The Izaak Walton League of America, National Wildlife Federation, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and Trout Unlimited issued the following statement today concerning the Rehberg Amendment to the House Energy and Water Appropriations Bill:
We are deeply disappointed that some in Congress continue to block progress to restore Clean Water Act protections for streams, wetlands, and other waters. Once again, the House Energy and Water Appropriations bill includes a rider barring the Army Corps of Engineers from finalizing and implementing science-based Clean Water Act guidance. Unfortunately, the House is picking up where it left off last year by pushing policies that threaten our most important natural resource.
By pushing this rider, members of Congress are out of step with the public. During a three-month public comment period last summer on draft Clean Water Act guidance, nearly 230,000 Americans commented, with 90 percent supporting the guidance. This year marks the 40th anniversary of passage of the Clean Water Act. Across the country, many Americans are reflecting on how much progress we’ve made since 1972. Today, thanks in part to the Clean Water Act, our drinking water is safer, our streams and lakes are cleaner, and the rate of wetland loss has dropped dramatically.
As we celebrate this progress and grapple with remaining water pollution problems, some in Congress would turn back the clock putting drinking water, essential habitat for fish and wildlife, and the outdoor recreation economy at risk. Members of Congress should stop throwing up roadblocks to progress. It’s time to allow the Corps to do its job by finalizing and implementing its clean water guidance.
Contacts:
Scott Kovarovics, Izaak Walton League, skovarovics@iwla.org, (301) 548-0150 x223
Jan Goldman-Carter, National Wildlife Federation, goldmancarterj@nwf.org, (202) 797-6894
Steve Kline, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, skline@trcp.org, (202) 639-8727 x11
Steve Moyer, Trout Unlimited, smoyer@tu.org, (703) 284-9406,