Gov. Kevin Stitt endorsed federal proposals on Tuesday that he said would prevent states from using the Clean Water Act to block energy projects because of a bias against fossil fuels.

Testifying to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in Washington, D.C., Stitt said states shouldn’t be able to “politicize” the Clean Water Act and “harm the assets of other states.”

Democrats countered that states and Indian tribes have the right to make decisions protecting their water from pollution.

Controversy over a section of the Clean Water Act has arisen in recent years because some contend coastal states are blocking fossil fuel projects over concerns about climate change.