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.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Burgess Owens (UT-04) released the following statement in response to the Democrats’ reckless and harmful government shutdown: “It’s Day 1 of the Democrat Shutdown because Senate Democrats refused to support a clean, nonpartisan CR to keep the government open, holding the American people hostage for a $1.5 trillion unserious and unreasonable liberal […]
Sep 30, 2025
Uncategorized
Owens, Lee Lead Bill to Strengthen Transit Safety for Utahns
WASHINGTON — Congressman Burgess Owens (UT-04) introduced the Safe Transit Accountability Act, legislation to cut bureaucratic red tape, strengthen public transit safety, and ensure communities can efficiently comply with federal safety standards without jeopardizing service for riders. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) is leading the companion bill in the Senate, while Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11) joins […]
Sep 16, 2025
Congress
HEARING RECAP: Owens Exposes Higher Ed’s “Best Kept Secret” on College Costs
WASHINGTON — Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee Chair Burgess Owens (UT-04) led a hearing on deceptive pricing practices in higher education and reforms to bring honesty and transparency to students and families. Click here or above to watch. Rep. Owens opened the hearing by stressing the urgent need for clarity in college pricing and […]