(KLZA)-- National Thank a Farmer Week is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the incredible work that farm families across the country do to keep us fed. That “thank you” should also come with action. We’ve got to have their backs.

Northwest Missouri Congressman Sam Graves of Tarkio says that means we need to be working to help farmers succeed, fix the supply chain problems that have sent seed and fertilizer prices through the roof, lower diesel fuel costs, and get the government out of the way so farmers can do what they do best—grow the food that feeds the world.

Missouri's 6th District Congressman says right now, one of the biggest regulatory challenges on farmers' minds is the Biden Administration's new waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. Graves calls it “another attempt to weaponize the Clean Water Act against farmers, families, and small business owners and says It's wrong.”

The Clean Water Act was meant to stop polluters from dumping chemicals into our rivers, but the Biden EPA wants to rewrite the rules so they can stop farmers from plowing fields and building ponds to ensure our livestock have water. Graves calls that “absolutely ridiculous.” Now, some on the left will tell you that there are exemptions in the rule for farmers, but that's misguided at best, if not downright dishonest.

These aren't just petty fines the government is threatening farmers with, they can quickly add up to millions of dollars. There's even a threat of jail time. That's a long way from the original intent of the Clean Water Act.

That's why last week Graves led the House of Representatives in passing his legislation to reverse President Biden's flawed WOTUS rule in a bipartisan vote. Graves says “farmers feed this country and we have to stand up for farm families. We should offer them our thanks—and we should back up those words of thanks with real actions to defend American agriculture.”