Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008

Floor Speech

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008 -- (House of Representatives - June 26, 2007)

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Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

I rise in opposition to this and any amendment that proposes to lift the moratorium on oil and gas leasing off our coast.

The moratorium has been a bipartisan, multi-State, bicoastal agreement for over 25 years, and as mentioned has been renewed annually since the 1980s.

The north coast of California along my district, and I want to point out that my district has the longest run of coastline, the most miles of coastline of any district in the lower 48 States, I want you to know that people don't want this moratorium lifted. And the businesses that operate up there can't afford to have this moratorium lifted. An oil or a gas spill off my district's coast could devastate one of the most unique marine ecosystems in the world, as well as the economy that depends upon it.

My north coast district is part of an upwelling zone found along the west coast. It's one of only four of these upwelling zones in the entire world. These upwelling zones bring nutrient-rich water to the surface, and they support an incredibly abundant and productive marine life, including fish. The ecosystem also supports some of the largest and the most economic fishing industries in the world. A spill in this area would be absolutely devastating.

The north coast of California also supports a large tourism industry, and that industry is vital to our local economy, our State economy, and it contributes mightily to our national economy. It's dependent upon pristine coves, pristine beaches and spectacular views, all of which would be threatened if this moratorium were to be lifted.

In addition, given the rural and rugged nature of my congressional district, an oil or a gas spill would be disastrous to an even greater extent because of the limited accessibility to get in and clean that up, as well as the limited resources that would be readily available for cleaning up a disaster of this magnitude.

Mr. Chairman, the north coast waters provide economic and biological benefits to our entire country, and they must be protected. Lifting this moratorium, as pointed out by previous speakers, does nothing to lessen our dependency on oil and gas. And more important, it does nothing to increase the research and use of alternative energy sources.

This amendment, and all of the other amendments that are proposing to lift this moratorium, need to be rejected.

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