©2025 League of Conservation Voters
Issues
The Senate considered Chair Sam Graves’ (R-MO) H.J. Res. 27, a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval, which would repeal the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) proposed “Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the United States (WOTUS)’” rule, also known as the Clean Water Restoration Rule. The CRA is an extreme and blunt tool that is being used by anti-environmental members of Congress who want to permanently strip away protections for our environment, communities, wildlife, and natural heritage. This legislation would jeopardize our water resources by invalidating the Biden-Harris administration’s rule to ensure that critical waters, ranging from small streams to rivers to wetlands, are protected from unregulated pollution and destruction when they have important downstream effects on water quality. H.J. Res. 27 would also prevent future administrations from issuing rules that are “substantially the same,” which could undermine future agency action to the benefit of polluters. This attack on our clean water safeguards puts the profits of polluters ahead of the health and safety of our families and communities, especially low-wealth communities and communities of color who are disproportionately impacted by water pollution. On March 29, the Senate approved H.J. Res. 27 by a vote of 53-43. The House approved H.J. Res. 27 on March 9; however, the president vetoed it on April 6, and on April 18, the House failed to override the president’s veto.
©2025 League of Conservation Voters