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Holding the line on drilling
On May 13, the Senate rejected a "drill anywhere and everywhere" amendment. The vote protects our sensitive coasts, oceans, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Western open spaces and wildlife. Read the release.
What's at stake
Offshore drilling creates a heavy burden on the oceans. Even when there are no large spills, the drilling and production process routinely releases hundreds of thousands of gallons of water and mud tainted with mercury, carcinogens and poisons into fragile ecosystems. And the risk of catastrophic disaster, like the 1969 oil spill that ravaged Santa Barbara, Calif., is always present.
Instead of working to open our coasts to oil and gas drilling, Congress should pursue real solutions to our energy problems, including making our cars and trucks go farther on a gallon of gas and exploring renewable sources for electricity. In Florida, we're spearheading a
statewide grassroots campaign and lobbying effort to win permanent
protection from offshore drilling in Florida, California, Oregon and other states.
