House approves measures banning drilling off Atlantic and Pacific coasts
The House passed two bills on Wednesday that would ban drilling off the Pacific and Atlantic coasts and Florida's Gulf Coast.
The Florida measure, which was approved by a vote of 248-180, extends a moratorium on drilling that will expire in 2022. The bills now head to the Senate, where Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will likely block any votes on them.
Earlier this year, a judge ruled against President Trump's executive order that would have opened the Arctic up to more oil and gas development; soon after, the Trump administration said it was reevaluating its plan to expand offshore drilling. In coastal states, lawmakers on both side of the aisle oppose expanded drilling, with Rep. Francis Rooney (R-Fla.), a co-sponsor of the Florida bill, saying that drilling off the coast of his state "would create an industrial coastline less appealing to visitors, hinder our military readiness, and adversely affects our environment."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
One adamant opponent of both bills is GOP Rep. Rob Bishop, who represents landlocked Utah. He called the measures "liberal legislation aimed at derailing our domestic energy production and strong economy," and said a Republican bill that would involve more drilling offshore and on federal land "will grow our economy, create more jobs, and give a logical standard of what we should do."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Magazine interactive crossword - April 26, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - April 26, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine solutions - April 26, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - April 26, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - April 26, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - April 26, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Arid Gulf states hit with year's worth of rain
Speed Read The historic flooding in Dubai is tied to climate change
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The growing thirst for camel milk
Under the radar Climate change and health-conscious consumers are pushing demand for nutrient-rich product – and the growth of industrialised farming
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
EPA limits carcinogenic emissions at 218 US plants
Speed Read The new rule aims to reduce cancer-causing air pollution in areas like Louisiana's 'Cancer Alley'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The US's controversial owl-killing plan
Under the Radar The proposal has raised a hoot
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Strong Taiwan earthquake kills 9, injures hundreds
Speed Read At magnitude 7.4, this was Taiwan's biggest earthquake in 25 years
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How billions in taxpayer dollars fuel pollution from plastics
Under the Radar At least 50 plastic plants have been built or expanded in the United States over the last decade
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
EPA sets auto pollution rule that boosts EVs
Speed Read The Biden administration's new rules will push US automakers toward electric vehicles and hybrids
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How climate change is contributing to global unrest
In Depth Some experts argue that global warming can be tied to rising levels of violence around the world
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published