Urge Your U.S. Representative to Vote for H.R. 1732

Proposed EPA/U.S. Army Corps Regulation Would Delay Development

Background

• The Clean Water Act (CWA) provided the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with jurisdiction to protect certain “waters of the U.S.”
• How parties define “waters of the U.S.” has been debated for years.  In April 2014, the EPA proposed a new regulation expanding federal jurisdiction under the CWA, which could majorly impact development as more waters become federally protected and subject to new requirements.
• On Friday, May 1, the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on H.R. 1732, the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act.  This legislation would require the EPA and Army Corps to withdraw the rule and repurpose a different rule with more outreach, oversight and transparency in place.
• NAHB and the KCHBA urge you to contact your U.S. Representative to thank them for their support of H.R. 1732 or urge them to support H.R. 1732. (See table below)

Talking Points

• I urge you to vote for H.R. 1732 to prohibit the EPA and Army Corps from finalizing its proposed “Waters of the U.S.” rule.
• The proposed rule fails to recognize the true economic impact.  Many of the costs, including those associated with increased permitting, mitigation, and regulatory uncertainty, will be borne by home builders and other small businesses.