Federal Water Quality Protection Act

The Federal Water Quality Protection Act is a Senate bill that was sponsored by Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), along with 26 other Republican senators and 3 Democrat senators. This Senate bill hoped to overturn the Clean Water Rule and also gave the EPA specific instructions with a deadline for writing it in a way that would include fewer waterways and impede less on private and state property rights.

The bill was voted on November 3, 2015, (Yeas to Nays, 57-41) and fell short of the 60 votes needed to end debate on whether to take up [for Senate consideration] the bill. The close vote was mostly along party lines. Joining the Republicans vote to move the bill forward were Democrat Senators Heidi Heitkamp (ND), Joe Manchin (WV), Joe Donnelly (IN), and Claire McCaskill (MO).

The vote occurred despite the White House’s threat earlier in the day to veto the bill. The White House says the Federal Water Quality Protection Act will cause more confusion, uncertainty, and inconsistency in enforcement of the Clean Water Act.

The Republicans attest the Clean Water Rule is an attempt to extend the reach of federal bureaucracy as widely and intrusively as possible.

The Senate is considering taking up legislation proposed by Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) under the Congressional Review Act that only requires a simple majority of senators to pass, and not the 60 votes needed for the failed Barrasso bill.
 
-JMB
 
Sources:
Senate Vote Results
http://thehill.com/
   Democrats buck Obama on water rule, Timothy Cama, 5/8/15
   Bid to block Obama’s water rule falls short, Timothy Cama, 11/3/15