Resolutions Introduced in House and Senate to Overturn Biden WOTUS Rule
Congressional Republicans in the House and Senate today issued resolutions that would overturn the Biden administration’s new “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule that will go into effect on March 20, 2023.
The resolutions were introduced under the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to use expedited procedures to rescind federal regulations.
The resolution was introduced in the House by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and has garnered 151 co-sponsors.
The Senate resolution was introduced by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), the ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. All 49 Republican members of the Senate signed onto the resolution.
No Democrat signed onto either the House or Senate resolution.
The resolutions require a simple majority for approval in both chambers, but President Biden is expected to veto the WOTUS resolution if it comes to his desk.
Latest from NAHBNow
The Northeast Florida Builders Association debuted its new 43,000-square-foot Workforce Education Center and headquarters with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 13.
Michael Fazio, executive director of the New York State Builders Association, told Congress today that energy mandates are driving up construction costs and deepening the housing affordability crisis.
Latest Economic News
U.S. house prices continued to rise in the second quarter of 2026, with most states and metropolitan areas recording annual gains. Elevated borrowing costs and affordability constraints remained important headwinds, while limited housing supply continued to support prices in many markets, particularly across parts of the Midwest and Northeast.
The number of open positions in the construction sector increased in July per the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The current level of open jobs is down from three years ago due to declines in construction activity, particularly in housing.
Home building trends diverged across geographies in the second quarter of 2026. According to the Home Building Geography Index (HBGI), single-family construction declined in nearly all geographic categories, although the contraction eased in most markets from the first quarter.