The House of Representatives is expected to vote next week on whether to kill the Obama administration’s “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule. In November, the Senate passed a disapproval resolution, by a vote of 53-44, which is short of the two-thirds majority necessary to overturn a certain presidential veto.
Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) has introduced the House version of the disapproval resolution. Smith said he expects the House to approve the resolution by a margin similar to the 261-155 vote last spring by which the chamber passed a bill that would force the administration to replace the rule. That legislation stalled in the Senate when supporters failed to get the 60 votes necessary to overcome a Democratic filibuster.
Despite a certain veto by President Obama, Rep. Smith said that he is “expecting a veto but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do our business in the legislative branch.” Next weeks debate on the resolution,“helps establish the record and bring the issue to the forefront,” Rep. Smith said.
The disapproval resolution, which would simply kill the WOTUS rule, required only a simple majority to pass the Senate.
The WOTUS rule, which took effect in August, is meant o clarify what streams, ponds, wetlands, ditches and other features are regulated under the Clean Water Act. However, courts have blocked the enforcement of the WOTUS rule nationwide while legal challenges are being considered.
