FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson (Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov)

Rep. Crawford Applauds Supreme Court’s Ruling on WOTUS

5/25/2023

WASHINGTON—Following the United States Supreme Court’s decision in favor of the Sackett’s in the Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) case, Representative Rick Crawford (AR-01) issued the following statement:

“For decades the EPA has expanded its own authority through the Clean Water Act by re-defining Waters of the United States (WOTUS) to include ditches and puddles, inching closer and closer to regulating land rather than water. The Supreme Court’s 9-0 judgment against the EPA today makes clear that EPA’s overreach has been egregious. In fact, the Court notes that the Biden Administration’s position both encroached on states’ regulatory authority and improperly threatened citizens with steep fines and jail time for unknowingly breaking the EPA’s broad and vague standards. It is now time for the Biden Administration to repeal its latest WOTUS rule that is in plain opposition to the Court’s decision and continues the EPA’s efforts to control the private property rights of rural Americans.”

The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision may be found here.  On page six, the decision notes that Alito delivered the opinion, which was joined by Roberts, Thomas, Gorsuch, and Barrett.  

There were three concurring opinions filed.  1) Thomas, joined by Gorsuch, 2) Kagan, joined by Sotomayor and Jackson, and 3) Kavanaugh, joined by Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson.  This was a landmark 9-0 decision against the EPA.