Yesterday, Representative Rob Menendez (NJ-08) challenged House Republicans for refusing to consider his amendments to H.R. 3898, the PERMIT Act, a Republican bill that would weaken the Clean Water Actand erode critical protections that keep our nation’s water systems safe, undercut states’ authority to protect the environment, and jeopardize the health of American families. Rep. Menendez’s amendments included critical protections for water quality and requirements for the EPA to certify that this legislation will not damage water quality in estuaries.
“Ensuring that our water remains clean has historically been a bipartisan issue, but now House Republicans are jeopardizing the safety of our water systems,” said Rep. Menendez. “I am disappointed but not surprised that House Republicans rejected our efforts to reduce the harm that this bill will bring in dismantling key protections of the Clean Water Act. Our communities deserve better than this legislation and that is what I will always fight for.”
To protect New Jersey’s waterways and estuarine ecosystems, Congressman Menendez’s amendments required that this legislation not go into effect until the EPA Administrator certifies that it will not deteriorate water quality in the nation’s estuaries. Another amendment would have struck the section of this bill requiring that cost to polluting entities and be considered when developing water quality criteria, which are currently a purely health-based standard.
Congressman Rob Menendez has proudly represented New Jersey’s Eighth Congressional District since 2023. He is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and sits on the Subcommittees on Environment, Energy, and Communications and Technology. Congressman Menendez has consistently fought against corporate polluters and for clean water protections, including his recent push for the EPA to accelerate the cleanup of the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site, which has polluted the Passaic River and Newark Bay.
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