Steve Southerland Pushes Back Against EPA on Water Regulations

U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., joined with Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam on Monday to showcase his proposal to ensure the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps will not expand their jurisdiction over bodies of wanter managed by states or in conjuction with them. Southerland's proposal would also force the federal government to talk with state and local governments as to which waters should be regulated at the federal level.

This bipartisan legislation provides a safeguard against Washingtons brazen overreach into regulatory decisions best made by officials at the state and local levels, said Southerland. Drawing that line in the sand preserves the federal-state partnership that has proven so successful in keeping our waterways clean for more than 40 years. And by fighting back against this D.C. power grab, were restoring the certainty our farmers, manufacturers, transportation builders, and construction industries need to grow North and Northwest Floridas economy and create local jobs.

"The EPA's new rules represent the most significant expansion of federal government regulation on Florida in a quarter of a century, said Putnam. I appreciate the leadership of Congressman Steve Southerland and his efforts to protect Florida businesses from the overreaching arm of the federal government."