American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman says the U.S. House of Representatives sent a strong, bipartisan message that the flawed Waters of the U.S. rule is unacceptable and should be scrapped.
By a vote of 261 to 155, the House passed the Regulatory Integrity Act of 2015 on Tuesday a bill that would force the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw its proposed Waters of the U.S. rule.
House Ag Chair Mike Conaway testified the current form of the rule is a massive overreach of EPA’s authority and will impact nearly every farmer and rancher in America.
While EPA says the rule provides clarity to producers about what is and is not regulated, Conaway says the rule allows nearly every body of water in the country to be federally regulated.
Stallman says it was refreshing to see members of Congress order regulators back to the drawing board with an admonition to listen to the real concerns of people who would have their farm fields and ditches regulated in the same manner as navigable streams.
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Philip Ellis says this action by Congress will ensure private lands remain viable and productive leaving landowners free to undertake stewardship and production decisions without interference by the EPA and Administration.
NCBA urges the Senate to pass their companion legislation and send it to the President’s desk.
The American Farm Bureau looks forward to a new water rule that recognizes the enormous work farmers and ranchers have done and honors the limits authorized by Congress and the Supreme Court.
