ICYMI: Cassidy Advocates for Louisiana Property Owners Against EPA Overreach

BATON ROUGE – August 19, 2014 – (RealEstateRama) — Today, Congressman Bill Cassidy joined Senator David Vitter in an Environmental and Public Works (EPW) committee field briefing in New Orleans. The hearing focused on the potential impacts of the EPA’s proposed “Waters of the United States Rule” and how it could harm Louisiana families, farmers and infrastructure projects.

The “Waters of the United States Rule” would expand EPA jurisdiction through the Clean Water Act over more waterways in the United States. Currently, EPA has authorization from the Congress to oversee navigable waterways, but is trying to expand its reach through executive fiat. This proposed rule would give the government more control over private property and prevent landowners from using their property without permits. It could hinder economic development and embolden litigious environmental groups.

The hearing included a panel discussion with The Honorable Mike Strain, Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr. Buck Vandersteen, Executive Director of the Louisiana Forestry Association and Mr. Steven Serio, Attorney and Representative of the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Recently, Dr. Cassidy joined 231 of his colleagues to urge the EPA and the Corps of Engineers to withdraw the proposed rule. Regarding the field hearing, he also offered the following statement:

‘This expansion of federal regulatory power could have serious consequences for the Nation’s economy, threaten jobs, invite costly litigation, and significantly restrict the ability of landowners to make decisions about their property, and the rights of state and local governments to plan for their own development. These actions are yet another example of a disturbing pattern of an imperial presidency that seeks to use brute force and executive action while ignoring Congress.”