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H.J.Res. 38: Disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of the Interior known as the Stream Protection Rule.

Feb 1, 2017 at 4:50 p.m. ET. On Passage of the Bill in the House.

This was a vote to agree to H.J.Res. 38 (115th) in the House.

H.J.Res. 38, now P.L. 115-5, disapproved of the rule submitted by the Department of Interior known as the Stream Protection Rule.

The new rule attempted to reduce the environmental impact of coal mining.  It established a buffer zone rule blocking mining within 100 feet of streams, and imposed stricter policies that required companies to restore land to pre-mining conditions. The rule also required operators to collect data about the site of any proposed operations, as well as adjacent areas, before beginning mining to establish a baseline for measuring impact of mining activities.  Additionally, the rule adjusted monitoring requirements to allow for the rapid detection and correction of any problems in the quality or quantity of surface and groundwater, and looked to ensure that mine operators and regulatory agencies use the most current science and technology.  These adjustments were made through the alteration of 475 individual regulations enforced through the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act.

The rule, published on December 19, 2016, was in effect from January 19, 2017 until February 16, 2017, when H.J.Res. 38 became P.L. 115-5.

Source: Republican Policy Committee

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Vote Outcome
All Votes R D
Yea 54%
 
 
228
224
 
4
 
Nay 46%
 
 
194
9
 
185
 
Not Voting
 
 
10
6
 
4
 

Passed. Simple Majority Required. Source: house.gov.

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The Speaker of the House is not required to vote in “ordinary legislative proceedings, except when such vote would be decisive.” In practice, this means the Speaker of the House rarely votes and only does so when it is politically useful. When the Speaker declines to vote, he or she is simply omitted from the roll call by the House Clerk. (See House Rules, Rule I(7).)
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