Republicans on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduced 15 water-related bills Thursday, targeting everything from the length of federal permitting to the types of water resources protected by the Clean Water Act. The bills would benefit oil and gas companies, farming interests, homebuilders, water utilities and others who say that environmental reviews and long permitting timelines are stifling development. They were introduced by Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chair Mike Collins, (R-GA) … Doug LaMalfa, (R-Calif.) and others. “The Clean Water Act was intended to protect water quality, support healthy communities, and balance the demands of economic growth across the United States,” (Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam) Graves said in a statement.

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