This vote was on the confirmation of President Reagan's nominee -- Robert K. Dawson -- to be Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Civil Works. The Corps of Engineers, along with EPA, is responsible for enforcing wetlands protection measures under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.

Many national environmental groups took the unusual position of opposing Dawson's confirmation on the grounds that, as acting Corps chief since May 1984, he had failed to adequately regulate development activities in the nation's wetlands. Senators Chafee (R-RI), Stafford (R-VT), and Mitchell (D-ME) led the opposition to Dawson's confirmation, charging that Dawson was unwilling to implement the law as Congress intended.

Dawson confirmed 60-34; December 3, 1985. NO is the pro-environmental vote. Dawson received the most "no" votes cast for a Reagan nominee to an agency with jurisdiction over our natural resources. Even the controversial former Interior Secretary James Watt received only 12 votes against his nomination.