Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Chair, 2.8 million acres of farmland protected; 35,000 miles of fish passages opened; nearly 1,500 new public water access sites established; upgrades to every large wastewater treatment plant in the watershed to improve water quality; and the largest oyster reef restoration in the world: These are just five of the biggest wins in the last 43 years of the landmark Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. In fact, it was just updated last week after years of careful and difficult negotiation and public input to unite States across the bay to think bigger and bolder to restore the beloved watershed we all share.

We know that water does not adhere to arbitrary political boundaries. Pollution in Pennsylvania will and does flow downstream to Maryland and Virginia.

All States rely on the EPA to conduct oversight and enforcement of pollution entering our waterways and to hold everyone accountable to our shared communities.

Yet, the bill before us today, the PERMIT Act, attempts to dismantle this partnership between States and the EPA by watering down the key enforcement mechanisms that are needed to ensure compliance with evidence-based pollution standards.

I know these bipartisan, multistate partnerships are not easy. I was a part of them before I joined this Chamber. They take years of collaboration.

Mr. Chairman, that should be fostered and not dismantled by this and future Congresses, which is why I urge my colleagues to support this decades-long partnership by voting ``no'' on this bill.

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