REP LIEU CELEBRATES HOUSE PASSAGE OF OFFSHORE DRILLING BAN

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after the House passed H.R. 1941, the Coastal and Marine Economies Protection Act. This bill, which he cosponsored, prohibits the Department of the Interior from offering any tract for oil and gas leasing or preleasing in the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf planning area or the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf planning area, part of which hugs Rep. Lieu's district.

"My beautiful district spans the coast of Los Angeles. Unfortunately, we know firsthand how terrible offshore drilling can be for our community. In 2015, a pipeline ruptured in Santa Barbara, which spilled 100,000 gallons of oil into the ocean, killed wildlife and forced the closure of beaches in Los Angeles. Our environment and our economy suffered.

Tourism, recreation, and other ocean-related industries flourish in my district because of our clean coasts. I'm proud to cosponsor this bill, which will protect California's coast and hopefully spur efforts to use alternatives to fossil fuels."

On Wednesday, Rep. Lieu delivered remarks on the House floor in support of H.R. 1941. View the speech here.

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