The House of Representatives has fallen short of overriding President Joe Biden’s veto of H.J. Res. 27, a measure that would have overturned the controversial Waters of the United States rule.
A two-thirds majority vote was required to overturn the President’s veto; the measure missed, failing 227 to 196.
I just vetoed a bill that attempted to block our Administration from protecting our nation’s waterways – a resource millions of Americans depend on – from destruction and pollution.
Let me be clear: Every American has a right to clean water.
This veto protects that right. pic.twitter.com/ozfOVu5HEq
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 6, 2023
“The Biden Administration’s waters of the United States rule is one of the most damaging in history, with the potential to devastate production agriculture, derail infrastructure projects, and harm our economy,” said Water Resources and Environmental Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer.
The resolution had originally passed both the House and the Senate with bipartisan support last month. Afterwards, a Texas federal judge issued a preliminary injunction against the Biden administration’s Waters of the U.S. rule, blocking its implementation in Texas and Idaho.
Following suit, a second federal judge blocked the rule in another 24 states saying, “Unfortunately, the Act has also created a litany of chaos and uncertainty around the country.”
“Congress spoke with a loud bipartisan voice and voted against this overreach, but without enough votes from the other side of the aisle to override the President’s veto. We will continue to work to push back against and defang this onerous rule at every available opportunity,” Rouzer said.
The U.S. Supreme Court is still expected to rule on a WOTUS case brought by Idaho couple, Michael and Chantell Sackett, who say the wetlands located on their property should not be considered waters of the United States.
Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson weighed in with a tweet discussing the Biden Administration’s hasty ruling.
The Biden Administration should not have issued their expansive and overreaching rule on WOTUS while a case is currently before the Supreme Court.
I’m glad to see the rule blocked in 26 states while we wait for a decision from SCOTUS.https://t.co/P029EIWVqZ
— Cong. Mike Simpson (@CongMikeSimpson) April 12, 2023
