I will soon introduce a resolution urging the Department of Environmental Protection to establish a temporary moratorium on the creation or modification of general permits and regulations that increase sewage treatment costs for Pennsylvania families and ratepayers.
 
Access to safe and affordable wastewater service is a basic necessity for every community in this Commonwealth. However, municipal sewer authorities are currently facing significant increases in operating and infrastructure costs driven by regulatory compliance requirements. Because sewage service is a vital utility, families cannot choose to reduce or avoid these costs when rates increase. These government-driven price increases disproportionately impact seniors on fixed incomes and low-income households who must devote a larger percentage of their income to these essential services.
 
My resolution addresses these financial burdens through several key measures It urges DEP to implement a two-year freeze on the issuance of new general permits or the modification of existing ones that would increase costs for sewer authorities and ratepayers. It calls for a halt on new regulations or amendments that would materially increase the cost of wastewater management. It requires DEP to use the moratorium period to conduct a comprehensive review of the cumulative financial impact of regulatory mandates on Pennsylvania families.
 
Protecting Pennsylvania ratepayers from unnecessary regulatory cost increases is a fundamental responsibility of sound governance. We must ensure that environmental protection is science-based and balanced with ratepayer affordability to prevent imposing unnecessary financial hardship on our residents.
 
I hope you will join me in co-sponsoring this resolution.