RSC HEAT Leaders Applaud Ditching of Biden-Era Regulations

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman August Pfluger (TX-11), RSC House Energy Action Team (HEAT) Chairman Troy Balderson (OH-12), and RSC HEAT Vice Chairman Randy Weber (TX-14) praised the Trump Administration for its proposed rules to establish commonsense, predictable, and clear definitions, which will strengthen American energy independence.

The waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, proposed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency, realigns the definition of WOTUS with the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Sackett v. EPA. The definition influences Clean Water Act implementation, affecting permits for the actions of energy producers, landowners, and other American industries. 

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) rules, proposed by the National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, restores proven 2019 and 2020 frameworks under the ESA regarding listing, delisting, critical habitat determinations and exclusions, interagency cooperation, and threatened species protections. 

The Biden-Harris Administration’s radical, expanded definition of WOTUS and frameworks under the ESA stifled American commerce and security. RSC Chairman Pfluger, HEAT Chairman Balderson, and HEAT Vice Chairman Weber signaled their support for the proposed rules, stating it provides the certainty and support industry desperately needs:

“These proposed rules are removing regulatory barriers, put in place by the Biden-Harris Administration, that kneecap economic growth and resource development. We thank President Trump and his Administration for maintaining core conservation commitments while providing the regulatory certainty needed to support our nation’s landowners, energy producers, developers, and entrepreneurs as they strengthen our nation’s economic and competitive posture.”