Lois Capps: “I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, this is a straightforward amendment that is overwhelmingly…”

“I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, this is a straightforward amendment that is overwhelmingly supported by my constituents, and I hope we can all agree to it. The amendment strikes a harmful and unnecessary provision in the bill that actually mandates new drilling in the sensitive waters off Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties in my district. Whatever the reasons behind this provision, the fact remains that the people most affected--my constituents--don't want new drilling. My colleagues have heard me before invoke Santa Barbara's devastating 1969 oil spill, and that's because it galvanized central coast residents and actually the entire State of California against more offshore drilling. We were outraged by the damage to the environment, wildlife, and our economy. We understood the havoc that similar blowouts could wreak on our economy, especially our tourism and our fishing industries. That's why California permanently banned new oil and gas leasing in State waters in 1994. It's why some 24 city and county governments, including both Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, have passed measures banning or requiring voter approval before any new onshore facilities to support offshore drilling can be built. And it's why in 2008, then-Republican Governor Schwarzenegger told President Bush and Congress to oppose new drilling off the west coast. Even the Pentagon has expressed concerns with new drilling in the area. Mr.…”