Ernst Applauds Next Step in Rolling Back Harmful WOTUS Rule

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of the Army, and Army Corps of Engineers proposed a rule today to repeal the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule:

“I am pleased that the Trump administration is taking another important step toward eliminating this burdensome WOTUS rule,” said Senator Ernst. “In Iowa, 97 percent of the land is subject to extensive overregulation by the EPA and unnecessarily hamstrings our farmers, businesses and manufacturers. All across Iowa, folks are calling for this rule to be scrapped, which is why I have led efforts in the Senate to do just that.

“This is good news for Iowa and rural communities across the country as we move closer to finally eliminating this overreaching rule.”

Senator Ernst’s Efforts to Scrap WOTUS Rule:

• Continued to highlight major flaws with expanded WOTUS Rule in Environment and Public Works Committee hearings.
• Applauded WOTUS rule executive order.
• Raised her concerns with then-nominee to be Administrator of the EPA, Scott Pruitt, at his confirmation hearing, as well as his pre-confirmation meeting.
• Introduced a resolution that expresses the need to vacate the Obama administration’s WOTUS rule.
• Praised the bipartisan passage in both chambers of her resolution of disapproval to eliminate the expanded definition of the WOTUS rule. The Obama administration vetoed this legislation and Senator Ernst vowed to continue looking for ways to roll back the WOTUS rule.
• Called out the EPA’s illegal use of taxpayer dollars to rally support for the harmful WOTUS rule.
• Spoke on the floor of the Senate to urge support for her resolution of disapproval to eliminate the expanded definition of the WOTUS rule.
• Introduced and led a joint resolution to scrap WOTUS.
• Cosponsored Senator Barrasso’s proposal, which provided clear principles and direction for the EPA and ACE to craft a WOTUS rule that takes into consideration positions held by key stakeholders.