On the recordNovember 3, 2015
Mr. President, I rise today to talk about this ill- conceived and harmful waters of the United States rule--better known as WOTUS--and how its implementation threatens the livelihoods of many of my fellow Iowans. As the Presiding Officer knows, recent court decisions have forced this rule--EPA's latest power grab--to come to a screeching halt across the country because of the likelihood that EPA has overstepped its authority. To be clear, it is not just me saying that; it is the court. As my colleague and friend, the senior Senator from Iowa, Chuck Grassley, often says, Washington is an island surrounded by reality. There is not a more perfect phrase to describe how the events and processes have unfolded surrounding this confusing rule. Only in Washington do unelected bureaucrats take 300 pages to simplify and provide clarity. This rule is so complex and so ambiguous that folks in my State are concerned that any low spot on a farmer's field or a ditch or a puddle after a rainstorm may now fall under the EPA's watch. We all want clean water and clean air. That is not disputable. Time and again, I have emphasized that the air we breathe and the water we drink need to be clean and safe. Statements suggesting otherwise cannot be further from the truth. It is unfortunate that the EPA continues to fuel that line of false attack through their election-style tactics and controversial lobbying efforts on social media. This rule and this debate are not about clean water.…





