Washington, D.C. – Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) today voted to override President Biden’s veto of bipartisan legislation that would have blocked his Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s overreaching and unclear “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule. 

President Biden’s rule redefining WOTUS under the Clean Water Act expands permitting requirements, broadens the EPA’s jurisdiction by failing to define what waters are covered, and will place the burden on small businesses, farmers, local communities, manufacturers, and private property owners.

“President Biden is using his veto authority to put his radical environmental agenda before the will of the American people by throwing away the work of a bipartisan Congress. He is doubling down on federal overreach without considering the consequences for rural communities in particular,” said Rodgers. “Our economy is struggling under his failed leadership, and expanding the burdensome WOTUS rule will only make things worse. Our farmers need certainty so they can continue to feed the world – not more hoops to jump through so this administration can regulate every mud puddle in America.”

This is the president’s second veto since taking office. The first came last month when he rejected another bipartisan bill that would have prevented retirement plan managers from investing Americans’ hard-earned money into funds that prioritize the administration’s rush-to-green agenda.

While a majority of the House of Representatives supported H.J. Res. 27, the override measure ultimately failed after failing to receive the required two-thirds majority in the chamber.

Timeline of Events:

• January 18, 2023 – The EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published the administration’s long-expected WOTUS rule. 
• March 9, 2023 – The House of Representatives passed a resolution terminating the president’s WOTUS rule.
• March 30, 2023 – The Senate approved the resolution in bipartisan fashion and sent it to the president’s desk.
• April 6, 2023 – President Biden vetoed the bipartisan resolution from Congress to overturn his WOTUS Rule.

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