{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://tipton.house.gov/press-release/tipton-questions-epa-deputy-waters-us-rule", "Tipton Questions EPA Deputy on Waters of the U.S. Rule", "2014-07-30", "2014", "2014-07", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Scott Tipton", "T000470", "tipton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u2014Today, Congressman Scott Tipton (R-CO) questioned\u00a0 (EPA) Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe during a House Small Business Committee hearing on the EPA\u2019s controversial new rule to redefine waters of the United States under the Clean Water Act.\nDuring the hearing, Tipton submitted a letter to the record from the Waters Advocacy Coalition, representing various industries, sectors and interests that would be affected by the waters of the U.S. rule. The letter in part objects to the insufficient analysis offered by the EPA on the impacts this rule will have. The letter\u2019s 39 signers, include the American Farm Bureau Federation, the American Gas Association, the Foundation for Environmental and Economic Progress, the National Association of Homebuilders, the National Pork Producers Council and many others.\n \n\t\u201cThe Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (\u201cthe agencies\u201d) proposed the rule to \u201cclarify\u201d which waters are federally regulated and which waters remain under the jurisdiction of their respective states. The agencies assert, \u2018Because fewer waters will be subject to the CWA under the proposed rule than are subject to regulation under the existing regulations, this action will not affect small entities to a greater degree than the existing regulations,\u2019\u201d the letter states. \u201cWe believe the agencies have dramatically underestimated the impact of the proposed rule on small business entities. In reality, the proposed rule establishes broader definitions of existing regulatory categories, such as tributaries, and regulates new areas that are not jurisdictional under current regulations.\u201d\n \nSee the full letter HERE.\nTipton\u2019s questions to Perciasepe focused on getting clarification on what the EPA\u2019s redefinition of waters of the United States actually encompasses. Perciasepe\u2019s responses were broad and did not shine additional light on what surface waters would not be impacted under the new rule.\nWatch Tipton\u2019s Q&A with Perciasepe HERE.\n \n\t\u201cThe EPA\u2019s claims that the redefinition of waters of the United States is simply to provide clarity, and not expand any regulatory authority, are in practice, untrue,\u201d said Tipton. \u201cEven the EPA Deputy Administrator couldn\u2019t provide a clear explanation of what that agency\u2019s redefinition of waters of the U.S. actually encompasses. However, we need to look no further than the rule itself which redefines waters of the U.S. from \u2018navigable waterways\u2019 to virtually every form of surface water, regardless of how permanent or temporary the flow is, to get an idea of what it encompasses. This rule has drastic implications for private water users who would now be subject to EPA review for even the most basic projects or access to their water, where they previously were not. That sounds like an expansion of regulatory authority to me, and it sounds like a significant broadening of the EPA\u2019s regulatory scope over surface water in this country. It will have severe impacts on all who rely on privately held water rights, and reeks of massive federal water grab.\u201d\n \nBackground:\nThe EPA\u2019s proposed rule to redefine \u201cwaters of the U.S.\u201d under the Clean Water Act (CWA) to include virtually every form of surface water including tributaries and ditches is a drastic expanse of its regulatory reach.\nTipton has been at the forefront in Washington in fighting to protect private water rights from federal takings and interference. Tipton\u2019s Water Rights Protection Act (H.R. 3189) passed the House with bipartisan support and is currently awaiting a vote in the Senate.", 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://tipton.house.gov/press-release/tipton-questions-epa-deputy-waters-us-rule"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7843817584216595, "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"}