Protect Clean Water Act Enforcement
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed granting Clean Water Act (CWA) enforcement compliance flexibility waivers to twelve states, effectively reducing federal oversight of water pollution discharge regulations. These waivers would allow states to relax or delay enforcement of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements — the core mechanism the CWA uses to control the discharge of pollutants into the nation's waterways.
The Clean Water Act has served since 1972 as the primary federal framework for protecting the quality of U.S. surface waters, including rivers, lakes, wetlands, and coastal areas. Granting broad compliance flexibility waivers undermines this framework by allowing polluters in participating states to operate outside standard discharge limits without facing federal accountability. Reduced oversight creates uneven enforcement across state lines, threatens downstream water quality for communities that depend on shared waterways, and sets a precedent for further erosion of federal environmental standards.
Constituents urge their federal representatives to oppose the EPA's issuance of these compliance flexibility waivers and to use all available legislative and oversight tools — including appropriations riders, oversight hearings, and formal congressional disapproval — to ensure that Clean Water Act enforcement standards remain uniformly applied and fully enforced across all fifty states.
View Call Scripts
Live Call Script
Hello, I am an assistant calling on behalf of a constituent, {{first_name}} {{last_name}} from {{city}}, {{state}} zip code {{zip_code}}. The constituent is calling to urge {{representative_name}} to oppose the EPA's plan to grant Clean Water Act enforcement compliance flexibility waivers to twelve states. These waivers would reduce federal oversight of water pollution discharge regulations under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, allowing states to weaken or delay enforcement of pollutant discharge limits without federal accountability. This creates unequal protections across state lines and puts the water quality of millions of Americans at risk — including communities in {{city}}, {{state}}. The constituent respectfully asks {{representative_name}} to take the following actions: 1. Publicly oppose the EPA's issuance of these compliance flexibility waivers. 2. Support or initiate congressional oversight hearings examining the EPA's legal authority and justification for these waivers. 3. Use available legislative tools — including appropriations measures and formal disapproval resolutions — to block the waivers and preserve uniform Clean Water Act enforcement. Clean water protections must not be selectively enforced. The constituent asks {{representative_name}} to stand firm in defending the integrity of the Clean Water Act.
Voicemail Version
I am calling on behalf of {{first_name}} {{last_name}}, a constituent from {{city}}, {{state}} {{zip_code}}. The constituent is calling to urge {{representative_name}} to oppose the EPA's proposed Clean Water Act compliance flexibility waivers for twelve states, which would reduce federal oversight of water pollution discharge regulations. These waivers risk creating unequal water quality protections across state lines and undermining the core enforcement structure of the Clean Water Act. The constituent asks {{representative_name}} to support congressional oversight and use all available legislative tools to block these waivers and preserve uniform federal water pollution standards. You may contact me at {{phone_number}} to discuss further.