Press Releases

Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright, member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, issued the following statement on the Environment Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ issuance of a new clean water rule.  Over the past decade, Supreme Court rulings and interpretations of the law have thrown into doubt which waterways are protected under the Clean Water Act.  This leaves 59% of streams across Pennsylvania vulnerable to unchecked pollution, putting the drinking water of 8 million Pennsylvanians at risk:

“The EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has just proposed a rule that will restore protections to the streams and wetlands that has historically been protected under the Clean Water Act.  I applaud both the EPA and Army Corps for making an historic announcement that will better protect streams and wetlands across Pennsylvania.

“Additionally, I urge the EPA to prioritize finalizing a strong rule as soon as possible to ensure that our waterways are safe now and for future generations.”

Cartwright has also drafted a letter, to be sent later this week, with the support of his colleagues to President Barack Obama.  The letter urges President Obama to act swiftly in advancing the EPA’s new clean water rule.