The House Appropriations Committee voted to block EPA’s proposed “waters of the United States” rule as part of a fiscal 2015 interior and environment spending bill. Members approved the bill on a mostly party-line vote of 29-19. However, even if the bill passes the House it is unlikely to become law, as the Senate has not acted on a single appropriations bill.
According to The Hill, “Republicans have derided the measure as a brazen power grab that could result in the EPA expanding its jurisdiction to ponds, trenches or even dry riverbeds.” The spending bill aims to block recent measures by EPA on both water and air pollution. Virginia Democrat Jim Moran said the two dozen EPA riders on the bill are veto bait.
For an Appropriations Committee statement on the bill and links to the bill text and accompanying report, click here.
