Congressional Democrats and Republicans are united in their determination to override President George W. Bush's veto of a $23 billion waterways infrastructure and environmental protection bill that passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate with solid veto-proof majorities.

Saying, "This bill lacks fiscal discipline," the president Friday vetoed the Water Resources Development Act, WRDA, which authorizes projects that impact waterborne commerce on the nation's rivers and coasts. WRDA also authorizes critical habitat restoration projects and environmental projects.

This is the first water resources bill passed by Congress since President Bill Clinton signed a water bill into law in 2000.

On September 24, the Senate voted in favor of the WRDA bill by a margin of 81-12. The House approved the bill in August by a vote of 381-40.

In his veto message, President Bush said, "The House of Representatives took a $15 billion bill into negotiations with a $14 billion bill from the Senate and instead of splitting the difference, emerged with a Washington compromise that costs over $23 billion. This is not fiscally responsible, particularly when local communities have been waiting for funding for projects already in the pipeline."