Press Releases
Womack Statement on Navigable Waters Protection Rule
Washington,
January 23, 2020
Washington, DC—January 23, 2020....Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) today issued the following statement in response to the Trump Administration’s newly announced Navigable Waters Protection Rule, which replaces the 2015 Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule. The new directive provides regulatory clarity and ends Obama-era federal overreach: “This announcement marks an important step in restoring state authority and stopping improper federal overreach. Localities are best equipped to manage the water and land within its borders – and this new directive rightfully reverses a power grab by Washington bureaucrats under the previous administration. With today’s prudent rule, we are protecting America’s waterways and providing certainty to hardworking farmers, ranchers, and landowners. I have fought against the misguided Obama-era version of this regulation since it was introduced and thank the Trump Administration for taking decisive action and implementing a balanced approach.” Background: There have been multiple definitions, regulatory interpretations, and constant litigation surrounding the definition of “waters of the United States.” In 2015, President Obama’s EPA put forward a WOTUS definition that greatly expanded Washington’s reach into privately owned lands. This left Americans, including farmers, with federal agencies encroaching on everyday fixtures like stock ponds and ditches – creating confusion and lengthy litigation. Today’s rule implements the proper balance between the federal government’s regulatory authority and the authority of states to protect their own natural resources. The new definition recognizes that the regulation of land use is a quintessential state and local power and also provides statutory clarity, predictability, and consistency. Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas’s Third Congressional District since 2011. He serves as the Ranking Member of the House Committee on the Budget and is a member of the House Appropriations defense and transportation, housing and urban development subcommittees. ### |