The resolution undoing the US Interior Department’s Office of Surface Mining’s Stream Protection Rule, a regulation finalized in December to guard waterways from coal mining waste, was authorized by the Congressional Review Act, a 1996 law seldom used until recently, which allows Congress to end administrative restrictions placed by executive agencies.
The Thursday signing marks the second administrative rule repeal this week, as on Tuesday, Trump repealed a regulation requiring extraction companies to report payments to foreign governments over production activities.
Trump described the stream protection rule as “another terrible job killing rule.”
“This is a major threat to your jobs and we’re going to get rid of this threat,” he said. “We’re going to fight for you.”
President Trump is having so much fun with the coal miners that he almost forgets to sign the bill that saves their industry! #HJRes38 pic.twitter.com/bOw8GtQ5SS
— TrumpSoldier (@DaveNYviii) February 16, 2017
House Joint Resolution 38 was passed in the House by a 228 to 194 vote on February 1, then the next day, the Senate voted 54 to 45, sending the resolution to Trump’s desk.