Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Mike Braun (R-IN) introduced the Define WOTUS Act in June that would legislatively define “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) and “make a reasonable, workable definition of the term permanent.”
“Regulations for what falls under [WOTUS] have ping-ponged back and forth for years. Farmers and families need a reasonable, practical definition for WOTUS, and that’s why Congress should do its job and define the law,” Braun said in a statement.
In 2015, Ernst introduced a version of the bill which gave Congress the authority to define what is considered WOTUS and nullified the definition under the Obama administration. The bill received bipartisan support from lawmakers but was vetoed by President Barack Obama.
In 2019, Ernst reintroduced the bill which defined “navigable waters” to include interstate waters that are used in the transport of interstate or foreign commerce; relatively permanent, standing, or continuously flowing bodies of water; and wetlands that are adjacent to and have a continuous surface water connection to waters. It excluded intermittent or ephemeral waters, subsurface waters, such as groundwater or underground streams, man-made features and visual water features.
“I fought tooth and nail to get the Obama-Biden WOTUS rule off the books and put in place a clearer, more flexible rule for farmers and ranchers under the Trump Administration. Now, President [Joe] Biden plans to undo all that progress. This is a gut punch to Iowans, and I will continue to stand up to onerous regulations the Administration may seek to impose on our hardworking families, farmers, and businesses across Rural America,” Ernst said after the Biden administration’s recent announcement to reevaluate WOTUS.
Ernst and Grassley sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack following the announcement, expressing concern about the reevaluation of WOTUS and changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard, stating it makes them “question this administration’s commitment to our agricultural producers.”
A copy of the current bill introduced was not available as of WLJ press time. — Charles Wallace, WLJ editor
