Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, before I yield the remaining time to Mr. Rutherford from Jacksonville, I include in the Record this letter from the Florida delegation opposing offshore oil drilling that was sent to Secretary Bernhardt. Congress of the United States, Washington, DC, February 28, 2019. Re Protect Florida's Coasts from Oil and Gas Drilling. David Bernhardt, Acting Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC. Dear Acting Interior Secretary Bernhardt: We write to urge you to protect the coasts of Florida from oil and gas development. As you know, last year, former Interior Secretary Zinke announced that Florida would be exempt from any offshore drilling plans. However, we remain concerned that no formal action has been taken to prohibit drilling off Florida's coasts. Florida's natural resources and economy, as well as the military mission as expressed by the Department of Defense, cannot bear the risk and devastating impacts of offshore drilling. We urge you to take formal action to exempt drilling off Florida's coast from the five year plan for oil and gas lease sales. Florida's economic well-being is dependent upon our state's fragile and treasured coasts. Clean coasts and healthy oceans are the fundamental underpinning of jobs and revenue in our communities. Florida's coastal communities thrive in concert with a healthy marine environment.…”