WASHINGTON, DC -- On Tuesday night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1732, a bill sponsored by Rep. Shuster (R-PA) that would require the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw their controversial Waters of the U.S. proposed rule (WOTUS). It is unsure yet when or if that particular bill will be taken up by the Senate because this bill is just one of several pieces of legislation that would restrict or repeal the reach of the proposed rule.
“Without filibuster proof votes there is a high likelihood any legislation passed that restricts or repeals WOTUS will be vetoed by the President,” said Ben Mosely, USA Rice vice president of government affairs. “The upcoming FY 2016 Appropriations Bills will be the best chance of limiting or temporarily de-funding the regulation with less risk of a Presidential veto.”
The EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have indicated that they still plan to release the final rule later this spring or early summer after making a number of revisions to the originally proposed WOTUS rule.