"EACH STATE SHOULD DECIDE IF IT WILL OPT OUT OR ALLOW OFFSHORE DRILLING"

Washington, May 18, 2006 - "I agree that we need to expand domestic production of oil and natural gas, and I believe that each state should decide whether or not to allow offshore drilling in its waters," stated Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL). Stearns voted for an amendment that would remove a provision lifting all moratoria protecting the nation's coast from offshore drilling for natural gas. This provision was included in H.R. 5386, the Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The amendment, offered by Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL), was adopted.

Stearns is leading efforts to give each state the right to protect permanently its shores from offshore development. Last year, Stearns worked with Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA), Chairman of the Resources Committee, and other members on a plan allowing states to prevent offshore drilling. Currently, Stearns is developing legislation with that goal.

In addition, the Interior Department is working on a new 5-year Gulf leasing plan that could lead to new drilling in waters near Florida that currently are protected. Concluded Stearns, "Although there are moratoria approved by Congress preventing the expenditure of federal funds to support development, the one protecting an area just 15 miles off the Alabama-Florida coastal border, near Pensacola, expires in 2007, and the moratorium safeguarding the Eastern Gulf expires in 2012. Today, drilling could occur in the Florida Strait outside of the three-mile limit. We need a stronger, permanent shield for Florida's waters."