U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) released the following statement after the Trump Administration unveiled its dangerous proposal to permit drilling in most U.S. continental shelf waters, including waters off the coast of Florida:

“Offshore drilling is a serious economic and environmental threat to Florida and the Trump Administration is wrong to put our natural environment, economy, jobs and national security at risk,” said U.S. Rep. Castor.  “We are not far removed from the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster that impacted tourism, fishing and the long-term health of our economy and environment.  We must fight back to protect our way of life and, instead, improve Florida’s wellbeing by strengthening and expanding offshore drilling protections.

“Additionally, the military has stated again and again that drilling in the Eastern Gulf is incompatible with the military training and weapons testing that occurs there – important for our national security and for training that helps ensure the safety of our troops.  I am sorely disappointed that the Trump Administration has turned a blind eye to the interests of the Sunshine State, especially at a time when the bipartisan Florida delegation stands against this attack on Florida’s future and our livelihoods and communities across Florida.”

Since the beginning of her service in Congress, U.S. Rep. Castor has been an outspoken opponent of oil drilling off of Florida’s coast.  In 2008, she filed her first version of the Florida Coastal Protection Act to make the ban on oil drilling and leasing activities off Florida’s coast permanent.  Since the 2010 Deepwater Horizon blowout – which saw 215 million gallons of crude oil spill into the Gulf – U.S. Rep. Castor has been a leader on gulf restoration, including creating the Gulf Coast Caucus, introducing the Gulf of Mexico Economic and Environmental Restoration Act and championing the RESTORE Act, which directed 80 percent of the fines and penalties collected under the Clean Water Act directly to the recovery and restoration of the Gulf Coast.  The first bill she introduced this Congress was the bipartisan Florida Coastal Protection Act because she understood the imminent threat the Trump Administration would be to the health of Florida’s coast which directly impacts our local economies and our national security.

“We as a nation cannot forget the lessons learned in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon blowout.  That is why I intend to continue my fight to stop drilling off our coasts and protect what makes Florida special and drives our economy: clean and healthy beaches and a beautiful Tampa Bay,” said U.S. Rep. Castor.

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