The U.S. Supreme Court is set to consider federal water regulation laws. (Photo courtesy of Iowa DNR)
Katie Akin with the Iowa Capital Dispatch authored this report. It first appeared here in the ICD.
WASHINGTON (KELO.com) — Iowa Republicans are again rallying against federal waterway restrictions, voicing their opposition as part of an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case.
While the House and Senate were out of session this week, members of Iowa’s D.C. delegation also sent letters on crime, “junk” health insurance plans and railway delays.
Republican members join amicus brief on WOTUS
All five of Iowa’s Republican delegation members signed onto an amicus brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to limit federal control of waterways.
The case revolves around the definition of “waters of the United States” or WOTUS. Some parts of the Clean Water Act apply only to those bodies of water, but the definition has shifted over the years and across various administrations. Iowa Republicans have called for less restrictive WOTUS rules, arguing a return to Obama-era policy would hurt farmers.
The Supreme Court will consider the WOTUS definition when justices resolve a dispute between Michael and Chantell Sackett and the Environmental Protection Agency. According to SCOUTSblog, the Sacketts wanted to build a home on a plot of land, but the EPA said doing so would violate the Clean Water Act, as there were wetlands on the property.
Republicans nationwide have seized on the case, using it as an opportunity to advocate for limiting federal control of waterways.
“Like the members of Congress that enacted the CWA, [we] support policies that protect the environment while also ensuring that States retain their traditional role as the primary regulators of land and water resources, and that farmers, manufacturers, small business owners, and property owners like the Petitioners in this case can develop and use their land free of over-burdensome, job-killing federal regulations,” the brief reads.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, Sen. Joni Ernst, Rep. Randy Feenstra, Rep. Ashley Hinson and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks all signed on to the amicus brief. Rep. Cindy Axne, the lone Democrat in Iowa’s delegation, did not sign.
The Iowa Farm Bureau also signed on to a different amicus brief, SCOTUSblog reports.
Related: State Auditor Rob Sand released a report this week alleging the Department of Natural Resources has violated the Clean Water Act.
