November Headlines for Capital Hill

SENATE TO TAKE UP MEASURES TO REPEAL ‘WOTUS’ RULE

The Senate next week will consider the “Federal Water Quality Protection Act” (S. 1140), sponsored by Sens. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and Joe Donnelley, D-Ind. The NPPC-backed bill would repeal the “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It also would give those agencies specific instructions and a deadline for rewriting the rule, which is supposed to clarify their authority under the Clean Water Act over various waters. That jurisdiction did include “navigable” waters and waters with a significant hydrologic connection to navigable waters, but the rule broadened that to include, among other water bodies, upstream waters and intermittent and ephemeral streams such as the kind farmers use for drainage and irrigation. It also encompasses lands adjacent to such waters. The regulation took effect Aug. 28, but implementation of it recently was halted by a U.S. Court of Appeals until litigation over the rule, including a lawsuit to which NPPC is a party, is concluded. Opponents of S. 1140 are expected to filibuster the bill, so proponents will need 60 votes in favor of cutting off debate and moving to a vote on the legislation. If that “cloture” vote fails, the Senate is expected to take up a resolution of disapproval of the WOTUS rule. NPPC, which strongly opposed the regulation, is asking pork producers to contact their senators to urge them to vote in favor of invoking cloture – should the bill be filibustered – of approving S. 1140 if it goes to a final vote and of passing Senate Joint Resolution 22 if it comes up for a vote. (Click here to send your senators a message urging repeal of the WOTUS rule, or call them through the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121.)

LEGISLATION TO INCREASE TRUCK WEIGHT LIMITS TO BE INTRODUCED

Legislation to increase the allowable weight limit for trucks traveling on Interstate highways is expected to be introduced in the House next week. The “Safe, Flexible and Efficient (SAFE) Trucking Act,” sponsored by Rep. Reid Ribble, R-Wis., would allow states to set weight limits as high as 91,000 pounds for vehicles equipped with an additional (sixth) axle driving on their Interstate highways. For more than 30 years, the federal vehicle weight limit has been 80,000 pounds. About a quarter of U.S. truck shipments hit that limit, meaning trucks have significant space left in their trailers and shippers use more truckloads and fuel and drive more miles than necessary. NPPC supports the measure, which, in addition to allowing more animals be transported per truckload, would improve road safety because of the handling characteristics and improved braking ability of six-axle trucks and allow the U.S. Department of Transportation to require additional safety equipment for such vehicles.

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