Scott and 46 Senators File Resolution to Nullify Obama Administration’s Attempt to Expand WOTUS Definition

Yesterday, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) joined 46 of his Senate colleagues to introduce a joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Obama Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that expands the scope of federal authority over land and waterways in the United States under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, commonly known as WOTUS. Their resolution would nullify this ill-conceived rule,sending a message to the EPAthat they failed to address the concerns raised by farmers, ranchers, manufacturers and small businesses in South Carolina and across the country.

“The Obama administration’s newest attempt to regulateprivate ponds, creeks, ditches and numerous state and local waters must be stopped because South Carolina’s family farms, small businesses and local communities cannot afford this bad policy,” Scott said. “TheEnvironmental Protection Agency clearly decided toignore the objections of so many Americans, business groups, associations and communities and now the U.S. Congress must act to stop them. I will continue working with my colleagues in the Senate to prevent this EPA land grab and to ensure this Administration follows the true intent of the Clean Water Act.”

Led by Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), original cosponsors to the resolution also include Senators Lamar Alexander, (R-TN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Roy Blunt (R-MO), John Boozman (R-AR), Richard Burr (R-NC), Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV), Dan Coats (R-IN), Thad Cochran (R-MS), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Dean Heller (R-NV), John Hoeven (R-ND), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Ron Johnson (R-WI), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), John McCain (R-AZ), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Rand Paul (R-KY), David Perdue (R-GA), Jim Risch (R-ID), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Richard Shelby (R-AL), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Thune (R-SD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Pat Toomey (R-PA), David Vitter (R-LA), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

You can read the full resolutionHERE.

Senator Scottsigned onto a letterlate last year expressing concerns over the then-proposed WOTUS rule, and is a cosponsor of the Federal Water Protection Act (S. 1140), which would protect state and local governments and land owners from WOTUS’ massive federal overreach.