Representative Rob Bishop of Utah called it a strong foundation upon which Congress can move forward an infrastructure bill. But environmental activists, flood plain managers and some conservatives had urged the Trump administration to preserve it, arguing that it protected critical infrastructure and taxpayer dollars. The Obama-era rule gave federal agencies three options to flood-proof new infrastructure projects. Representative Ralph Abraham of Louisiana, a Republican who sponsored legislation that would have blocked Mr. Obama’s flood standard, said he was thrilled by Mr. Trump’s decision. Representative Carlos Curbelo, a Florida Republican who has called for addressing the threat posed by climate change, criticized Mr. Trump’s decision.

Source: New York Times August 15, 2017 19:05 UTC