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Grassley: Congress should cut EPA’s WOTUS funds

Congressional efforts to stop EPA’s Clean Water Rule, formerly known as Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS), will resume next week when lawmakers return from their summer recess.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says their best bet is to use the appropriations process to eliminate funding for EPA’s implementation of the Clean Water Rule.

“Because this is the biggest power grab by any particular government agency that I can remember,” Grassley says, “and it won’t be long that farmers are even going to have to have a permit from the EPA and the Corps of Engineers to even do normal farming. That’s how outrageous it is, from my point of view.”

Grassley says the move to eliminate funding may buy the Senate more time to pass legislation that would force EPA to withdraw the rule and develop a new rule with more input from stakeholders. However, Capitol Hill watchers say it is unlikely the Senate would have enough votes to override a likely presidential veto of that bill.

AUDIO: Excerpts from Grassley’s conference call with ag media 8/31/15