McCaul Joins Legislation to Terminate Biden WOTUS Rule
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) joined Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.), Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer (R-N.C.), and 151 of their colleagues in introducing a joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) on the Biden administration’s flawed and burdensome “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule. This rule will lead to sweeping changes to the federal government’s authority to regulate what is considered a navigable water, creating burdens and uncertainty for small businesses, manufacturers, farmers, home and infrastructure builders, local communities, water districts, and private property owners.
“The Biden administration’s WOTUS rule unnecessarily burdens farmers and ranchers, while shutting them out of the conversation,” said Rep. McCaul. “At a time when many Americans are struggling to make ends meet, Biden’s EPA is laying costly requirements on property owners and threatening serious fines for those who fail to comply with the new, confusing changes. I’m proud to join the effort to terminate this misguided rule that will harm our nation’s rural communities.”
“As American families and businesses continue suffering under the economic crises caused by the disastrous Biden policies of the last two years, this Administration has inexplicably decided to move the country back toward the costly and burdensome WOTUS regulations of the past,” said Rep. Graves. “In an unnecessary drain on federal resources, the Administration clumsily put forward its rule before the Supreme Court has issued a ruling in the Sackett case, which will affect and alter what the Administration has put forward. Congress has the authority and responsibility to review onerous rules like this one handed down from the Executive Branch, and I hope our colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join in this effort to preserve regulatory clarity and prevent overzealous, unnecessary, and broadly defined federal power.”
“The Biden Administration’s WOTUS rule is both poor policy and badly timed,” said Rep. Rouzer. “It will once again place overly burdensome regulations on farm families, small businesses, infrastructure projects, and entire communities – further harming our already struggling economy. Rushing to issue a new rule despite the Supreme Court’s forthcoming decision is not wise. It will only create additional confusion and uncertainty. This new EPA rule needs to be rescinded so that Americans across the country are protected from subjective regulatory overreach. Utilization of the Congressional Review Act is the best and most appropriate way for the House to make its collective voice heard and push back. I’m proud to lead my colleagues in Congress as we work to terminate onerous rules like this one.”
Background:
On January 18, 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published the administration’s long-expected WOTUS rule and voided the Trump administration’s Navigable Waters Protection rule, which provided much-needed clarity and certainty surrounding the nation’s waters.
The House Joint Resolution introduced today, if enacted, would terminate the Biden WOTUS rule utilizing the CRA, a mechanism for Congress to overturn certain final agency actions. An identical measure was also introduced in the Senate by 49 senators, led by Environment and Public Works Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.).
Last week, Rep. McCaul and 193 of his colleagues sent a letter urging the EPA to rescind the rule. Read full text of the letter here.
Read full text of the resolution of disapproval here.
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