A majority of Congressional Republicans, including every GOP member in the Senate, signed onto resolutions filed Thursday to nullify the Biden administration's new definition of which streams and wetlands are subject to Clean Water Act regulation.
While President Joe Biden is expected to veto any such resolution that reaches his desk, the move offers the GOP an opportunity to force Democrats to take a stance on a regulation that is wildly unpopular among farmers, ranchers and a broad swath of industry.
The lineup: The Congressional Review Act resolutions to disapprove of the new Waters of the U.S. rule were led by Environment and Public Works Committee Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.) in the Senate and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (Mo.) in the House. One hundred and fifty one House Republicansjoined Graves as original co-sponsors of the House resolution. No Democrats signed onto either resolution.
Why it matters: The 1996 law allows Congress to use expedited procedures, particularly in the Senate, to take federal regulations off the books. In the upper chamber, the resolution can be brought to the floor after 20 days if 30 senators sign onto a written petition. The resolution is then subject to a simple majority vote.
A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the resolution.