Morgan supports these industries with his work in Congress and will continue to fight against the discredited Waters of the USA Program.
Continue to fight against the Waters of the USA Program.
Occurrences
Evidence
Morgan is fighting for our farmers in Washington. He is standing up to an overreaching Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies that make it harder for people to work their land and raise their livestock. Agriculture and timber are vital to Southwest Virginia’s economy, and Morgan supports these industries with his work in Congress and will continue to fight against the discredited Waters of the USA Program.
I have always opposed this flawed regulatory approach. As soon as the final Biden rule was published, I co-sponsored House Joint Resolution, H.J.Res.27, to terminate this rule through the Congressional Review Act, which provides a mechanism to overturn regulations.
Vote Question: Passage, Objections of the President To The Contrary Notwithstanding. Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency relating to “Revised Definition of ’Waters of the United States’.” Status: Failed.
On August 29, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of the Army issued a final rule to amend the final “Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the United States’” rule... In addition, the January 2023 Rule, as amended by the conforming rule, is not currently operative in certain states due to litigation...
The EPA says the January 2023 WOTUS rule, as amended, is still being implemented where not enjoined; where enjoined, EPA and the Army are using the pre-2015 regime. The page also says the agencies are seeking targeted public input for any potential future administrative actions to clarify the definition of 'waters of the United States.'
Assessments
The promise was framed as continuing to fight against the Waters of the United States program, not guaranteeing repeal or permanent termination. In the federal House context, Griffith took same-term action consistent with that promise by publicly opposing the Biden WOTUS rule and co-sponsoring H.J.Res.27 under the Congressional Review Act to overturn it. The disapproval effort ultimately failed after the veto override did not pass, and WOTUS remains an active regulatory issue, but the promised conduct was continued opposition and legislative action, which he did deliver.
The promise was framed as continuing to fight against the Waters of the United States program, not necessarily guaranteeing repeal. During the same term, Griffith co-sponsored H.J.Res.27 to terminate the 2023 WOTUS rule under the Congressional Review Act and participated in the House veto-override effort. Although the rule was not fully eliminated and implementation remained contested, those actions satisfy the promised effort to continue opposing the program.