WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today criticized the Obama Administration’s proposed expansion of the “Clean Water Act” to redefine the “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule.

“The President’s regulatory expansion would be a disaster for property owners and state and local authorities,” Wicker said.  “Increasing the scope of this rule is inconsistent with Supreme Court rulings and would be unworkable for Americans.  Farmers and ranchers should be able to manage their own ponds, irrigation systems, and ditches without interference from the federal government.”

“Stakeholders throughout the country have submitted nearly one million comments on the rule.  Unfortunately, it is likely that the public’s input will not be considered by the Administration because of its rush to finalize this ill-conceived overreach,” Wicker added.

Wicker has supported multiple efforts in Congress to stop the Administration’s proposed rule from being finalized. He is a cosponsor of the “Protecting Water and Property Rights Act of 2014.”

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a joint House-Senate hearing yesterday on the state and local impacts of the proposed WOTUS changes.