WASHINGTON— Today, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) releasing its updated Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule following the U.S. Supreme Court’s May ruling in the Sackett v. EPA case: 

“The Supreme Court rightfully reined in the Biden administration’s EPA regulatory overreach in Sackett. However, the EPA’s revised rule ignores the very concerns laid out in the case,” said Rep. Simpson. “I’ve long fought against expansive WOTUS overreach, and I will continue to do so as America’s farmers, ranchers, and landowners face regulatory assault from the federal government.” 

The administration’s proposal to expand the definition of WOTUS pushes federal regulation into waters currently managed by the states, including irrigation canals, ponds, drainage ditches, and water tanks. In accordance with the Sackett v. EPA case, the EPA was directed to revise its WOTUS rule defining what constitutes a protected waterway under the Clean Water Act. Despite instruction from the Supreme Court, the EPA’s revised rule makes minimal improvements to the EPA’s previous version, which took effect on March 20th. 

Rep. Simpson was an original cosponsor of H.J. Res. 27, a joint resolution that would have nullified the January 2023 EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rule revising the definition of WOTUS. H.J. Res. 27 passed in the House and Senate but was later vetoed by President Biden. 

Rep. Simpson has expressed concerns about regulatory overreach by the EPA and has taken action to stop the expansive overreach since the Obama administration. Most recently, as Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, Rep. Simpson authored language in the Fiscal Year 2024 bill to prevent and block the flawed definition of WOTUS under the Clean Water Act.