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The House is considering three bills this week that would ban drilling offshore and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. On Wednesday, the House approved two of the bills, banning offshore drilling on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts and in the Gulf of Florida. Both passed with some Republican support, particularly from representatives from coastal states whose tourism industries and coastal communities could be threatened by the Trump administration's increased offshore energy development. "If you're looking for bipartisan cooperation in Congress, these offshore drilling bills are a good example," said Alexandra Adams, legislative director for the NRDC's Nature program.
The third bill, which is expected to come up for a vote today, would ban drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge was opened up to drilling in a provision in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and this legislation seeks to repeal that provision from the law to protect one of the most wild and biologically diverse places in the U.S.
Despite bipartisan support, the bills are not expected to succeed in the Senate but are meant to demonstrate that the majority of representatives oppose the Trump administration's rollback of environmental regulations on oil and gas and prioritize the protection of their communities and environment.
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We're striking back this week against the Trump administration and their agenda to drill everywhere, every time, with no exception.”
