Graves Applauds T&I Committee Passing Bill to Block ‘Waters of the U.S.’ Rule

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Sam Graves released the following statement after the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee approved legislation prohibiting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from finalizing its proposed "Waters of the U.S." (WOTUS) rule. Rep. Graves, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, helped introduce the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act on Monday, April 13.

"I am pleased that the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee took action to advance this important piece of legislation," Rep. Graves said. "I have been pushing this Administration to withdraw its Waters of the U.S. rule since it was first proposed, and Wednesday's vote was another important step in the fight to hold the White House accountable for its out of control regulatory agenda."

"The EPA, and any other federal agency for that matter, cannot simply regulate what Congress has refused to legislate," Rep. Graves continued. "I look forward to moving this bill through the House and working with my colleagues in the Senate to get it to the President's desk."

The Transportation & Infrastructure Committee voted 36-22 to advance the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act, which would force the Obama Administration to withdraw WOTUS. The rule threatens to allow the EPA to regulate bodies of water on private lands.

Since being enacted in 1972, the CWA has been hugely successful in helping to improve the quality of our water in this county. However, the CWA was originally written as a collaborative partnership between the states and the federal government. The Regulatory Integrity Protection Act will protect this partnership and ensure the CWA continues to serve its intended purpose for all Americans.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: In April of 2014, the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jointly released a proposed rule to clarify protection of streams and wetlands under the CWA, forming WOTUS. The rule was developed without the EPA first consulting state and local authorities, and without realistically examining the potential economic impacts on private citizens, farmers, and other stakeholders.

The EPA's proposed rule would significantly broaden the federal government's power to regulate waters and adjacent lands. Since the rule was proposed, many states and local governments have objected to the erosion of the intended state and federal partnership, as the CWA held states responsible for the oversight and prevention of water pollution.

The Regulatory Integrity Protection Act requires the EPA to withdraw the "Waters of the U.S." rule, and will force the agency to engage in outreach to stakeholders before proposing a new rule.

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