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Committee Votes for Withdrawal of Flawed Waters Regulation Rule, Passes Bill to Reform & Improve FEMA Programs

Washington, DC, April 15, 2015 | Justin Harclerode (202) 225-9446
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The Committee approved bipartisan legislation today to require the withdrawal of the Administration’s flawed proposed Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, a bill to address the rising costs of disasters in the United States and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) capabilities and programs, as well as other measures.

The bipartisan Regulatory Integrity Protection Act (H.R. 1732) stops a rule proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to significantly broaden the federal government’s power to regulate waters and adjacent lands.  The proposed rule was written without first properly consulting state and local authorities; without considering their rights, responsibilities, liabilities, and budgets; and without realistically examining the potential economic and legal impacts on private citizens, farmers, and other stakeholders.  H.R. 1732 requires the agencies to start over and develop a new, workable rule in consultation with state and local governments and other stakeholders who will be affected by the rule.  The bill was approved by a vote of 36 to 22.

“The Administration’s process was flawed from the beginning, and it’s no surprise the result is a proposed rule that broadly expands federal power,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Bill Shuster (R-PA), sponsor of the legislation.  “This bill gives the agencies another chance to do what they should have done in the first place – work together with states, local governments, and stakeholders to actually develop a rule that provides clarity, maintains a balanced regulatory approach, and considers potential economic impacts on Americans.”

“The Administration’s proposed rule is a blatant power grab and its effects on Americans across the country will be hard to comply with,” said Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Bob Gibbs (R-OH), cosponsor of the bill.  “Chairman Shuster and I have worked to ensure each voice is heard.  The EPA, on the other hand, did not consider all of the comments, many of which do not support the rule, including the majority of states. This proposed rule, if implemented, will jeopardize the workings of the Clean Water Act.  Today the Transportation Committee took action to stop implementation of this rule that will have a negative impact on water quality.”

More information about the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015 is available here.

The Committee also unanimously approved the bipartisan FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015 (H.R. 1471).  The bill provides FEMA direction and authorization for key programs that help reduce the loss of life and property and speed recovery for those impacted by disaster.  The bill also requires an assessment of the changing costs of disasters and will help reduce future losses, improve the efficiency and effectiveness of federal emergency management capabilities and disaster programs, modernize and strengthen critical components of our preparedness and response system, and support emergency response personnel.

“Today is an important day because our legislation gives federal, state, and local governments the tools they need to be ready for any disaster,” said Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee Chairman Lou Barletta (R-PA), sponsor of the FEMA legislation and another bill approved today to improve the Nation’s public alert system.  “For example, we passed a bill that updates our public alert warning system so that citizens are prepared and informed when a disaster strikes.  Additionally, we need to better understand what our disaster costs are and why they continue to increase.  It’s been over 20 years since we’ve had a comprehensive look at disaster spending.  I’ve had a lot of initial conversations about ideas to rein these in.  I’m excited that my bill, H.R. 1471, helps to launch this discussion so we can help save taxpayers money while also helping our constituents.”

“The FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act is a good bill that recognizes persistent increases in disaster losses and costs over the years, and addresses these trends by seeking ways to reduce future losses and make the recovery process work better for victims and impacted communities,” said Chairman Shuster, a cosponsor of H.R. 1471. 

More information about the FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015 is available here.

Other measures unanimously approved by the Committee today include:

  • H.R. 1472, the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2015, a bill to modernize and integrate the Nation’s alert and warning infrastructure to provide public safety officials with an effective way to alert and warn the public about serious emergencies
  • H.R. 944, a bill to reauthorize the National Estuary Program
  • H.R. 1473, the John F. Kennedy Center Reauthorization Act of 2015
  • H.R. 336, directing GSA to convey a property in Alaska
  • H.R. 172, designating the “R. Jess Brown United States Courthouse” in Jackson, Mississippi
  • H.R. 1690, designating the “Joseph F. Weis Jr. United States Courthouse” in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • H.Con.Res. 21, authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby
  • H.Con.Res. 25, authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers Memorial Service and the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition

    • More information from today’s markup, including additional background, legislative text, and video, are available here. 

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