Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) today voted for S.J. Res. 22, to block the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers from redefining “waters of the United States” to include smaller bodies of water including farm ponds and irrigation ditches. The proposed rule significantly expands the scope of federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act over virtually all waters and wet areas in the country.
“The proposed Waters of the United States rule is a federal power grab which would be economically disastrous for farmers, landowners, small businesses, and manufacturers,” said Congressman Barr. “We are in the weakest economic recovery since World War II, with the lowest labor participation rate in nearly 40 years. Now is not the time to undermine economic growth and kill jobs with more Washington knows best regulation. That is why I joined my colleagues in both the House and Senate in voting to reject this flawed rule.”
S.J. Res. 22 passed the Senate on November 4, 2015 and will now be submitted to the President for consideration.