In May, Congress voted to stop the Bush Administration from lifting Clean Water Protections for small streams and wetlands.

For the past two years Congress has repeatedly limited and reversed environmental protections under pressure from big business. But on May 18, in a rare display of environmental stewardship, WISPIRG and our allies were able to break through the influence of industry lobbyists and prevail on the House floor.

The House of Representatives voted to stop a Bush administration water pollution plan, to uphold the protections that communities have against toxic chemicals, and to protect the coasts from oil and gas drilling.

Clean Water Act Defended
When the Bush administration’s EPA introduced the policy of “No Protection,” it signaled a major step backward for the quality of our water. The 2003 policy removed protections from the small streams and wetlands that are the lifeblood of the nation’s diverse water system.

But in a flurry of late-night votes on May 18, the House of Representatives voted to stop the EPA from implementing the “No Protection” policy, effectively protecting 20 million acres of wetland and thousands of miles of streams and rivers.

This show of support came at a critical time when the newly reconfigured Supreme Court backed away from protecting the Clean Water Act.

The Supreme Court handed down a split decision that left the door open for further legal challenges to allow polluters and developers to get around Clean Water Act protections. Some judges went so far as to claim that America’s wetlands and seasonal streams should not receive protection under the Clean Water Act.

The Senate will take on the issue, and WISPIRG and our allies will work to make sure our wetlands and waterways receive the protection they need.

Protecting The Right-To-Know
Environmental advocates worked to create the “Right-To-Know” program, which requires companies to report on toxic chemicals that are released to the environment, and the House voted to uphold these protections.

“The House stood up for the American public and paid notice to the more than 110,000 comments submitted in opposition to EPA’s rollback of the Toxic Release Inventory,” said Environmental Health Advocate Alex Fidis.

Keeping Rigs Off The Coast
Language in the Department of Interior Appropriations Bill would have eliminated the 25-year congressional moratorium against new offshore drilling leases off the shores of 17 states.

Feeling the sting of high gas prices, Congress failed to seek solutions that would provide long-lasting answers to our dependence on fossil fuels. Instead, pro-drilling forces enjoyed an increasingly hospitable climate in Congress.

Working with long-time champions of coastal protections, WISPIRG and our allies were able to line up enough support to amend the appropriations bill and hold drilling proponents at bay.

In the end it was a bi-coastal and bipartisan amendment by Reps. Putnam (Fla.), Davis (Calif.), Young (Fla.), Foley (Fla.) and Capps (Calif.) that saved the day.

A limited amount of coastal drilling was allowed in later legislation. Along with our allies we continue to fight for our coasts.

While May 18 was a victorious day for environmental supporters, there is much still to be done to prevent drilling off our coasts, safeguard our water, and protect our communities from toxic chemicals.