WASHINGTON – Rep. Tim Huelskamp (KS-01) joined the House vote recently to overturn a contentious rule from the Environmental Protection Agency that asserts federal authority over small waterways. Huelskamp was a cosponsor of S.J. Res. 22 in the House.
The House passed the resolution 253-166 Wednesday, with 12 Democrats supporting it. The measure is now headed to President Obama’s desk; he has promised to veto it.
Huelskamp will visit Larned at 2 p.m. Thursday for a town hall meeting at the Larned Chamber, 502 Broadway.
For years, Congressman Huelskamp has been fighting this new regulation, an unprecedented effort by the Obama Administration to expand and control over all waters in the United States, well beyond the limits established in law by Congress.
The legislative and judicial branches continue to whittle away at the rule. In 2015, Huelskamp took action to stop implementation and funding of the rule. In November, a federal court issued a stay on nationwide enforcement.
“As a fifth-generation farmer, I personally understand the threat WOTUS poses to our rural way of life,” he said. “As at least one court has decreed, WOTUS is illegal, because it seeks to regulate every road ditch, farm pond, prairie pothole, swimming pool, water tank, and rain puddle in Kansas and elsewhere — despite the clear law otherwise. With passage of our resolution, my colleagues have joined with me on the side of rural Americans to protect us from the EPA’s unprecedented water grab. While President Obama has already threatened to veto our common sense effort, I hope both chambers will stand strong and override his veto.”