WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 28, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement today in response to the Obama administration’s decision to finalize and launch far-reaching water regulations under the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, now renamed by the administration as the Clean Water Rule.
“Faced with this unprecedented regulatory expansion by the Obama administration, Nebraskans are rightfully concerned the Waters of the U.S. rule will severely harm our agriculture economy by increasing costs and uncertainty for producers,” Smith said. “Following widespread outcry from farmers, ranchers, landowners, and local officials across the country, the House has repeatedly acted to block this harmful executive overreach. Our agriculture producers are already great stewards of the land who protect our natural resources. Washington bureaucrats should never have control over the puddles and irrigation ditches on rural farmers’ property.
“The Clean Water Act intentionally limited the EPA’s jurisdiction to navigable waters. Unfortunately, the Obama administration has not listened to Congress or the American people and is now trying to unilaterally expand its regulatory jurisdiction to include virtually all water flows, from ditches to prairie potholes, even on private land. Knowing the consequences could be especially devastating to rural Americans, I will continue to vigorously oppose this federal power grab.”
Earlier this month, Smith voted in favor of H.R. 1732, the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act, to prohibit the EPA from using its Waters of the U.S. rule to expand its authority beyond Congress’s intent.
