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
2026 NAHB Chairman Bill Owens provides updates on key events for the residential construction industry, including why members should get out to vote this November and why now is a great time to register for the International Builders' Show.
The legal doctrine of "associational standing" continues to face scrutiny across the country, and the latest challenge is now before the Indiana Supreme Court.
Latest Economic News
Wood framing continues to dominate the U.S. single-family home construction market, according to NAHB analysis of 2025 Census Bureau data. In 2025, wood framing accounted for 94% of all completed single-family homes, maintaining its position as the leading construction method.
State labor markets showed mixed results in August, with nonfarm payroll employment increasing in a majority of states. At the same time, construction employment posted a net gain nationally, although employment trends varied across states. The unemployment rate also remained relatively low in several states, while D.C. continued to record the nation’s highest rate.
Single-family housing starts rebounded in August, but production remains down 4.7% year to date as builders contend with rising construction costs, lot and labor shortages, and economic uncertainty.