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H.R. 4965: To preserve existing rights and responsibilities with respect to waters of the United States, and for other purposes.

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H.R. 4965: To preserve existing rights and responsibilities with respect to waters of the United States, and for other purposes.

112th Congress · introduced 2012-04-27 · Environmental Protection · Latest: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 492.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2012-04-27 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Mica, John L. [R-FL-7] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 492. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

To preserve existing rights and responsibilities with respect to waters of the United States, and for other purposes.

Plain summary

Prohibits the Secretary of the Army and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from: (1) finalizing, adopting, implementing, administering, or enforcing the proposed guidance described in the notice of availability and request for comments entitled "EPA and Army Corps of Engineers Guidance Regarding Identification of Waters Protected by the Clean Water Act"; or (2) using such guidance, any successor document, or any substantially similar guidance made publicly available on or after December 3, 2008, as the basis for any decision regarding the scope of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) or any rulemaking. Provides that use of such guidance or document as the basis for any rule shall be grounds for vacating such rule.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House with amendment(s)), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

To preserve existing rights and responsibilities with respect to waters of the United States, and for other purposes.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House with amendment(s))

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Mica, John L. [R-FL-7] · 94 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Frank D. Lucas (R-OK), Sam Graves (R-MO), Marlin A. Stutzman (R-IN), John R. Carter (R-TX), Robert E. Latta (R-OH), Adrian Smith (R-NE), Harold Rogers (R-KY), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Eric A. "Rick" Crawford (R-AR), James Lankford (R-OK), Jim Costa (D-CA), Tom Cole (R-OK), Steve Womack (R-AR), Austin Scott (R-GA) and 34 more.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Rulemaking
The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong112-hr4965 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong112 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong112