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CONGRESSMAN BISHOP FIGHTS AGAINST OVERREACHING GOVERNMENTAL REGULATIONS

September 10, 2014

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) fought against overreaching governmental regulation by supporting the passage of H.R. 5078, the Waters of the U.S. Regulatory Overreach Protection Act of 2014. The bill rights the balance between the need to protect the environment and protect the livelihoods of Georgians by prohibiting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from executing proposed rules and definitions regarding streams and waterways under the Clean Water Act:

"I believe that regulations should be put to three basic tests: be based in sound science; be based on a cost-benefit analysis; and be based on plain common sense," said Congressman Bishop "In this light, I have concerns that the EPA's proposed regulation expands the definition of navigable streams and waterways in a manner that would stretch EPA's authority beyond the intent of Congress and would have a harmful impact on Georgia's farming communities, businesses, and others whose livelihoods depend on available water resources—an over-reach this bill will prevent."

H.R. 5078 passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 262 to 152. The measure prohibits the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing either guidance or a rule proposed earlier this year that seeks to clarify the federal government's authority to regulate certain intrastate waters under the Clean Water Act, and it requires the agencies to consult with state and local officials to develop a new regulatory proposal. For more information regarding the EPA's rules, please click here and here.

The bill is supported by the Georgia Farm Bureau, GA Peanut Commission, the Southern Cotton Growers Association, and the National Council on Cooperatives (Southern Federation) in addition to the following list of organizations:

Agricultural Retailers Association; Agri-Mark Inc.; American Farm Bureau Federation; American Horse Council; American Sugar Alliance; American Sugar Cane League; American Sugarbeet Growers Association; Association of Texas Soil & Water Conservation Districts; Corn Producers of Texas; CropLife America; Dairy Producers of Utah; Delaware-Maryland Agribusiness Association; Earth Moving Contractors Association of Texas; Exotic Wildlife Association; Forest Landowners Association; Forest Resource Association; Hardwood Federation; Idaho Dairymen; Independent Cattlemen's Association of Texas; Kansas Grain and Feed Association; Milk Producers Council; Minnesota Corn Growers Association; Missouri Agribusiness Association; Missouri Dairy Association; National Alliance of Forest Owners; National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants; National Cattleman Association; Beef Association

National Council of Farmer Cooperatives; National Pork Producers Council; National Sorghum Producers and the Western Peanut Growers Association; National Turkey Federation; Northeast Dairy Farmers Cooperatives: Ohio AgriBusiness Association; Public Lands Council; Riverside & Landowners Protection Coalition; Riverside & Landowners Protection Coalition; Select Milk Producers, Inc.; South Dakota Agri-Business Association; South Dakota Grain & Feed Association; South East Dairy Farmers Association; South Texans' Property Rights Association; South Texas Cotton & Grain Association; Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association; Southwest Council of Agribusiness; Texas Agricultural Land Trust; Texas Association of Agricultural Consultants; Texas Association of Dairymen; Texas Broiler Council; Texas Cattle Feeders Association; Texas Citrus Mutual; Texas Deer Association; Texas Egg Council; Texas Grain & Feed Association; Texas Grain Sorghum Association; Texas Nursery & Landscape Association; Texas Pest Management Association; Texas Pork Producers Association; Texas Poultry Federation; Texas Poultry Improvement Association; Texas Rice Producers Legislative Group; Texas Seed Trade Association; Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers Association; Texas Soybean Association; Texas Turkey Federation; Texas Vegetable Association; Texas Wheat Producers Association; Texas Wildlife Association; Turfgrass Producers of Texas; U.S. Cattlemen's Association; United Egg Producers; Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc.; USA Rice Federation; Virginia Agribusiness Council; Virginia Poultry Federation; Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas; Western United Dairymen; Wyoming Ag Business Association; Wyoming Crop Improvement Association; Wyoming Wheat Growers Association