FEDERALhearing transcript

Congressional Hearing on the 'Waters of the United States' (WOTUS) Rule

Original title: STAKEHOLDER PERSPECTIVES ON THE IMPACTS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES (WOTUS) RULE

January 1, 2023

WOTUS environmental regulation water resources infrastructure agriculture construction

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The Frame

What this does

This hearing examines the regulatory scope of the , which determines which bodies of water are subject to federal oversight, directly affecting permitting requirements and land-use costs for farmers, developers, and industrial operators.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Farmers

The WOTUS rule determines whether agricultural land features like ponds or ditches are subject to federal water permits.

Home Builders

The scope of the rule impacts the permitting process and costs associated with developing land that may contain regulated wetlands or water features.

Industrial Operators

Companies in sectors like mining or aggregate production must comply with federal water regulations based on the WOTUS definition.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2023.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held a hearing on February 8, 2023, to gather stakeholder perspectives on the Biden Administration's 'Waters of the United States' () rule. The session featured testimony from representatives of the agricultural, construction, and legal sectors regarding the rule's impact on land use and regulatory compliance.

Why It Matters

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the WOTUS rule?

stands for 'Waters of the United States,' a regulatory definition used to determine which streams, wetlands, and other water bodies fall under the of the federal .

Why was this hearing held?

The hearing was held to allow members of Congress to hear from stakeholders—including farmers, home builders, and legal experts—about how the federal definition of 'waters' impacts their operations and regulatory obligations.

Key Facts

The hearing took place on February 8, 2023, before the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
The subject of the hearing was the Biden Administration's 'Waters of the United States' (WOTUS) rule.
The hearing included testimony from five witnesses representing agricultural, construction, and legal perspectives.
The Subcommittee is part of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
The hearing record includes prepared statements from committee members and witnesses, as well as external submissions for the record.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Ongoing Regulatory Volatility

The hearing highlights the recurring nature of WOTUS rule changes across different presidential administrations, indicating a pattern of regulatory instability for stakeholders.

Biden Administration

Connected Entities

personDave Owen“Professor of Law, UC College of Law, San Francisco”Map →

personGrace F. Napolitano“Ranking Member of the Subcommittee”Map →

personDavid Rouzer“Chairman of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment”Map →

personGarrett Hawkins“President of the Missouri Farm Bureau”Map →

personSusan Parker Bodine“Partner at Earth & Water Law LLC”Map →

personAlicia Huey“Chairman of the Board, National Association of Home Builders”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy80
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz20
Current news / social attention level

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