Congress carried polluters’ dirty water today, but ultimately clean water will win

Media Contacts
John Rumpler

Clean Water Director and Senior Attorney, Environment America

Environment America

WASHINGTON, DC. — One day after failing to adopt a similar measure, the U.S. Senate voted this afternoon to reverse the Obama administration’s Clean Water Rule, which restores protections to streams that help provide drinking water for 1 in 3 Americans. Sponsored by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), the measure did not pass with enough votes to override President Obama’s expected veto.

John Rumpler, senior attorney with Environment America, issued the following statement:

“The Clean Water Rule blocks developers, agribusinesses, and coal companies from dumping into our streams and wetlands unheeded, and that’s why they’re fighting it tooth and nail. Today the Senate chose these polluting interests over our rivers, lakes and streams. The public, the science, and the letter of the law all strongly back the Clean Water Rule, and so does President Obama. Today Congress carried polluters’ dirty water, but ultimately clean water will win.”