Members of the Florida congressional delegation continue to line up against drilling off the Sunshine State.
Earlier this month, Politico reported that the U.S. Interior Department is ready to open up the eastern Gulf for drilling after the November elections.
Last week, U.S. Reps. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, D-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney, R-Fla., both of whom are members of the House Oceans Caucus and Everglades Caucus, continued to take aim at drilling.
While he is in the Republican minority, Rooney praised the Democratic-controlled U.S. House for its efforts against drilling.
“The speaker and the House of Representatives have acted decisively to protect Florida; now we need the Senate and the Trump administration to do their part,” Rooney said. “There is no such thing as spill-free offshore drilling, and Florida’s economy and ecology cannot be put at risk, nor can our military preparedness be jeopardized by drilling east of the Military Mission Line (MML). Most projected testing will take place just east of the MML so there is no way to move the line east”
“Protecting our environment is something that unites Floridians of all political stripes. We experienced first-hand the destruction from the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe, and we remember it like it happened yesterday. We need to be doing everything we can to make sure nothing like that happens again. Drilling and spilling are incompatible with Floridians’ way of life,” Mucarsel-Powell said.
Since Politico reported on plans for drilling, members of the Florida delegation, including U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and House members have stressed their opposition to drilling.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
