WASHINGTON, Nov. 17-Associated Builders and Contractors issued the following statement from its Vice President of Government Affairs, Kristen Swearingen, on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers release of a proposed rule that will clarify the definition of "waters of the United States":

"ABC supports the Trump administration's proposed rule to clarify the Clean Water Act's definition of WOTUS. This rule would alleviate the confusion and delays caused by the prior administration's policies, including their failure to fully implement the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency. We welcome the administration's commitment to establishing a clear definition of WOTUS and reasonable boundaries on the scope of federal permitting.

"ABC looks forward to fully reviewing the Trump administration's proposed rule and providing comments to assist the EPA and USACE in our shared goal of ensuring the efficient construction of critical infrastructure projects while maintaining water quality."