Press Releases
Womack Joins Introduction of Resolution to Uphold Navigable Waters Protection Rule
Washington,
April 14, 2021
Washington, DC – April 14, 2021....Representative Steve Womack (AR-3) today joined Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-2) and numerous other members in introducing a resolution that declares clean water is a national priority and states the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) should not be withdrawn or vacated. Rep. Womack said, “Clean water is a priority we all share. Localities are best equipped to manage the water and land within their borders, and the NWPR rightfully puts authority back in the hands of communities. The Biden Administration should not revert back to the failed Obama-era version of this rule. That action would once again unduly burden hardworking farmers, ranchers, and landowners. We can protect our natural resources without infringing on the rights of Arkansans and Americans.” Rep. Miller-Meeks said, “Under the WOTUS Rule, the federal government would have authority to regulate water on 97 percent of the land in Iowa. This left farmers, ranchers, landowners, and businesses to face confusion and burdensome restrictions on how to use their property. The NWPR is much more workable and keeps our water and land clean without destroying businesses in the process. I look forward to working with my colleagues to protect our environment while also supporting our farmers and ranchers.” 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. The NWPR, which was instituted in April 2020, revised the definition of WOTUS and reversed this overreach, bringing back a balance between federal and state jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. Additional information, including a list of original cosponsors, stakeholder quotes, and supportive organizations, can be found here. A Senate companion to this resolution was introduced by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) in January and currently has 27 cosponsors. Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas’s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee. ### |