Wednesday afternoon debate revealed that a Republican bill to strengthen states' authority to set their own clean-water standards will be supported by some Democrats, in particular those from mining states.

Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) agreed with Republican arguments that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has hamstrung businesses, in particular coal miners in his home state. Rahall said uncertainty over the EPA's permitting process is the chief cause.

"The result has been the creation of an atmosphere of worry, of distrust and of bitterness," Rahall said. "The agency may claim that it is only following the law, and 'assisting' the states, but the reality is that the agency is strong-arming the states."

The House on Wednesday approved a rule for a bill that would give states more flexibility to set their own clean water rules, even when they are not consistent with mandates from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The House approved the rule for H.R. 2018, the Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act, by a 250-171 vote. Every Republican voted for the rule, along with 12 Democrats.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Wednesday applauded Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) for championing a plan to prevent a government default.

"What Leader McConnell put on the table recognizes that we must … lift the debt ceiling," Pelosi told reporters in the Capitol Wednesday. "So it has that merit, in that it says … we have to pass this."

Pelosi, however, stopped far short of endorsing the proposal, stipulating that she hasn't examined its details.

"I don't really know the particulars or the current state of play of Sen. McConnell's proposal, but I do know that he has recognized that we must lift the debt ceiling," she said.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday both praised and criticized Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-Ky.) proposal to raise the debt ceiling.

“The substantive good news here is that the plan that Mitch McConnell offered, for its faults, makes the likelihood ... of not paying our bills … less likely,” said Schumer, who then criticized the plan as having "a good deal of fault to it."

The Senate voted to open debate on the Veteran Affairs appropriations bill Wednesday in a 89-11 vote.

H.R. 2055, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs (VA) and Related Agencies appropriations bill, increases funding for the VA by 5.8 percent and cuts military construction spending by $2.6 billion to reflect anticipated base closures and realignments.

The 51-49 vote likely spells the end for the resolution to raise taxes on people earning $1 million or more.

Bachmann is introducing a bill that specifies Armed Forces members will be paid if debt ceiling is reached.

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) on Wednesday charged President Obama with using a "scare tactic strategy" by saying he "cannot guarantee" that Social Security checks would go out if no debt-ceiling agreement is reached by Aug. 2.

"Any claim that Social Security checks may not be paid in August has to be from someone who is either very ignorant or very dishonest and trying to scare senior citizens for political gain," Gohmert said. "The Treasury secretary has more than enough money to make the payments.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said he is "heartened" by what he's seen in Mitch McConnell's proposal on raising the debt ceiling.

"I am glad to hear that the Republican leader has come forward with a backstop proposal to address the debt limit," Reid said from the Senate floor.