Farmer-Informed WOTUS Act of 2023
- Last Action
- 7/28/2023
Actions
- 2023-07-28Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
- 2023-07-27Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2023-07-27Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2023-07-27Introduced in House
- 2023-07-27Introduced in House
CRS Summary
As of 2023-07-27 (00)
Farmer-Informed WOTUS Act of 2023
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish an advisory committee that is representative of the U.S. farming and ranching sectors to make recommendations on the impact of waters of the United States (WOTUS) regulations on U.S. agriculture and environmental protection. (The Clean Water Act [CWA] protects navigable waters, which the statute defines as WOTUS. Because the CWA does not further define this term, the agencies that implement the CWA have defined WOTUS in regulations.)
Specifically, USDA must establish an advisory committee to study and develop recommendations to address matters such as
- the impact of the prior-converted farmland exemption on agricultural operations,
- the impact of WOTUS regulations on secure food supply chains and rural infrastructure, and
- how to develop safe harbor conditions for farmers who observe certain conservation practices.
Federal agencies must provide to the committee any information requested by the committee chair.
The advisory committee terminates 90 days after completing reporting requirements.
Cosponsors (2)
- Tracey Mann (R-KS)
- Erin Houchin (R-IN)
Subjects
- Administrative law and regulatory procedures
- Advisory bodies
- Agricultural conservation and pollution
- Commodities markets
- Congressional oversight
- Department of Agriculture
- Executive agency funding and structure
- Farmland
- Food industry and services
- Food supply, safety, and labeling
- Fruit and vegetables
- Government studies and investigations
- Livestock
- Meat
- Rural conditions and development
- State and local government operations
- Water quality
- Water use and supply
Sourced from Congress.gov (public domain).
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.