Trump talked about putting American workers first, but Republicans in Congress dropped a "Buy America" provision from the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA) that would have protected American industry and workers.

MADISON - While President-elect Trump campaigned on putting American workers first, Speaker Paul Ryan and House Republicans have a different idea in mind. This week, Speaker Ryan dropped a "Buy America" provision from the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA), a deal which was nearly finalized before Ryan axed the provision that would have protected American industry and workers.

Committee leaders had almost reached a deal on finalizing the WRDA, including the "Buy America" provision in which Sen. Tammy Baldwin was the lead Senate sponsor. Sen. Baldwin's “Buy American” standard would ensure that any water infrastructure projects associated with the WRDA would use American iron and steel. This standard passed the Senate with broad bipartisanship and is supported by the United Steelworkers Union and Wisconsin Manufacturers.

"Speaker Paul Ryan, Rep. Sean Duffy, and House Republicans are selling main street down-stream, and instead, are looking out for their corporate friends and wealthy special interests," Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Martha Laning said on Thursday. "If our new President-elect is truly going to put workers first, he should show it right now, and stand up to House Republicans who have put American jobs and manufacturers in jeopardy."

Path through water source and cultural sites stopped for now.

CANNON BALL, N.D. - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Sunday that it won't grant an easement for the Dakota Access oil pipeline in southern North Dakota.

The decision is a victory for the several thousand camped near the construction site, who've said for months that the four-state, $3.8 billion project would threaten a water source and cultural sites.

The pipeline is largely complete except for the now-blocked segment underneath Lake Oahe, a Missouri River reservoir. According to a news release, Assistant Secretary for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy said her decision was based on the need to "explore alternate routes" for the pipeline's crossing.

"Although we have had continuing discussion and exchanges of new information with the Standing Rock Sioux and Dakota Access, it's clear that there's more work to do," Darcy said. "The best way to complete that work responsibly and expeditiously is to explore alternate routes for the pipeline crossing."

The company constructing the pipeline, Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners, had said it was unwilling to reroute the project. It and the Morton County Sheriff's Office, which has done much of the policing of the protests, didn't have immediate comment.

U.S. Secretary for the Interior Sally Jewell said in a statement that the Corps' "thoughtful approach ... ensures that there will be an in-depth evaluation of alternative routes for the pipeline and a closer look at potential impacts" and "underscores that tribal rights reserved in treaties and federal law, as well as Nation-to-Nation consultation with tribal leaders, are essential components of the analysis to be undertaken in the environmental impact statement going forward."

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