[House Document 118-26]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




118th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 118-26

 
                      VETO MESSAGE ON H.J. RES. 27

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                     THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

                      VETO MESSAGE ON H.J. RES. 27





                 April 10, 2023.--Ordered to be printed
To the House of Representatives:
    I am returning herewith without my approval H.J. Res. 27, a 
resolution that would disapprove the revised definition of 
``Waters of the United States''.
    The 2023 revised definition of ``Waters of the United 
States'' carefully sets the bounds for which bodies of water 
are protected under the Clean Water Act. It provides clear 
rules of the road that will help advance infrastructure 
projects, economic investments, and agricultural activities--
all while protecting water quality and public health.
    The resolution would leave Americans without a clear 
definition of ``Waters of the United States''. The increased 
uncertainty caused by H.J. Res. 27 would threaten economic 
growth, including for agriculture, local economies, and 
downstream communities. Farmers would be left wondering whether 
artificially irrigated areas remain excluded or not. 
Construction crews would be left wondering whether their 
waterfilled gravel pits remain excluded or not. The resolution 
would also negatively affect tens of millions of United States 
households that depend on healthy wetlands and streams.
    Therefore, I am vetoing this resolution.

                                               Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
    The White House, April 6, 2023.