Collins' Statement on House Passage of His Floor Amendment

Washington, D.C.— U.S. Representative Mike Collins (R-Ga.) released the following statement after his floor amendment passed the U.S. House of Representatives by voice vote:

"I am very glad to see the House pass my amendment to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing—or enforcing—the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA’s) economically harmful and draconian rule to limit the speed of watercraft over 35 feet to ten knots," said Collins. "This is a big win for coastal industries."

Background

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) published a proposed rule that would limit the speed of all watercraft over 35 feet to ten knots within navigable waters along the Atlantic seaboard. The agency claims that this would protect the North Atlantic Right Whale by reducing collisions between the animal and boats.

NOAA's rule is proposed, but not yet finalized. 

Rep. Collins has spoken out against this rule on multiple occasions, including during a hearing of the House Natural Resources Committee where he laid out the odds of boats actually colliding with a North Atlantic Right Whale. 

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