Senators Joni Ernst of Iowa and Mike Braun of Indiana introduced the Define WOTUS Act last week.  The legislation will codify a definition of the Waters of the U.S. Rule and reassert Congressional authority to define the term.

 

Ernst says the Obama-era rule threatened Iowa’s farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses by giving the federal government authority to regulate water in 97% of Iowa.

 

“President Trump has taken tremendous steps to roll back this overreaching regulation and provide more certainty with a new, clearer definition of WOTUS,” Ernst said.

 

However, the Iowa Senator says it’s the job of Congress to make a new, reasonable definition permanent. The definition of WOTUS in the legislation also makes substantial improvements over various administrative attempts to define the term by clearly outlining what is, and is not a federally-regulated waterway.

 

“It gives landowners clear guidelines by which they can go out on their land and clearly determine what is and isn’t regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency.”

 

 

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