US Senators have the chance to enact a permanent ban on offshore drilling in nearly all U.S. waters.
The U.S. House of Representatives recently voted to permanently ban offshore drilling in the Pacific, Atlantic, and eastern Gulf of Mexico. Both bills passed and are on their way to the Senate.
If passed, this legislation will be an incredible victory for marine wildlife and ocean ecosystems. Offshore drilling causes habitat destruction, ocean acidification, and oil spills, resulting in immense loss of wildlife and damage to coastal communities.
H.R. 1941, the “Coastal and Marine Economies Protection Act of 2019,” would permanently block offshore oil and gas leasing in the Atlantic Ocean, Straits of Florida and the Pacific Ocean. H.R. 205 would amend the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 to permanently block offshore oil and gas leasing off the Gulf Coast of Florida.
Our diverse marine ecosystems are already imperiled as a result of human-driven climate change. We cannot let the Trump administration continue to expand offshore drilling – to the benefit of the oil industry and huge detriment of wildlife, and indeed all life – and increase the burning of fossil fuels at a time when we need to be curbing use dramatically to slow the climate crisis.
Marine wildlife, including endangered sea turtles, dolphins, whales and sea birds, will continue to be injured and killed senselessly if we don’t put a stop to President Trump’s plans to expand offshore drilling.
Please, urge your Senators to act NOW for marine wildlife … for our irreplaceable oceans … and for our future generations. Tell your Senators to vote YES on H.R. 205 and H.R. 1941, and enact a permanent ban on offshore drilling in nearly all U.S. waters.
