Press Release
Clean Water Action Hails Bill To Protect All Of America's Waters
May 22, 2007
Washington, DC — Clean Water Action today praised the introduction in the U.S. House of Representatives of bi-partisan legislation to reaffirm that the Clean Water Act protects all of America's waters.
"This bill will put a stop to the Bush Administration's attempt to leave the drinking water sources for 110 million Americans without the protection of the Clean Water Act," said Paul Schwartz, Clean Water Action's National Policy Coordinator.. Known as the Clean Water Restoration Act, H.R. 2421, the legislation was introduced in the U.S. House today.
Clean Water Action has been fighting to affirm the intent of the Clean Water Act since late 2002, when the Bush Administration proposed a rule to limit the scope of the Act. While the proposed rule was shelved after massive public outcry, including communications from thousands of Clean Water Action members, the Administration continues to operate under an illegal policy guidance that inaccurately interprets Supreme Court decision and limits the protections offered by the Act. Since versions of CWARA were first introduced in 2004, Clean Water Action has mobilized tens of thousands of members to write and call members of Congress in support of the bill. Clean Water Action played a lead role in the coalition that won a 2006 House vote to block the Bush EPA's narrow interpretation of its authority.
The Administration is poised to further limit the scope of the Act with new policy that could leave many more waters unprotected, including millions of acres of wetlands and thousands of stream and river miles, opening the door to wetland dredging and filling and increased pollution.
"This law pushes back against polluters' attempts to weaken 35 years of bi-partisan protection for the nation's lakes, rivers and streams at a time when we should be working to meet the original goals of the Clean Water Act," said Schwartz. If this bill is enacted we can move closer, not further away, from the goal of making all of the nation's waters swimmable, fishable, and drinkable."
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Contact
Paul Schwartz 202-895-0420 ext. 105
