Republicans in both chambers on Thursday introduced a resolution aimed at repealing President Biden’s clean water rule, but it faces long odds, Rachel Frazin reports for the Hill.
The regulation, finalized in December, expands the definition of waterways that the Environmental Protection Agency has authority to regulate, reversing a Trump-era change.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) introduced the resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act, which allows lawmakers to scrap any regulation within 60 legislative days of its finalization by a simple majority vote. Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Sam Graves (R-Mo.) introduced a similar resolution in the House.
Axing the rule “will give every member of Congress the chance to stand with farmers, ranchers, landowners, and builders, and protect future transportation, infrastructure, and energy projects of all kinds in their states,” Capito said in a statement.
However, the move would ultimately require Biden’s approval, which is highly unlikely given the president’s previous enthusiasm for the protections.