Kendrick Meek: “I guess I want to quickly say that as someone that is from Florida, that does know something about coastline and…”

“I guess I want to quickly say that as someone that is from Florida, that does know something about coastline and intracoastal and who does know something about the economy that we count on in Florida, we have people who travel throughout this world who come and spend their dollars in this United States because this Congress and the United States of America protected our beaches over the years. Now we know that oil companies are very, very pushy right now, and they want all that they can get right now, in the moment. But, you know, the thing may change respectively in another 2 or 3 months. This wouldn't even be a discussion. {time} 1600 We are in Florida. We are asking for no drilling whatsoever. We are asking for alternative fuels and real investment and making sure that we have flex vehicles, making sure that we can go on ethanol, making sure that we can invest in the heartland and the Midwest versus the Middle East. We are all for energy independence, but I can tell you, not on the backs of our environment, not on the backs of our economy, not on the backs of individuals that have fought before us in this House of making sure that we can at least keep some of our beaches oil free and not have what some would want us to have as it relates to special interests. I respect the Members on the other side of this issue, Mr. Chairman, but I think it is important for us to realize that it is not worth going into these sensitive areas.”