WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) issued the following statement today in response to the president’s veto of a Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule. The rule redefines the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act. The Senate failed to override the veto, which requires 67 votes. 

“I am disappointed, though not surprised, President Obama chose to veto the resolution from Congress to reverse the EPA’s Waters of the U.S. regulation,” Sen. Moran said. “We all share the goal of providing a clean and safe water supply, but there are better ways to do so than forcing unnecessary regulations on our farmers, ranchers, oil and gas producers, and other stakeholders. The rule, which greatly expands EPA’s jurisdiction to regulate private land and water, threatens to harm our economy and cost us jobs. It is clear the Obama Administration intends to disregard any concern or objection that stands in the way of its radical environmental agenda.”

In November 2015, the Senate passed a resolution to stop the rule under the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to reject major new regulations. The House passed the same resolution earlier this month. A two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate is required to override a veto by the president.  

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