Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (May 1, 2015) – Today the U.S. House passed H.R. 2028, the FY 2016 Energy and Water Appropriations bill with a bi-partisan vote of 240-177. A rider attached to the bill prohibits implementation or enforcement of the EPA’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. The WOTUS rule, an unprecedented federal seizure of state waters and private water rights, would centralize at the federal level jurisdiction over streams, ponds, and other waters currently regulated by the states.

The rider was attached to the appropriations bill at the urging of a letter led by Western Caucus Vice Chairman Paul Gosar (AZ-04), which was signed by 103 Members of Congress, including numerous members of the Congressional Western Caucus.

In response, Western Caucus Chairman Cynthia Lummis (WY-At large), Vice Chairman Paul Gosar (AZ-04) and members Rep. Tom Reed (NY-23) and Rep. Mike Kelly (PA-03) issued the following statements:

“This appropriation’s rider would halt the EPA’s WOTUS rule in its tracks by choking off funding,” said Chairman Lummis.  “Water is our single most precious natural resource and the WOTUS rule is yet another attempt by federal agencies to expand their authority over water at the expense of the states. Unopposed, the rule would extend the federal jurisdiction over streams and ponds to the point where very few, if any, bodies of water would be left to the long-standing, expert governance of the states. This would disrupt water distribution and state and local conservation efforts, hiking costs for families and businesses along the way.”

“Americans have made it clear that they can’t afford more economic hurdles and thieveries of precious water supplies from an overzealous, unaccountable federal government operating in hyper mode,” said Vice Chairman Gosar. “I am proud of the action the House has taken this week to puts states, local governments and private water rights holders back in the driver’s seat for managing our water.”

“This bill passed with language preventing the Obama Administration’s power grab of private property,” said Rep. Reed. “That is a victory for Americans from coast to coast and demonstrates that the House cares about protecting private property rights. I will continue to work as Chair of the Private Property Rights Caucus and a member of the Western Caucus to ensure that the rights of property owners are defended.”

“Today’s passage of the House’s energy and water appropriations bill represents a major victory for Americans concerned with this administration’s reckless ‘Waters of the United States’ proposal,” said Rep. Kelly. “From the east to the west, water touches the life of every American and is indispensable to our national wellbeing. I am proud to stand with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to protect America’s farmers and small businesses from WOTUS’s potentially devastating effects.”

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