Sen. Marshall: Administration’s overreach is uninformed and unacceptable

(Washington, D.C., June 9, 2021) – Today, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. issued the following statement addressing concerns with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal of new federal clean-water regulations that reverse the deregulatory actions of the previous administration, and target private landowners.

“This is the Administration’s attempt to revive the Obama era WOTUS rule which was already blocked by the courts, and is further proof of the clear disconnect between D.C. bureaucrats and those who work the land day in and day out,” said Senator Marshall. “Since coming to office, I have worked alongside our farmers, ranchers, and rural landowners to protect and improve our land and water and roll back one-size-fits-all federal regulations that impact Kansans’ ability to effectively care for the crops and livestock. This level of federal overreach is not only uninformed, but unacceptable.”

Background:

In 2015, the Obama Administration finalized a rule that expanded the definition of the Waters of the United States—giving the federal government authority to regulate water on much of the land in Kansas—and creating confusion and burdensome red tape for Kansas’ agriculture industry and many others.

The Trump Administration released a proposed rule to replace the Obama Administration’s 2015 WOTUS rule with a new rule that provided much-needed predictability and certainty for farmers by establishing clear and reasonable definitions of what qualifies as a “water of the United States.” The new Navigable Waters Protection Rule was finalized last year.

On day one of his administration, President Biden signed an executive order that would roll back the Trump Administration’s executive order which began the process of rescinding Obama’s WOTUS rule.

In January, Senator Marshall joined his colleagues in leading an effort on a Senate resolution that expresses the need for the U.S. Senate to stand with workers, farmers, manufacturers, and businesses by upholding the Trump Administration’s Navigable Waters Protection rule, which replaced the Obama-era Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. 

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