Washington, D.C.— Today, U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) released the following statement in response to the Biden administration’s revised “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule after the Supreme Court struck down the administration’s previous definition, which would have been incredibly damaging to Wyoming farmers, ranchers, landowners and builders.
“The people of Wyoming deserve the clarity the Trump-era WOTUS gave them, yet this administration has continued to favor onerous red tape and conflicting definitions over common sense regulations. I’m deeply disappointed this administration rushed to a decision that lacks substantive stability for our landowners despite multiple warnings from myself and my colleagues. While I am encouraged the revised rule reflects the Supreme Court’s decision in the Sackett case by rescinding the most blatant examples of federal overreach, I believe it still falls short of providing the certainty landowners and businesses need. I will continue fighting for Wyoming citizens to get a WOTUS rule that best serves their needs,” said Senator Lummis.
Senator Lummis’ Recent Actions on WOTUS this Congress:
In June 2023, Senator Lummis and Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led a letter to the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requesting information on how the Biden administration plans to implement the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Sackett v. EPA.
In March of 2023, Senator Lummis voted to overturn the Biden administration’s WOTUS rule.
In February of 2023, Senator Lummis led every member of the Senate Western Caucus in introducing a formal challenge to the Biden administration’s WOTUS rule through a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution of disapproval.
###