|
||
House Passes Rep. Jim Davis’ Amendment to Protect Florida’s Coasts Click here to read the Tampa Tribune's Editorial Click here to read the Orlando Sentinel's Editorial WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the House of Representatives once again called on the Administration to protect Florida’s shores from the hazards of offshore drilling. By a voice vote, the House passed an amendment, offered by Representatives Jim Davis, Jeff Miller (R-FL) and Lois Capps (D-CA), to strike language from H.R. 6, the energy bill, that would undermine the moratoria that has guarded our coasts since 1990. The amendment removes language in the bill which weakens existing Congressional moratoria to protect sensitive coastal and marine areas off Florida, California, Oregon, Washington and east coast states, as well as the Great Lakes. Specifically, the bill called on the Department of Interior to use available technology to inventory all offshore leases, including those under the protection of Congressional moratoria until 2012. This inventory language would have allowed the Department of Interior to begin seismic testing and exploratory drilling right off our coastline - procedures which, at a minimum, would harm Florida’s fragile marine wildlife and contribute to onshore air pollution. "Drilling proponents have used every method possible in their effort to chip away at the laws protecting America’s shores. Today, the House of Representatives stood up and said that we will not compromise our coastal treasures for a short-term oil supply, when what America really needs is an energy bill focusing on long-term solutions to our energy demands," said Congressman Davis. Despite the amendment’s adoption, Energy and Commerce Chairman W.J. Tauzin warned on the House floor that the drilling debate is not over and promised to revisit this issue in future legislation. "Florida’s white sand and sparkling waters are valued not only by Floridians, but also by millions of tourists world wide. In the face of threats to our pristine coastline, Floridians will remain vigilant in protecting our natural treasures." Congressman Davis has also fought to remove language from the energy bill which would weaken states’ ability to fight drilling efforts that threaten their coastal environments. Language in the bill undermines the Coastal Zone Management Act, legislation which is currently being used by legislators in California to beat back harmful drilling projects. Representatives Davis and Capps were denied the opportunity to offer an amendment to strike this language from the bill, but will fight to remove the language during the conference committee consideration of the energy bill. ###
|
||
