example, is a flooded ditch consid- of the resolution I am about to call up of the Environmental Protection Agen- ered a navigable water under waters of and I be allowed to engage in a col- cy. the United States? Many people believe loquy. In March, the Senate agriculture it is. What about a crop field that just The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without committee held a hearing on the had 2 feet of rain? A standing pothole objection, it is so ordered. waters of the United States, inviting may actually be subject to waters of f stakeholders to discuss their concerns. the United States, which puts a farmer COMMENDING AND CONGRATU- We were proud to have the secretary of in the position where they may get pu- LATING THE KANSAS CITY the North Carolina Department of En- nitive measures imposed upon them by ROYALS ON THEIR 2015 WORLD vironment and Natural Resources, who the EPA. SERIES VICTORY told us in regard to the rule: ‘‘It’s not Don’t get me wrong. I am a firm be- absolutely clear what in the world it liever in ensuring clean water. It is im- Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, I ask does say, other than providing the EPA perative to a flourishing agriculture in- unanimous consent that the Senate with a lot of discretion when deter- dustry and our local State and national proceed to the consideration of S. Res. mining navigable waters.’’ economies. In North Carolina we have 305, submitted earlier today. Navigable waters—not a ditch, not a a thriving brewery industry out in the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The depression that gets filled up when it beautiful mountains of Asheville. They clerk will report the resolution by rains but navigable waters. How on need access to abundant, clean water. title. Earth are Members of this body, Sen- In Eastern North Carolina, we have a The bill clerk read as follows: ators, willing to allow such a horrible thriving pharmaceutical industry. A resolution (S. Res. 305) commending and policy to plague our farmers, our busi- They need access to abundant, clean congratulating the Kansas City Royals on nesses and, I might add, our cities and water. There are a variety of reasons their 2015 World Series Victory. towns that on a bipartisan basis have why we have to make sure our water There being no objection, the Senate expressed concern to me in my home resources are clean and abundant. proceeded to consider the resolution. State. It is clear to me the Obama ad- How can I tell our farmers that in en- Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, I ask ministration did not consult with our suring clean water, we may fine them unanimous consent that the resolution State leaders, county leaders, and city for small flood puddles such as the one be agreed to, the preamble be agreed leaders when choosing to redefine the shown here? We need fair practices to, and the motions to reconsider be rule. We are at a moment where we that will help turn our economy laid upon the table with no intervening must prevent this policy, putting our around, not hinder the hard work of action or debate. landowners and job creators ahead of our farmers, our ranchers, and small The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without partisan politics. businesses across this country. We need objection, it is so ordered. It is not my goal to focus simply on policies that will help families put food The resolution (S. Res. 305) was North Carolina in this speech. I know on their kitchen tables and not penal- agreed to. my colleagues from Colorado, Florida, ize our land and homeowners. The preamble was agreed to. Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Americans need clarity and they (The resolution, with its preamble, is Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, North need fairness, not vague, ambiguous printed in today’s RECORD under ‘‘Sub- Dakota, a number of States have fam- rules such as the WOTUS, waters of the mitted Resolutions.’’) ily and friends who will endure burdens United States, which undercut State Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, it may be if this bad policy stands. authority, undercut local authority, obvious that my colleagues and I, here My State is a great example of just and promote what I believe is an illegal in the back of the room—even during a how detrimental this rule is to our government overreach. serious debate—are a little happier farmers and to families in North Caro- The Supreme Court has tried to rein than the Senate usually finds itself. Of lina. North Carolina has over 300 miles in the EPA’s misinterpretation of course, we are very pleased to be able of coastline, 17 major river basins, and ‘‘navigable water’’ several times. Based to commend our baseball team. roughly 37,000 miles of freshwater on the result of our vote earlier today, While Senator MCCASKILL and I wish streams—all places that North Caro- the majority of this Chamber and the to quickly point out that the team is lina residents, farmers, and businesses House believe the EPA has over- located in Kansas City, MO, certainly call home. Much of the eastern part of reached—and the courts agree. Yet the Kansans and Missourians join together the State, which runs along the Atlan- President said he will veto the bipar- to support the Royals, support the tic Ocean, is susceptible to flooding, tisan resolution that just passed out of Royals in the American League, and in even after the lightest rainfall. this Chamber today. This administra- this case support the Royals in the VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:02 Nov 05, 2015 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G04NO6.040 S04NOPT1 SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S7756 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE November 4, 2015 World Series—and what a series it was. We are all proud of our Kansas City I know I speak for the fans all over What a team it has been to watch the Royals. It was a hard-fought World Se- our State and the hundreds of thou- last couple of years. ries victory, but it was celebrated in sands of fans that gathered to enjoy I think maybe my favorite comment Kansas from Goodland to Liberal, from and celebrate a victory for our team from the series that didn’t end quite so Parsons to Troy, way up there on High- and, yes, for our region, too—and I well for us last year was the one game way 36 and everywhere in between.