Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.J. Res 27, a Waters of the United States (WOTUS) resolution of disapproval. The legislation was sponsored by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves from Missouri and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer of North Carolina.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) hailed the passage of the joint resolution that basically would invalidate the Biden administration’s new WOTUS rule through the Congressional Review Act.
NCBA Chief Counsel, Mary-Thomas Hart, says this rule is the third regulatory attempt to define WOTUS in the last ten years.
NCBA has expressed strong opposition to the Environmental Protect Agency (EPA) finalizing this rule in the middle of a Supreme Court case that addresses this very issue. NCBA is also pursuing litigation against this rule to prevent it from taking effect and harming cattle producers.
The Congressional Review Act allows Congress to invalidate an executive agency’s rule by passing a joint resolution through both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The resolution now heads to the Senate for consideration.