Jimmy Panetta: “My amendment to H.R. 21 would exclude the central California planning area from being leased for oil and natural gas…”

“My amendment to H.R. 21 would exclude the central California planning area from being leased for oil and natural gas production. The central California planning area extends from Mendocino County to Monterey County and goes out about 400 miles off the coast of California. Although much of this area is already protected by national marine sanctuaries, my amendment, if attached to H.R. 21, would bolster those protections from oil and gas drilling and stretch them further from our coastline. Having been raised there, raising my children there, and now as the Representative for the central coast of California, I know firsthand how important our oceans and our coastlines are for our environment, for our economy, for our small businesses, for our communities, and, yes, for our future. That is why I stand here on the shoulders of so many people who have done so many things to ensure the protection of our pristine coastline in California. From utilizing zoning laws to limiting onshore infrastructure and the designation of national marine sanctuaries, we have fought and will continue to fight to ensure that oil drilling does not happen off our California coast. That is why this amendment is so important to me and to my constituents. Of course, my constituents are concerned with high gas prices, especially when there is an international conflict that causes gas prices to go through the roof.…”