Defeats

Senate Defeats Bill that Would Weaken Protections Against Aquatic Invasive Species

Today, the U.S. Senate defeated S.1129, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2017, based on its inclusion of a provision – the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) - which would have weakened Clean Water Act protections against aquatic invasive species entering the Great Lakes though the ballast water of ships.  The Senate defeated a motion to limit debate on the bill 56-42, needing 60 votes to proceed.