House Republicans Reject Environmental Protection Amendment Brought by Congressman Menendez 

Earlier this month House Republicans passed the PERMIT Act, legislation aimed at overhauling how clean water permits are reviewed and approved under the federal Clean Water Act. Supporters say the bill is designed to streamline federal water-quality permits for infrastructure, housing, and energy projects by cutting what they describe as costly, time-consuming regulations. 

Critics, however, warn that the PERMIT Act weakens core enviromental protections. They argue it limits state and tribal authority to review water-quality impacts and narrows which waterways are covered under federal law. Among those critics is New Jersey Congressman Rob Menendez, who offered an amendment to the bill intended to safeguard local water systems. 

Rep. Menendez’s amendment would have required the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to certify that the PERMIT Act will not compromise water quality in coastal waters before the legislation can take effect. It also included additional protections to ensure the bill does not put communties at risk. House Republicans declined to consider the amendment. 

“Ensuring that our water remains clean has historically been a bipartisan issue, but now House Republicans are jeopardizing the safety of our water systems,” Menendez said. “I am disappointed but not surprised that House Republicans rejected our efforts to reduce the harm this bill will bring by dismantling key protections of the Clean Water Act.  Our communities deserve better than this legislation and that is what I will always fight for.”