Press Releases

Rep. Don Beyer today issued the following statement on the Trump Administration’s proposal to significantly weaken protections for wetlands and waterways under the Clean Water Act’s jurisdiction:

“Trump’s proposed rule to gut the Clean Water Act’s environmental protections for streams and wetlands will put at risk the water sources that tens of millions of Americans depend upon,” said Rep. Beyer. “Trump is again acting to boost the profits of industry magnates and corporate polluters who spent millions to get him elected, while pretending EPA data showing the harm this will do to streams and wetlands simply doesn’t exist. The Dirty Water Rule is a farcical abuse of office which will damage the health of Americans and their environment.”

The new definitions of protected waters were announced by EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist, and embattled Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke.