Owens Bill to Bring Transparency to EPA Clears the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Jun 25, 2025
Congress
Press
Transportation and Infrastructure
WASHINGTON — The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee advanced the Water Quality Criteria Development and Transparency Act, legislation led by Congressman Burgess Owens (R-UT) to shine a light on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) opaque water quality standards process and restore accountability in environmental rulemaking. This legislation is part of the Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today (PERMIT) Act, acomprehensive package to modernize environmental permitting, cut red tape, and put communities back in charge.
“For too long, the EPA has issued water rules with no transparency and no regard for the families, farmers, and job creators impacted most,”said Rep. Owens. “My Water Quality Criteria Development and Transparency Act gives them a real voice in the process, because water policy should be driven by facts and accountability, not unelected bureaucrats behind closed doors. I’m proud to see this commonsense bill clear the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and will keep fighting to get it across the finish line.”
“Thanks to the reform proposed by Congressman Owens, this legislation will increase transparency in the regulatory process, ensure that the voices of the public and the regulated community are heard in the EPA’s development of water quality guidelines, and put in place reasonable limits on judicial reviews of rulemakings to prevent the process from getting bogged down,” said T&I Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO). “I want to thank Congressman Owens for his continued leadership on this issue and for introducing his common-sense legislation.”
Subjects EPA’s Section 304(a) water quality criteria to notice-and-comment rulemaking, ensuring that local communities, industries, and other stakeholders can meaningfully weigh in before new federal standards are adopted.
Provides limited judicial review to protect against regulatory overreach and ensure EPA actions are legally sound and publicly justified.
WEST JORDAN — Congressman Burgess Owens (UT-04) announced the August 2025 schedule for his mobile office hours, where staff members will be available in local communities to assist constituents with federal agency interactions, passport renewals, service academy inquiries, and more. Staff mobile offices will be available at the following times and locations: Tuesday, August 129:30 […]
Jul 24, 2025
Congress
Owens Pushes for New Saratoga Springs Post Office
WASHINGTON — On Pioneer Day, Congressman Burgess Owens (UT-04) introduced the Saratoga Springs Post Office Act, legislation that will transfer roughly 20 acres of unused federal land to the U.S. Postal Service for the construction of a new post office in Saratoga Springs, Utah. The bill ensures the facility is built and operational within two […]
Jul 23, 2025
Congress
Owens Protects Utah’s Sheep Industry, Calls for Tariff Relief on Foreign Lamb Imports
WASHINGTON — In support of Utah’s sheep industry, Representatives Burgess Owens (UT-04) and Celeste Maloy (UT-02) sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and U.S. International Trade Commission Chair Amy Karpel urging the implementation of a Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) on lamb meat imports from Australia and New Zealand to restore fair market […]