WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., a member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today made the following statement in response to President Trump’s executive order to review the Obama Administration’s “Waters of the United States” rule. The rule gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers broad authority to regulate streams, ditches, ponds, wetlands, and other non-navigable waters.

“This is a major win for Mississippi’s farmers, ranchers, private property owners, small businesses, and local municipalities – and a step to restore authority where it belongs, with the states and with the people,” Wicker said. “The rule was a bureaucratic intrusion into Americans’ lives, hurting economic growth. Instead of bringing about environmental benefits, it has prompted nearly two years of litigation and job-killing regulatory uncertainty. President Trump is right to seek an end to this Washington power grab.”

Wicker cosponsored legislation to oppose the “Waters of the United States” rule and has worked to challenge it in his capacity on the EPW Committee, which provides oversight of the Army Corps and EPA. The rule could prompt extensive federal overreach in Mississippi, which has 10 major river basins and 86,000 miles of streams.