A joint resolution was passed last week by the U.S. House of Representatives that would invalidate the Biden administration’s new waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule through the Congressional Review Act. This act allows Congress to overturn an executive agency’s rule by passing a joint resolution through both the House and Senate. The resolution now will go to the Senate for consideration.
“This vote is a win for America’s cattlemen and women and NCBA is thrilled to see a majority of House members reject the
Biden administration’s burdensome WOTUS rule,” said NCBA President Todd Wilkinson, a cattle producer from South Dakota. “Shifting WOTUS rules have plagued cattle producers for generations and this latest rule only continues the decades of uncertainty. We urge the Senate to pass this resolution as well so it can take full effect.”
The new WOTUS rule creates more uncertainty for cattle producers by putting the burden on individuals to determine if a water feature on their land is considered federally regulated. Additionally, NCBA continually has expressed strong opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency finalizing the rule in the middle of a Supreme Court case that addresses this very issue and is pursuing litigation against the new rule to prevent it from taking effect.