Gosar Funding Rider to Prohibit EPA's Waters of the U.S. Rule Gains 100+ Bipartisan Supporters

Press Release

Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after submitting an official appropriations language request to the House Appropriations Committee, that if enacted would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) from using any appropriated funds for the "Waters of the United States (WOTUS)" rule:

"Despite not having the science to back up their claims or the Constitutional right to take action, the EPA and the USACE are still planning to move forward with their blatant federal overreach, amounting to nothing more than a massive water-grab. In fact, this past Monday EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy announced they "are getting ready to send the final draft of the Waters of the U.S. rule to the White House Office of Management and Budget for interagency review."

The proposed Waters of the U.S. rule would hand over federal jurisdiction of nearly all areas with any hydrologic connection to downstream waters including man-made constructions such as ditches, pipes and farmland ponds. Contrary to claims made by the EPA and the USACE, this would directly contradict prior U.S. Supreme Court decisions, which imposed limits on the extent of federal CWA authority.

"Congress must act now to stop the EPA from imposing devastating economic consequences for farmers, ranchers and small businesses throughout the country. Passing H.R. 594 and/or including this funding rider are the only worthwhile efforts to date that will prevent these rogue agencies from implementing the extremely flawed WOTUS rule."

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