Protect America's Waters Act

In 1972 U.S. Congress committed the nation to the goal of fishable and swimmable waterways, and zero discharge of pollution into our rivers, lakes and coastal waterways. Polluters have been obscuring and delaying progress ever since. Six years ago the Supreme Court made a bad decision. It misinterpreted the Clean Water Act, ignored Congress’ intent and put the nation’s streams and wetlands — the veins and capillaries that feed our larger waterways — at risk. It’s time now to protect America’s waters.

Summer 2007

United States Congress
Capitol Hill
Washington, DC

Protect America’s Waters

Dear Honorable U.S. Congress Members,

We are calling on all members of Congress to support the Clean Water Restoration Act.

“The objective of this Act is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters.” — Clean Water Act, SEC. 101. (a)

The 92nd Congress set a bold and decisive goal of clean water for this nation. But recent Supreme Court decisions have muddied the water, leaving the fate of 60 percent of the nation’s stream miles and many of our wetlands in legal limbo. The central issue is the jurisdiction of the federal government to protect our waterways. Polluters would like us to believe that federal environmental protections apply only very narrowly to large ‘navigable’ waterways. This was not Congress’ intent and this was not the mandate from the American people. This interpretation defies logic, science and the law.

Over the last 30 years, we’ve made great strides in improving the health of our nation’s waters. However, Supreme Court rulings in 2001 and 2006, as well as recent attempts by the Bush administration to limit the reach of the Clean Water Act, jeopardize protection for many of our nation’s wetlands, streams, lakes and ponds.

Polluters are now flooding the courts with appeals to destroy small streams, ponds and wetlands. But you can resolve this problem by passing legislation to restore full federal protection for our waters. We urge you to pass the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act of 2007 to reaffirm environmental protection for America’s waters.

This act will reaffirm Congress’ original intent, that all waters are connected and that the Clean Water Act applies broadly to America’s waters large and small. There is no new protection in this legislation. The bill simply restores the protection guaranteed to our waterways for 30 years.

Upstream waters must be protected from pollution and destruction if we expect downstream waters to be fit for swimming, fishing and wildlife habitat. The headwater wetlands and streams filter our water and replenish our larger waterways. They provide downstream communities with safe drinking water and natural flood protection. Small streams at risk from the Court’s decision provide drinking water supplies for more than 110 million Americans.

Please pass the Clean Water Restoration Act and protect America’s waters.