Rep. Stansbury introduces Clean Water Act of 2023

Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) joined several other representatives to introduce the Clean Water Act of 2023 Thursday.

“The legislation undoes the damage from the Supreme Court’s Sackett decision by reinstating the historic and bipartisan, federal-state partnership that has protected our rivers, streams, and wetlands for over 50 years; by establishing a clear, level playing field for businesses and industries to thrive while protecting critical natural resources; and ensuring clean water for families and communities,” Stansbury said.

Ranking member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Rick Larsen (D-WA), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) and 114 House Democrats joined Stansbury to introduce the act.

“New Mexicans know that water is life and that we must protect our clean water,” Stansbury said. “Now, with the recent Sackett Supreme Court decision that undermines our access to clean water, it’s more important than ever that we protect our waterways. That’s why I am proud to be a co-lead of the Clean Water Act to restore critical federal protections. I’m grateful to partner with Ranking Member Larsen, Congressman Beyer and Congresswoman Napolitano to deliver clean water for all.”

In May, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its Sackett v. EPA decision, which significantly narrowed the historic, bipartisan scope of the Clean Water Act. SCOTUS rewrote the tests for determining what rivers, streams and wetlands retain a minimum standard of federal protection and created new criteria — with no precedent in statute or in the decades-long, bipartisan agency interpretation of the Clean Water Act, according to supporters of the new legislation.

The bill would reinstate the historic and bipartisan, federal-state partnership that has protected our waters for more than 50 years, they said.

In July, Larsen and Napolitano joined Democratic colleagues and clean water advocates for a roundtable on: “Murky Waters: Navigating a Post-Sackett World.” During the roundtable, members and experts discussed the potential impacts on water quality, human and environmental health and local economies as a result of the Sackett decision. The roundtable culminated in the report titled “Lessons from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Democratic Roundtable – Murky Waters: Navigating a Post-Sackett World.” The report outlines the real-world impacts of the Sackett decision and identifies critical waterbodies at risk of degradation or destruction. The report also discusses how 50 years of federal clean water investment and progress in reviving local waterbodies could be squandered, even if proactive measures are taken at a state or local level.