Ernst Joins EPA Administrator Zeldin to Announce WOTUS Revision

Ending government overreach and expensive regulatory whiplash for Iowans.
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, joined Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin to announce arevisionto the definition of the “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) that adheres to the law, cuts red tape, and provides certainty for Iowa farmers, small businesses, and landowners.
During her first year in the Senate, Senator Ernstledan effort against the harmfulWOTUS ruleto protect Iowans from overreaching, burdensome regulations. Her effort was passed by both the Senate and the House, but President Obamavetoedit.

Watch Senator Ernst’s remarkshereat the EPA Headquarters.
Download photos from the press conferencehere.
“For far too long, we have seen this grip of federal government really impacting daily Iowans’ lives…They've threatened our communities, threatened our livelihoods. I am really grateful that President Trump is righting this wrong and bringing more common sense back into the regulatory environment, especially surrounding our waters of the United States,”said Ernst.
Background:
During Trump’s first term, Ernstcommendedhis administration for successfully rolling back the harmful Obama-era WOTUS rule to help spur economic growth andcalledon Congress to codify a reasonable definition of WOTUS into law.
After Biden doubled down on Obama’s government overreach, Ernstsupporteda bipartisan effort andworkedin 2023 to stop Biden’s out-of-touch WOTUS rule that aimed to repeal the Trump administration’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) andapplaudedthe Supreme Court’s ruling inSackett v. EPA.Unfortunately, President Biden’s subsequent amended rule did not adhere to the court’s decision, necessitating President Trump and Administrator Zeldin’s action today to settle this issue once and for all.
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