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HR 3353 114th Congress House Environmental Protection Civil actions and liability Legal fees and court costs Pollution liability Water quality

To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to limit attorney fees and penalties in citizen suits, and for other purposes.

Introduced: February 25, 2016 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 30, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Jul 29, 2015
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Jul 29, 2015
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to limit the amount that may be awarded for the costs of litigation in citizen suits. An award of litigation costs may not exceed: (1) an amount that is proportional to the number of successful claims included in the complaint, or (2) the amount of monetary penalties.

The award of litigation costs must be based on the prevailing rates in the local market area where the violation occurred for the kind and quality of the services furnished.

Citizen suits may not be commenced if the Environmental Protection Agency or a state has commenced and is diligently prosecuting a civil or criminal action through the issuance of a compliance order.

The bill provides for certain affirmative defenses for a person who may be liable for the unlawful discharge of a pollutant under the Clean Water Act.

What's happening now July 30, 2015

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Republican 2
ROHRABACHER, DANA
· Apr 21, 2016
ROYCE, ED
· Feb 25, 2016
 R
Calvert, Ken
California · Jul 29, 2015
 R
McClintock, Tom
California · Jul 29, 2015
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3353: To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to limit attorney fees and penalties in citizen suits, and for other purposes.. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-3353/
MLA
"H.R. 3353: To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to limit attorney fees and penalties in citizen suits, and for other purposes.." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-3353/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3353, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-3353/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3353: To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to limit attorney fees and penalties in citizen suits, and for other purposes.](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-3353/)
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