Pallone Champions Bipartisan Amendment to Stop Reckless Offshore Drilling in the North Atlantic Ocean

Washington, DC - Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today spoke on the House Floor in support of his amendment to prohibit Republicans' plan to open up more oil and gas leasing in the North Atlantic. Pallone offered his amendment as a part of the Strategic Production Response Act - House Republicans' legislative attempt to ban the Department of Energy (DOE) from releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) until it expands oil and gas drilling on public lands by the same percentage that it releases oil from the SPR. Republicans defeated the amendment by a vote of 214 to 219.

"Coastal communities depend on a healthy ecosystem to thrive, and an oil spill would threaten the economic vitality of the Jersey shoreline and communities up and down the Atlantic Coast. In my home state of New Jersey, the fishing and recreation industry supports over half a million jobs - jobs that would be put at immediate risk if Republicans open up our oceans to offshore drilling that could drench the Jersey Shore in oil," Pallone said. "Big Oil already controls millions of acres of public lands and waters, and they aren't using most of it. There is simply no reason to put our oceans and coastline at risk for an industry that isn't using what it already has, and which has done nothing but gouge Americans at the pump. I won't stand idly by while Republicans prioritize this giveaway to their Big Oil friends over the jobs and interests of New Jersey communities."

An oil spill along the Atlantic Coast would devastate coastal communities and wildlife habitats. The Jersey Shore is home to over $700 billion in coastal properties, and the tourism industry generates almost half a million jobs - nearly ten percent of the state's entire workforce. New Jersey's commercial fishing industry generates billions annually and supports over 50,000 jobs. New Jersey also has one of the largest saltwater recreational fishing industries in the United States.

Pallone has served as a longtime champion of offshore drilling bans. Last Congress, he introduced the COAST Anti-Drilling Act that would ban offshore drilling in the Atlantic. He also has led the call for a permanent ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling.

Video of Pallone's remarks is available here.