Ricketts Praises Trump Administration’s WOTUS Update: “This is What Reining in Overregulation Looks Like”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, praised the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule to modify the definition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act.  The proposed rule aligns with the Supreme Court’s 2023 Sackett v. EPA decision, which struck down the Biden administration’s WOTUS definition.  Ricketts said the following:

“This is what reining in overregulation looks like.  The Obama and Biden administrations tried to illegally increase the EPA’s authority.  The Trump administration is following the law.  This action will deliver clarity and predictability for Nebraska farmers, ranchers, and small business owners.  I applaud President Trump and Administrator Zeldin for delivering on the promise they made to end regulatory overreach.”

Ricketts repeatedly called out the Biden EPA for overstepping its authority in issuing the WOTUS rule.  As Governor, he condemned the rule as “blatant federal overreach.”  He joined a bipartisan majority of Senators in voting to block it.  He condemned the Biden EPA’s revised WOTUS rule following the Supreme Court’s ruling in Sackett.  He also discussed WOTUS with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin at his confirmation hearing in January.