Smith Statement on WOTUS Reversal

March 12, 2025 Press Release Washington, DC — Today, Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE), Vice Chair of the Congressional Western Caucus, released the following statement on the joint memorandum issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers (USACE) on implementation of the Waters of the United States rule, known as WOTUS. Under the memorandum, EPA and USACE will work collaboratively to solicit stakeholder input toward a new WOTUS rule designed to provide needed clarity and reduce permitting barriers while ensuring EPA fulfills its mandate to protect navigable American waters. "This is a great step toward putting WOTUS abuse to bed. The EPA has threatened property rights and livelihoods of rural Americans with bureaucratic overreach for far too long. The Biden administration’s failure to appropriately comply with the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling or seek public input has only perpetuated uncertainty. EPA regulations must never put undue burdens on American farmers, ranchers, and small businesses and should properly reflect congressional intent in the Clean Water Act." BACKGROUND: Read more about Smith’s efforts to stop WOTUS implementation here . ### Issues : Agriculture Rural Development