Today, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on H.R. 7023, The Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act. The bill would actively undermine the ability of federal agencies to protect our water resources, make it easier for industry to pollute water without permits, and limit the ability of communities and stakeholders to seek justice in the courts to stop harmful projects. In anticipation of the vote, Earthjustice Senior Legislative Representative Julián Gonzalez issued the following statement:  

“People everywhere agree: our water is precious, and we need to protect it from toxic pollution. This destructive legislation flies in the face of common sense. It takes a hatchet to EPA’s ability to protect our wetlands, streams, and waterways from pollution while enabling industry to discharge contaminants into drinking water sources with impunity. It would fast-track permits for notoriously harmful infrastructure like oil and gas pipelines while silencing the ability of communities to speak out against dangerous threats to water resources and public health. Congress should instead spend its time building on the progress made in clean water investments over the last several years, not shamelessly doing the bidding of industries looking to put profits over our health.”