Rep. Stansbury Votes Against Legislative Rollbacks of the Clean Water Act
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) released the following statement after voting against House Republicans’ H.J. Res. 27 — which undermines the Clean Water Act with far-reaching consequences for New Mexico’s waters. The resolution would repeal a Clean Water Act rule released by the Biden Administration that restores environmental protections for waters across New Mexico and the U.S. after Trump-era rules undermined these protections.
“As a water resources professional and proud Representative of New Mexico, I strongly oppose this attempt to undermine protections for New Mexico’s streams and rivers and waters across the country. This resolution would repeal protections that safeguard 93% of our waters from pollution, with profound consequences for our New Mexico—which is one of only a handful states that rely on these federal protections and enforcement.
“After Trump’s ‘Dirty Water Rule’ attempted to strip federal protections for waters across the country, President Biden took critical action to safeguard our nation’s rivers, streams, wetlands, and waterways. This resolution seeks to repeal the Biden rule and return our country to a time of uncertainty, lawsuits, and concessions to polluters. In Congress, we will continue to fight every day to defend our sacred lands and waters, our bedrock environmental laws, and work to build a more prosperous and resilient future for New Mexico and our communities.”
BACKGROUND
A lifelong water resources professional, Rep. Stansbury has championed bipartisan water security bills throughout her time in Congress, including a bill to standardize and unlock the power of water data to address drought and water security issues, to provide the tools for addressing water needs in the Rio Grande, and increasing funding and reducing barriers for Tribes to access key water infrastructure funding.
- In a Big Step Forward for Water Security, Three of Congresswoman Stansbury’s Groundbreaking Bills Pass the House
- VIDEO: Congresswoman Stansbury's Urgently Needed Drought and Water Security Package Advances in Committee Hearing
- Stansbury, Heinrich, Luján, Owens, Lee, Lawmakers Introduce Landmark Bipartisan Water Security and Drought Package
- Stansbury, Colleagues Introduce Tribal Water Security Bill