Simpson Speaks Out on WOTUS Congressional Review Act

Washington, D.C. – Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today voted in favor of H.J. Res 27, the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Congressional Review Act Resolution of Disapproval, that would nullify the recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineer (Corps) WOTUS rule that is set to take effect on March 20, 2023.

This resolution, which Congressman Simpson is an original cosponsor of, comes in response to a recent EPA rule that would redefine “navigable waters” under the Clean Water Act and steamroll states like Idaho that already have systems and agencies in place to successfully manage environmental quality of water used by farmers, ranchers, and landowners.  The Biden Administration’s proposed rule expands permitting requirements, ignores the Supreme Court’s current consideration of Sackett v. EPA, a case that will directly impact this issue, and is an egregious overreach of federal authority.

“I’ve fought against expansive WOTUS overreach since the beginning.  In addition to authoring language every year to prevent and block the EPA and the Corps from expanding their regulatory jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act and to withdraw the Obama Administration’s misguided WOTUS rule, I worked with the Trump Administration to rewrite the WOTUS rule so that it actually worked for rural America.  Deciding how water is used should be the responsibility of state and local officials who are familiar with the people and local issues, like the 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) outlined,” said Simpson.

“I am pleased to see so many House Republicans join in utilizing the Congressional Review Act to stop the Biden Administration’s detrimental actions on this issue.  As chairman and senior member of the appropriations subcommittees that oversee the budgets of the EPA and the Corps, I will continue to use my role to ensure that the voices of farmers and ranchers are heard, and that state authority is respected.”

H.J. Res. 27 passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 227-198 on March 9, 2023, and requires further action in the Senate.

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