Federal Lands and Energy Security Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 1965, the so-called Federal Lands, Jobs, and Energy Security Act. This bill would fundamentally undermine the way our public lands are managed by forcing us to prioritize oil drilling over all other land uses. Current law requires the federal government to manage public lands by taking into account a variety of uses, including recreation, wildlife habitats, and indeed, oil exploration. This bill would throw this successful historical precedent out the window and put the destructive practice of oil drilling at the top of the list. If this would happen in my home state of Florida, we would see devastating effects to the Florida panther--an iconic symbol of our state and also one of the most threatened species in the world. Panthers play a critical role in our ecosystem, but their habitat has been greatly diminished and now there are only 160 panthers. Fortunately, the government recognizes that we need to consider important species like the Florida panther when making land-use decisions. Today's legislation could destroy efforts to protect endangered species like the beloved Florida panther. That's why I urge a ``no'' vote and yield back my time.

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