This Week: WOTUS Rule

This week the Senate will turn its attention to the overreaching and expanded definition of the “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule. Senator Ernst has secured strong support from her colleagues through a discharge petition to ensure the Senate can consider her joint resolution of disapproval (S.J. Res. 22) to scrap WOTUS without a filibuster.

The Iowa Senator’s efforts to stop this ill-conceived rule has enabled the Senate to consider S.J. Res. 22 without any further delay. Last month, there were a total of 50 Senators who supported Senator Ernst’s resolution. S.J. Res. 22 requires only a simple majority in order to pass.

About Senator Ernst’s Joint Resolution of Disapproval…

S.J. Res. 22 allows Congress to review major rules issued by federal agencies and utilize expedited procedures to overturn regulations before the rule takes effect.

The Senate will first consider Senator Barrasso’s (R-WY) proposal, which Senator Ernst is a cosponsor of, and provides clear principles and directions for the EPA to craft a WOTUS rule that takes into consideration positions held by folks like farmers, ranchers, manufacturers and small businesses.

Senator Ernst’s resolution ensures that all available options are on the table if needed. Senator Barrasso is also a cosponsor of Senator Ernst’s proposal. As Senator Ernst stated, “These efforts are the next necessary steps in pushing back against this blatant power grab, and I’m optimistic it will head to the President’s desk where he will be forced to decide between the livelihood of our rural communities nationwide and his unchecked federal agency.”

WOTUS Impact On Iowa…

According to an analysis by the Iowa Farm Bureau, an expanded definition of the WOTUS rule would expand EPA jurisdiction to over approximately 97 percent of Iowa. See map below:

# # #