Federal Regulatory Certainty for Water Act

H.R. 2705, the Federal Regulatory Certainty for Water Act, would narrow the scope of the Clean Water Act by overturning the 2015 "Clean Water Rule" and establishing a stricter definition of protected waters. Under this bill, federal regulations would only apply to "navigable" waters—such as oceans and large rivers—and permanent bodies of water with a continuous surface connection to them.

For citizens, this change would significantly reduce the number of wetlands, ponds, and seasonal streams subject to federal oversight and permitting requirements. While proponents of such measures argue this provides more clarity and autonomy for landowners and farmers, critics note it would remove federal pollution protections for many smaller or temporary water sources that lack a year-round surface flow.