Senator John McCain Votes to Override Veto of Resolution Scaling Back Presidential Water Grab

Statement

U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) voted today to advance an override of President Obama's veto of the Senate-passed resolution of disapproval of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) so-called "Clean Water Rule," which would stop the EPA from expanding its control of land and waterways in the United States under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, commonly known as WOTUS. Senator McCain is an original cosponsor of this resolution, which was introduced by Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) in September, passed the Senate in November, and was recently vetoed by the president.

"Last year, the United States Senate stood up for farmers, ranchers, manufacturers and small businesses in Arizona and across the country by sending a repeal of the EPA's so-called "Clean Water Rule' President Obama's desk," said Senator McCain. "This unprecedented water-grab will only serve to expand the EPA's control over roughly 60 percent of all waterbodies and is estimated to cost states, local governments, and private entities approximately $460 million annually through added regulatory compliance costs. While Senate Democrats once again sided with the president and his regulatory agenda today by blocking our veto override, Republicans in Congress are committed to using every tool we have to fight this executive overreach and protect the American people."

Senator McCain recently sent a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy expressing concern about the damage that the Clean Water Rule is doing to the State of Arizona, and questioning whether the agency considered how the rule would impact local economies before implementing it. In addition, the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works approved the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, a bill introduced by Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) and cosponsored by Senators McCain and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) that would prevent the EPA from using its Clean Water Rule as a tool to control land or isolated water. Senators McCain and Flake's recent op-ed in The Arizona Republic also highlights the potentially devastating effects of this rule and other Obama Administration regulations on Arizona businesses and landowners.

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