House Approves H.R. 3189, the Water Rights Protection Act

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 13, 2014 -Today, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 3189, the Water Rights Protection Act by a bipartisan vote of 238-174. This bipartisan bill, authored by Natural Resources Committee Member Scott Tipton (CO-03), protects private property rights from recent federal overreach that threatens to take water supplies from recreation businesses, ranchers, cities and towns, and local conservation efforts. This important legislation would stop the federal government from demanding citizens and businesses turn over their privately owned water in order to qualify for a federal permit or lease.

“Water is the lifeblood of communities and essential for a strong economy.  Cities, ranchers, farmers, businesses – along with the jobs they support – all depend on a stable supply of water to survive,” said Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04). “For over a century there have been established laws upholding a state’s right to manage its water and water laws.  But now the Obama Administration is threatening to undermine those laws and seeking to take away private water rights governed under state laws. It’s time for the Legislative Branch to exert itself on behalf of the American people and rein in the imperial overreach of the Executive Branch.  No law gives federal agencies the authority to take private water rights as they’re seeking to do – in fact, the Constitution prohibits such takings.  It’s time to put an end to such tactics.”

For in depth background on President Obama’s Executive Order 13547: Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts and the Great Lakes, and our federal government’s intent to pursue ratification of the U. N. Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST) published on Big Government, click here.