U.S. House Passes Water Rights Protection Act

Representative Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) voted with a bi-partisan majority of 238-174 to pass H.R. 3189: the Water Rights Protection Act. The bill bars federal agencies from demanding that citizens and businesses relinquish their water rights to the U.S. government to be considered for a public lands permit or lease.

Lummis said the unconstitutional practice threatens the water rights of public land permittees like ranchers and ski resorts, while undermining state water law and local conservation efforts.

The bill also protects private entities from being forced to acquire water rights for the federal government instead of themselves.