Cramer Joins Colleagues in Signing WOTUS Funding Letter to House Leadership

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Kevin Cramer joined 65 colleagues in sending a letter to House leadership urging a prohibition of funds for the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. 

The letter was sent to Speaker Paul Ryan, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, and Appropriations Committee Chairman Harold Rogers and Ranking Member Nita Lowey.  Earlier in the year the House included language in the Fiscal Year 2017 Energy and Water and Interior and Environment Appropriations bills to ensure the rule does not go forward. This letter requests there be a limitation of funds provision in final appropriations bills considered for the fiscal year.

“We urge you to recognize the substantial cost, confusion, and regulatory burden this rule will have on the economy if this controversial rule is funded for Fiscal Year 2017,” wrote the signers of the letter.   

WOTUS defines which rivers, streams, lakes and marshes fall under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and not the jurisdiction of states.

Calling it an unconstitutional power grab, Cramer has been an outspoken opponent of the proposed WOTUS, supporting all efforts in Congress and the courts to halt the rule.

“This is the Obama Administration’s brazen attempt to have jurisdiction over every puddle on every farm in every state,” said Cramer. “It is overregulation at its worst, placing an undue burden on every producer and landowner in North Dakota.”

Cramer said the federal government should be supporting the nation’s farmers, including those in North Dakota.  “Our farmers and ranchers feed the world and care deeply about their land. They do not need heavy-handed regulations to keep them from being competitive or profitable.”