Ag News
North Dakota court halts WOTUS rule; Biden vetoes CRA bill
Posted on Apr 19, 2023 at 0:00 AM
Compiled by Georgia Farm Bureau
On April 12, the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota became the second federal court to stop the 2023 Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule.
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall called the North Dakota ruling a win for farmers. The ruling stops implementation of the rule in 24 states, including Georgia. The first ruling, issued March 19 from a U.S. District Court in Texas, halted the rule in two states.
“This ruling reinforces our belief that the current WOTUS Rule is a clear case of government overreach,” Duvall said. “AFBF proudly stood with the 24 states involved and more than a dozen other organizations in this challenge and in backing the first successful court challenge on behalf of farmers and ranchers who simply want clear rules.”
The 24 states impacted by the April 12 ruling are Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Read the ruling here.
“Here’s the bottom line: clean water is important to all of us and farmers and ranchers certainly share the goal of caring for our natural resources – we depend on them for our livelihoods – all we’re asking for is a sensible rule that farmers can interpret without hiring a team of lawyers,” Duvall said.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden vetoed a bill to overturn the WOTUS Rule on April 6. The U.S. House and Senate each passed the joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act.
Duvall said President Biden let the people down.
“The President’s decision to disregard the bipartisan will of Congress also causes farmers, ranchers and all Americans to doubt his often-repeated commitment to work with Congress when Members come together on a bipartisan basis. They did so and he rejected their will with the stroke of a pen.”
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