As the new home of Florida PIRG's environmental work,
Environment Florida can be contacted with any questions regarding this news release.
The
U.S. House of Representatives voted to open Florida and the nation’s
coasts to offshore oil and gas drilling. The House passed the Deep
Ocean Energy Resources Act (H.R.4761), which ends the 25 year
bipartisan moratorium that has been the bedrock of Florida’s
protections against offshore drilling.
TALLAHASSEE—Florida Public Interest Research Group (Florida PIRG) Director Mark Ferrulo made the following statement.
"Passage
of the Pombo drilling bill shows the degree to which the people’s House
of Representatives has been hijacked by the oil industry. What makes
this assault on Florida’s coast even more of an outrage is that for the
first time in history, a number of Florida Representatives aided the
effort.
"Allowing
drilling off our shores was wrong for 20 years ago and it’s wrong for
Florida today. If the Pombo Bill becomes law, many of Florida’s most
cherished panhandle beaches would be immediately targeted by oil
companies for exploitation and Florida’s east coast beaches might not
be far behind.
"It’s
clear from today’s debate that Congress’ only answer to higher energy
prices is more drilling while measures to improve efficiency standards
for automobiles, buildings and appliances get lip service.
"Floridians
deserved better out of Energy Week, instead, we got Wasted Energy Week.
The public deserves real solutions that use American technology and
know how to save energy by improving the gas mileage of our cars and
SUVs and developing clean, renewable energy. Congress should stop
wasting energy finding more handouts for Big Oil and start taking
serious steps to make our cars and trucks go farther on a gallon of gas.
"This
was round eight in a ten round fight with the future of Florida’s
environment and economy at stake. The next round will take place in the
Senate where Senators Martinez and Nelson will need to be our champs
and defeat this attack on Florida’s coast.”
