Fischer Statement on SCOTUS Ruling in Sackett v. EPA

Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, issued the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court released its ruling in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, which significantly narrowed the authority the federal government has over states and private citizens to regulate “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act:

“Today, the Supreme Court took much-needed action to roll back the scope on what the federal government can regulate as Waters of the United States.

“Since my first term in the Senate, I have fought against overreaching and disastrous rules that represent the federal government at its worst.

“It’s clear that this administration needs to finally listen to the bipartisan majority in Congress and the Supreme Court, and rescind its overreaching WOTUS rule that harms families, communities, and businesses.”

Background:

In March, the U.S. Senate passed a Fischer-backed Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution of disapproval that overturns President Biden’s overreaching WOTUS rule by a vote of 53-43, following its passage in the House of Representatives. President Biden vetoed that CRA on April 6, 2023. In a speech on the Senate floor, Senator Fischer slammed the WOTUS rule, calling it a “needless power grab” and an expansion of federal power over a state resource.

In April 2022, Senator Fischer joined 45 Senators and 154 House members on an amicus curiae brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the petitioners in Sackett v. EPA.