Congressman Taylor Celebrates Passage of His Water Permits Bill in the PERMIT Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Dave Taylor (OH-02) today applauded the House passage of his Confidence in Clean Water Permits Act, which was included in H.R. 3898, the Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today (PERMIT) Act, by a vote of 221-205. The PERMIT Act includes multiple pieces of legislation that provide regulatory certainty and relief for American businesses. 

“For decades, American businesses have felt a stringent regulatory burden thanks to murky guidelines and unclear rules,” said Congressman Taylor. “My Confidence in Clean Water Permits Act, included in the PERMIT Act, will provide much-needed clarity on the vague wastewater disposal requirements at the EPA to ensure American businesses and wastewater facilities aren’t penalized for following the rules. This is common-sense legislation, and I’m proud to see the House of Representatives pass it today on a bipartisan basis.”

Background

The Confidence in Clean Water Permits Act states that businesses and wastewater treatment plants that are acting in good faith within their permit guidelines cannot be held liable for the impermissible discharge of unknown chemicals. The bill details that the EPA, not businesses themselves, possesses the ultimate responsibility to test and provide guidance for the detection of possible environmental pollutants. This bill would protect small businesses and organizations that are under attack by the government and third-party environmental groups.

Other members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee who had provisions from previously-introduced legislation incorporated into the PERMIT Act are Subcommittee Chairman Mike Collins (R-GA) and Representatives Rick Crawford (R-AR), David Rouzer (R-NC), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Pete Stauber (R-MN), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Burgess Owens (R-UT), Eric Burlison (R-MO), Jeff Hurd (R-CO), Jefferson Shreve (R-IN), and Jimmy Patronis (R-FL). Summaries of the bills and provisions included in H.R. 3898 are available here.

A member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Congressman Taylor serves as the Vice Chairman of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee.

Additional details about Congressman Taylor’s Confidence in Clean Water Permits Act are available here. The full bill text of the PERMIT Act is available here.