‘‘(1) is subject to the jurisdiction of a foreign 
country of concern (as defined in section 9901(7) of 
the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (15 U.S.C. 
4651(7)); or 
‘‘(2) is a subsidiary of an entity that is subject 
to the jurisdiction of a foreign country of concern 
(as so defined). 
‘‘(b) APPLICATION.—This section shall be applied in 
a manner consistent with the obligations of the United 
States under applicable international agreements.’’. 
SEC. 10. IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary of the 
Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, shall begin 
a process to issue guidance on the implementation of the 
final rule published on September 8, 2023, by the Depart-
ment of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Department of De-
fense and the Environmental Protection Agency and titled 
‘‘Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the United States’; Con-
forming’’ (88 Fed. Reg. 61964). 
(b) PUBLIC COMMENT.—In issuing the guidance re-
quired under subsection (a), the Administrator and the 
Secretary shall—
(1) prior to such issuance, solicit comments 
from the public on such guidance; and 
(2) ensure that such comments and any re-
sponses to such comments are made publicly avail-
able. 
(c) COMPLIANCE.—Any guidance issued pursuant to 
this section shall comply with the decision of the Supreme 
Court in Sackett v. EPA, 598 U.S. 651 (2023). 
SEC. 11. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 
Nothing in this Act, including the amendments made 
by this Act, may be construed as affecting the ban on oil 
and gas development in the Great Lakes described in sec-
tion 386 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
15941). 
SEC. 12. REPORT ON CORPS STAFFING NEEDS. 
Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency and the Secretary of the Army, acting 
through the Chief of Engineers, shall submit to Congress 
a report on— 
(1) the staffing needs of the Environmental 
Protection Agency and the Corps of Engineers to 
process applications for, and issue, permits under 
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, based on 
the number of such applications submitted during
the 5-year period preceding such date of enactment; 
and 
(2) the impact that funding for additional full- 
time employees would have on processing timelines 
for such permits. 
SEC. 13. SAVINGS CLAUSE RELATING TO PFAS. 
Nothing in this Act, including the amendments made 
by this Act, shall affect the authority of the Administrator 
of the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct re-
search on perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. 
SEC. 14. APPROVAL OF FLORIDA PERMIT PROGRAM. 
The notice of the Environmental Protection Agency 
approving the State of Florida’s request to carry out a 
permit program for the discharge of dredged or fill mate-
rial pursuant to section 404 of the Federal Water Pollu-
tion Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344), published on Decem-
ber 22, 2020, and titled ‘‘EPA’s Approval of Florida’s 
Clean Water Act Section 404 Assumption Request’’ (85 
Fed. Reg. 83553) shall have the force and effect of law. 
Passed the House of Representatives March 21, 
2024. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7023 
AN ACT 
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act 
to provide regulatory and judicial certainty for 
regulated entities and communities, increase 
transparency, and promote water quality, and for 
other purposes.