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H.R. 4956 118th Congress House

Farmer-Informed WOTUS Act of 2023

Official title: To establish an advisory committee to inform Congress of the impact of Waters of the United States regulations on United States agriculture, and for other purposes.

Introduced: July 27, 2023 Introduced by: Rudy Yakym III Republican · Indiana See on congress.gov
Agriculture and Food Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdvisory bodiesAgricultural conservation and pollutionCommodities markets
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Congressional oversightDepartment of AgricultureExecutive agency funding and structureFarmlandFood industry and servicesFood supply, safety, and labelingFruit and vegetablesGovernment studies and investigationsLivestockMeatRural conditions and developmentState and local government operationsWater qualityWater use and supply
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This bill died when the 118th Congress ended
It never became law before the 118th Congress (2023–2024) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 28, 2023
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Jul 27, 2023
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jul 27, 2023
Introduced in House
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 Latest action July 28, 2023

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Farmer-Informed WOTUS Act of 2023

This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish an advisory committee that is representative of the U.S. farming and ranching sectors to make recommendations on the impact of waters of the United States (WOTUS) regulations on U.S. agriculture and environmental protection. (The Clean Water Act [CWA] protects navigable waters, which the statute defines as WOTUS. Because the CWA does not further define this term, the agencies that implement the CWA have defined WOTUS in regulations.)

Specifically, USDA must establish an advisory committee to study and develop recommendations to address matters such as

  • the impact of the prior-converted farmland exemption on agricultural operations,
  • the impact of WOTUS regulations on secure food supply chains and rural infrastructure, and
  • how to develop safe harbor conditions for farmers who observe certain conservation practices.

Federal agencies must provide to the committee any information requested by the committee chair.

The advisory committee terminates 90 days after completing reporting requirements.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 1023 Identical bill Farmer-Informed WOTUS Act of 2023
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Republican 2
R
Houchin, Erin
Indiana · Sep 14, 2023
 R
Mann, Tracey
Kansas · Jul 27, 2023
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4956: Farmer-Informed WOTUS Act of 2023. 118th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-4956/
MLA
"H.R. 4956: Farmer-Informed WOTUS Act of 2023." 118th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-4956/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4956, 118th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-4956/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4956: Farmer-Informed WOTUS Act of 2023](https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-4956/)
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