Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson expressed concern over the proposed rule issued today by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers regarding the agencies’ Clean Water Act jurisdiction.   

“I have long feared that the Obama Administration would use this issue to infringe on state sovereignty, and under this proposal those fears appear to be coming true,” said Simpson. “While more time will be required to analyze the details of the EPA’s proposed rule, it would essentially give the Obama Administration much broader jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act—something I simply can’t support. In addition, I find it utterly ridiculous that the EPA has decided to issue a proposed rule before the scientific review of the connection between water bodies is complete. That says to me that the Obama Administration isn’t interested in the facts, but simply in grabbing power wherever it can.” 

Simpson chairs the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the Corps’ budget, and sits on the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees the budget for the EPA. 

“Both the EPA Administrator and the leaders of the Army Corps will be coming before my subcommittees later this week,” said Simpson. “I am confident that this issue will be a major point of discussion, which will give my colleagues and I an opportunity to make clear our commitment to defeating this proposal.”