Rep. Hillary Scholten Opposes PERMIT Act, Citing Clean Water and States' Rights

Opposition to the PERMIT Act

• ❌ Representative Hillary Scholten rises in opposition to H.R.3898, the PERMIT Act, arguing it undermines the Clean Water Act enacted 50 years ago.
• 💡 While acknowledging the Clean Water Act needs reform, Scholten states this bill is not the solution.

Shifting Costs to Vulnerable Communities

• 💸 The PERMIT Act is criticized for shifting costs from polluters to rural America, tribes, and disadvantaged communities.
• ⚠️ This shift is described as personal for Michigan families already struggling with clean water costs, potentially exacerbating their financial burdens and impacting public health.
• 🧪 The bill is also seen as protecting polluters of toxic forever chemicals like PFAS, lead, mercury, and arsenic, placing the responsibility on American taxpayers.

States' Rights and Environmental Protections

• 🏛️ Scholten asserts the PERMIT Act weakens states' rights and tribal authority by falsely claiming states abuse their power when denying traditional energy projects.
• 📄 States like Washington and New York have denied projects that would fail to meet water quality standards or violate state environmental policies, a fact the GOP is ignoring.
• 💧 The bill would reduce the ability of states, like Michigan, to implement more rigorous protections for local waters.

The Importance of Wetlands and Real Reform

• 🌳 Over 50% of wetlands in the U.S. have been lost, and losing more comes at an increased cost, especially with rising flood frequency.
• 💰 Destroying one acre of wetland can increase costs by $8,000 in payouts through the National Flood Insurance Program.
• ✅ True permitting reform is needed to increase accessibility and flexibility for projects, but not at the expense of clean water.