A group of Senate Democrats crossed the aisle Tuesday to blow a hole in former President Joe Biden’s environmental legacy.
The Senate voted 54-44 on a resolution that would undo an Interior Department rule affecting offshore drilling. Democratic Sens. John Hickenlooper of Colorado, Catherine Cortez-Masto of Nevada and Jacky Rosen of Nevada joined all Republicans present to overturn the rule.
It was the Senate’s first action this year under the Congressional Review Act, which allows lawmakers to kill newly-issued rulemakings by simple majority. Leaders are planning another vote Wednesday. The House is also planning to vote this week on two CRA resolutions.
The rule compels oil and gas companies to produce an archaeological study before they’re approved to drill. The regulation aims to protect shipwrecks and other undersea cultural sites from drilling damage.
