All five Oklahoma Representatives in the House recently voted in support of a measure that not only reins in the Biden administration’s Green New Deal policies but funds improvements in the nation’s waterways.
Rep. Tom Cole, Vice Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee eagerly gave his support to H.R. 4394, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2024.
“While spending American dollars more wisely and reining in Green New Deal policies, the bill passed in the House today provides strong funding to the U.S. Department of Energy and sets the interests of America first,” said Cole.
He explained the bill also advances initiatives to strengthen the nation’s energy security and reduces the U.S. reliance on foreign sources of critical minerals.
“The legislation also provides for harbor maintenance and inland waterways construction to ensure goods can be moved safely to and from global markets and increases water supply and drought resilience programs.”
Cole said the Acct also codifies the U.S. Supreme Court reversal of Biden’s overreaching Waters of the United States rule to return control of waterways from the f ederal government to infdividual states and private owners.
“ This is significant to Oklahomans and rural Americans by ensuring regulatory certainty to landowners to responsibly steward their own property.”
The Act was approved on a vote of 210-199 and had the support of other Oklahoma Representatives Stephanie Bice, Josh Brecheen, Kevin Hern and Frank Lucas.
