Washington (May 27, 2015) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, praised the Obama administration for its new “Waters of the United States” rule that will protect the drinking water of 117 million Americans. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers held more than 400 meetings across the country and received more than one million public comments before issuing the historic rule.

“In Massachusetts we may ‘love that dirty water’ but we also understand that our economy and public health rely on clean water. Tourism, recreation, agriculture and other economic engines of growth in Massachusetts need clean water to flourish.

“For more than 40 years, the Clean Water Act has played an integral role in the protection and clean-up of America’s most iconic and important waterways. In Massachusetts, it helped clean up the Charles River and Boston Harbor.

“Attempts by Republicans and their big polluter allies to block the Clean Water Rule will only muddy expectations, not ensure clarity for American businesses and consumers that rely on clean water. Congress should focus its energy on ways to protect local communities and economies from the impacts of destructive water pollution that threatens our environment and public health.

“I commend EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy for their hard work ensuring a future in which our people are healthier and our land, air and water are cleaner and our economy is stronger.”