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TSCRA Daily News Update, April 18, 2008
House hearing debates Clean Water Act expansion The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a hearing on Wednesday, April 16, on the Clean Water Restoration Act (H.R. 2421). Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), the original sponsor of the bill, chairs the Committee. NCBA submitted written comments for the hearing that outlined cattlemen's opposition to this bill. "The production of food in our country cannot be taken for granted," says NCBA's comments. "American producers face an ever tightening web of regulation, which economically marginalizes an increasing number of operations." According to NCBA, "While many, if not all, of the environmental regulations are well-intended, it must also be recognized that limiting and ultimately choking the ability of farming and ranching operations to earn a living will come at a considerable cost to the entire nation." This bill, along with Senate Bill 1870, propose to strike the word "navigable" from the Clean Water Act's (CWA) definition of "waters of the United States," which would expand federal jurisdiction of the CWA into the pastures and backyards of private property owners. NCBA believes Rep. Oberstar's attempt to usurp authority over these issues and expand federal jurisdiction must not be allowed. Cattlemen support conservation of our water resources under authority that currently exists. "It is essential that the partnership between the federal and state levels of government be maintained so that states can continue to have the essential flexibility to do their own land and water use planning."
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