The Senate on Thursday approved a sweeping conservation measure as it tries to reverse years of rollbacks in environmental protection by the administration of outgoing President George W. Bush. On a vote of 73-21, it passed a package of nearly 170 land and water bills and sent it to the House of Representatives, which was expected to give it final approval.
Barack Obama will sign it into law after he is sworn in as president on Tuesday, ensuring the protection of millions of acres of America’s parks, rivers, streams and trails from development. (Read more at Reuters)