Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) released the following statement praising the Biden Administration’s move to block all future oil drilling in 625 million acres of U.S. oceans, including along the West Coast.
“As of today, thanks to President Biden, all future offshore drilling has been permanently banned on the West Coast,” said Senator Schiff, “This is the right decision and long overdue. But there’s still much more needed to preserve our coastline and protect our planet for generations to come. We must invest in green energy alternatives and good jobs to accompany them, and ensure that our communities on the front lines of the climate crisis get the support they need. The work is only just beginning, and we’ll fight any and all efforts to undermine this ban by any future administration.”
Background:
In December, Schiff led a letter calling on the President to take action under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) to protect unleased and at-risk areas of the Outer Continental Shelf from fossil fuel development.
In October 2021, Schiff called for a ban on offshore drilling in the aftermath of an Orange County oil spill.
Under the law, OCSLA, which Biden based his action today upon, presidential action is permanent. If future administrations were to attempt to reverse today’s actions, Congress would be required to change the law.
###