Coastal and Marine Economies Protection Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman for his work on this and for yielding me the time.

Today I rise in support of the Coastal Marine Economies Protection Act and to defend Maine's coastline for future generations.

This summer, I was blessed to, once again, become a grandmother. With the birth of my new grandson, I am now lucky enough to be the grandmother of four. All four of my grandchildren played in and around the ocean this summer, the Gulf of Maine, just as their parents have done and so many other Mainers do every summer.

The Gulf of Maine is an irreplaceable natural resource that is a draw for millions of tourists each year, and it is critical to the Maine economy. It should not be exploited for oil and drilling.

The climate crisis has already taken a toll on our waters. It has caused ocean acidification and rising sea levels, and the warming of the ocean has put Maine's vibrant fishing industries in peril.

Drilling for fossil fuels in the Gulf of Maine when we should be investing in renewable energy, is like trying to put out a fire by dousing it with kerosene.

I believe it is our duty as elected leaders to leave this Nation better than we found it. That means ensuring we preserve our oceans for our children and our grandchildren, and we fight this climate crisis with all we have got.

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Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join me in supporting H.R. 1941, because sacrificing our coastline to further this Nation's dependence on fossil fuels is nothing short of irresponsible.

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