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House moves to halt WOTUS

On a 262-152 vote, the House has passed a bill to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers from implementing the proposed Waters of the U.S. rules.  H.R. 5078, the Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act would prohibit the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers from redefining “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act.

Supporters of the bill say EPA’s rule is an attempt to override Congress and the states.  Republicans charge it would give EPA the power to regulate bodies of water that Congress never intended the agency to have.  There are five Democratic co-sponsors of the bill.  House Ag Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson spoke in support of the bill saying “the EPA does not seem to understand the real world effects these regulations will have on farmers across the country.”

The action drew praise from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the National Pork Producers Council and American Farm Bureau Federation.

It is uncertain if the bill will come up in the Senate and reports are the President would veto it if it gets that far.

EPA has sought to clarify the proposal by posting a “Ditch the Myth” series on its website.

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