The Clean Water Protection Rule (also known as the Waters of the U.S. rule) is under attack in the U.S. House of Representatives. Please contact your representatives and make your voice heard!

Over the last eight years, there’s been increased controversy and confusion about whether certain wetlands and headwater streams are protected under the Clean Water Act. This has left the fate of millions of miles of headwater streams and millions of acres of wetlands uncertain. This summer and fall, American Whitewater is supporting a proposed rule from the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers that strives to settle this confusion. To learn more about the rule, see American Whitewater's web-post from this spring.

As soon as Tuesday, September 9th, the House will vote on H.R. 5078, which would stop the current rulemaking, and prohibit the EPA and the Corps from developing any future rulemakings or basing implementation of the law on similar rules or guidance. H.R. 5078 also sets up a process designed to fail by requiring the EPA and the Corps to engage in a multi-year process with state and local officials to seek “consensus” about which waters should be protected, potentially allowing any participant in the process veto power over suggested changes.

The proposed rule has come from years of effort, robust scientific research and diverse public input. It will clarify consistent protection to the waterbodies that provide our drinking water, recreation opportunities and important economic benefits. The uncertainty about what waters are protected has gone on long enough, and the public process should play out. H.R. 5078 is bad news for clean water, and if it passes, the limbo will only be guaranteed to continue.

We encourage you to speak up for the Clean Water Act today. You can find out who your Representative is here, and contact them via the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.