WASHINGTON, DC – November 4, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) released the following statement after the Senate failed to proceed to S. 1140, his bipartisan Federal Water Quality Protection Act.
“A clear bipartisan majority of senators voted today to stop the Environmental Protection Agency’s federal water grab. Regrettably, too many Senate Democrats chose to block this first real opportunity to vote yes to clean water and no to extreme bureaucracy. Instead of standing with America’s farmers, ranchers, small businesses and private-land owners, these senators chose to side with President Obama’s out-of-control EPA.
“While we may have fallen short today, this is not the end of this issue. One way or another, Republicans won’t stop until this rule is withdrawn or the courts ultimately strike it down for good.”
Background on S. 1140:
S. 1140 directs the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers to issue a revised “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule that protects traditional navigable water and wetlands from water pollution, while also protecting farmers, ranchers and private landowners.
Senator Barrasso introduced S. 1140 on April 30, 2015 with Senators Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Joe Manchin (D-WV), among others. S. 1140 has a total of 46 cosponsors, including Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY). The bill passed the Environment and Public Works Committee on June 10, 2015.
