{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://rokita.house.gov/press-release/rokita-epa-abandon-harmful-farm-regulations", "ROKITA TO EPA: ABANDON HARMFUL FARM REGULATIONS", "2014-10-31", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Todd Rokita", "R000592", "rokita.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Representative Todd Rokita is again leading the charge to stand up for Hoosier Farmers. Today, the Congressman called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to abandon its \u201cNavigable Waterways\u201d rule, which could potentially allow the agency to regulate Hoosiers\u2019 puddles and front yards.\n\u201cThe EPA is using flawed economic and scientific data, bypassing court decisions, to control private property,\u201d said Rokita, making his official comment to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and Army Corps of Engineers Secretary John McHugh, federal officials responsible for implementing the change.\nThe Congressman, who represents Indiana\u2019s 4th District, exposes serious problems with the EPA proposal.\u00a0 \u201cThis rule intrudes on the very basic functions of operating a farm,\u201d he said, pointing out that farmers would not be the only Hoosiers affected: Homeowners could be punished for fertilizing their land. In addition to more fees and penalties, they would probably all pay more for specialists to reduce their confusion.\u00a0\nRokita questioned the timing of the EPA\u2019s proposal, as the agency presented it on the same day as its scientific study. He challenged the EPA\u2019s claim that regulations would generate $100 million of annual economic activity. \u201cOnly in Washington, where bureaucrats have no sense of time or money, would they come up with such a number,\u201d said the member of the House Budget Committee.\nTwo Supreme Court decisions in the past decade have limited the meaning of \u201cnavigable waters\u201d under the Clean Water Act. To define the term, Rokita co-sponsored the Defense of Environment and Property Act. He supports the Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act, as well, limiting EPA powers and requiring more accountability to states. \u201cThis Administration prefers to operate by executive order, but I\u2019m fighting to make sure it abides by the Constitution and Indiana,\u201d he said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://rokita.house.gov/press-release/rokita-epa-abandon-harmful-farm-regulations"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5904828906059265, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}