To the Members of the United States Senate:
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce strongly supports the Congressional Review Act resolution to undo the overly burdensome and legally problematic 2023 Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule issued under the Clean Water Act by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). The new WOTUS rule represents a major step backward for reforming a federal permitting process that is stifling new infrastructure, from pipelines and critical mineral mining to renewable generation. The Chamber may consider votes related to this legislation in our annual How They Voted scorecard.
This legislation would ensure that EPA and Corps appropriately reconsider their approach to WOTUS regulatory jurisdiction after the Supreme Court decides the Sackett WOTUS case, which could give much-needed clarity regarding the scope of these agencies' WOTUS jurisdiction. The CRA resolution would also speed the resolution of several legal challenges to the 2023 WOTUS rule that are now pending, including a lawsuit in federal court in Kentucky that was brought by the Chamber, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and other plaintiffs.
While Congress has made significant investments in infrastructure, the Administration's WOTUS rule would make it more difficult for progress to be achieved. Under the new rule, businesses of all sizes would need to navigate an expensive and time-consuming permitting process. The WOTUS rule also imposes expansive, vague tests for determining federal jurisdiction that exceed the federal government’s statutory authority and are very difficult to use or understand. The business community and landowners across the United States have made building smart, modern, resilient infrastructure and improved water quality among our top priorities. The CRA resolution would help drive a clear, consistent, and durable WOTUS definition to meet our ambitious national climate and infrastructure commitments.
We urge you to vote “yes” when the CRA resolution comes to the floor later this week.
Sincerely,
Evan Jenkins
Senior Vice President
Government Affairs
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
