Rep. McCaul Votes to Terminate Biden WOTUS Rule
WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) released the following statement after voting for a resolution to nullify the Biden administration’s flawed and burdensome “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule, which changes the definition of a navigable water under the Clean Water Act, creating significant regulatory uncertainty. Rep. McCaul 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 the resolution last month. The legislation passed the House by a vote of 227 to 198.
“As hardworking Americans attempt to navigate President Biden’s inflation crisis, the last thing they need is more red tape — but that’s exactly what the administration is giving them,” said Rep. McCaul. “This misguided WOTUS rule makes the ridiculous assumption that Washington bureaucrats know how to take care of land better than our nation’s farmers, ranchers, and small business owners. The American people are tired of this administration’s blatant overreach, and I was proud to vote to repeal this detrimental rule on behalf of rural communities across Texas and the nation.”
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 resolution of disapproval would terminate the Biden WOTUS rule utilizing the Congressional Review Act, a mechanism for Congress to overturn certain final agency actions.
Earlier this year, 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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