July 13, 2026
Ms. Lummis (for herself, Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Lee, and Mr. Ricketts) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify the scope of an exemption from permits for the discharge of dredged or fill material, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Farmers and Ranchers Relief Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Intent of Congress
It is the intent of Congress that, to provide meaningful permitting relief to landowners—
(1)
the exemptions under section 404(f)(1) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344(f)(1)) for certain discharges of dredged or fill material from the prohibition under that Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) of unpermitted discharge of pollutants (commonly referred to as section 404(f) exemptions
) be interpreted liberally; and
(2)
the recapture provision under section 404(f)(2) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. (f)(2)) be interpreted narrowly.
Sec. 3. Clarification of exemption for non-prohibited discharge of dredged or fill material
Section 404(f) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344(f)) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the discharge
and inserting The discharge
; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:
(3) Construction
This subsection shall be construed liberally in favor of not prohibiting, and not requiring a permit under this section for, any discharge of dredged or fill material described in paragraph (1).