Little Apple Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) released the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the case, Sackett v. EPA, which ruled in favor of the Sacketts.

“Today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision is a big win for farmers, ranchers, and producers,” said Rep. Mann. “This unanimous ruling will protect landowners' rights and limit government overreach under President Biden's Waters of the U.S. rule. President Biden vetoed the WOTUS legislation sent to him by Congress last month. Now that both the legislative and judicial branches have spoken clearly on the EPA’s overreaching use of the Clean Water Act, it’s up to the Biden Administration to reverse course on their unconstitutional and misguided rule. Today was a good day for Americans – government shrunk and freedom expanded.”

In 2007, Michael and Chantell Sackett received an administrative compliance order from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to halt construction on their new home as the property contained “wetlands” that EPA considered “navigable waters.” In 2008, the Sacketts sued the EPA under the Administrative Procedure Act. The lower courts held EPA compliance orders were not subject to the APA, but the Supreme Court ruled otherwise.

In 2012, the Sacketts challenged the EPA’s definitions of waters of the U.S., asking the courts to reconsider whether water is under Congress’s commerce clause authority.

Since 2012, presidential administrations have sought to define waters of the U.S., and farmers, ranchers, and producers have operated under at least five definitions of “water” in the last ten years. In January 2023, the Biden Administration published its final WOTUS rule.

Rep. Mann has been fighting against President Biden’s overreaching WOTUS rule since the beginning.

Click here to see Rep. Mann's January 2023 letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding the new WOTUS rule.

On March 9, 2023, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.J. Res 27 by a vote of 227-198. Click here to view Rep. Mann’s remarks on the House Floor in support of the WOTUS Congressional Review Act

On March 29, 2023, the U.S. Senate passed H.J. Res. 27 by a vote of 53-43.

On April 6, President Biden vetoed H.J. Res. 27.

Click here to view Rep. Mann’s remarks on the House Floor on April 18, 2023 during the congressional override of President Biden’s veto of the WOTUS legislation

Today, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Sacketts, sending a clear message to President Biden to withdraw his Administration’s WOTUS rule.

Original source can be found here.