State Legislators Urge EPA and Army Corps of Engineers to Retain Strong Water Protections

Washington, D.C. (December 22, 2025) — Today, more than 100 state legislators from 29 states and territories submitted a bipartisan letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers urging the agencies to reconsider the proposed update to the “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule. 

The proposed update narrows federal Clean Water Act protections by limiting which wetlands and waterways qualify as “Waters of the United States,” potentially leading to the removal of federal protections for more than 80% of wetlands that were once protected. Often referred to as “nature’s kidneys,” wetlands filter water, buffer floods, and support outdoor opportunities — services that bring billions of dollars in savings and revenue.

Spearheaded by Illinois State Representative Sonya Harper, the letter emphasizes that rolling back these protections could jeopardize clean drinking water, increase natural disaster costs, and strip away critical natural infrastructure.

The letter also states that the new rule would shift heavy burdens onto states with fewer resources, leaving them to navigate unclear definitions as well as weakened environmental and health safeguards. The legislators emphasize that from Alaska to Louisiana, communities could face the loss of critical natural infrastructure and clean drinking water, despite broad public support for strong protections.

State legislators conclude the letter by calling on the EPA and Army Corps to retain the current WOTUS definition to meet the needs of communities, ecosystems, and waterways across the United States.

The full letter can be viewed here: https://content.necleaders.org/wp-uploads/2025/12/WOTUS-Sign-on-Letter-1225.pdf

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About NEC: Created by and for state legislators, the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that organizes over 1,300 environmentally-committed state legislators from all 50 states and both parties. NEC provides venues and opportunities for lawmakers to share ideas and collaborate on environmental issues.