End New Offshore Oil Drilling, Protect Our Climate Future

“I can guarantee you if I am president, there will be no offshore drilling. And I’d extend the moratorium, and I think it should be, basically, a permanent moratorium.”

President Biden pledged to end new drilling. We’re counting on President Biden to fulfill his promise.

Permanent offshore drilling protections for unleased federal waters could prevent over 19 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions as well as more than $720 billion in damages to people, property, and the environment. 19 billion tons is the equivalent of taking every car in the nation off the road for 15 years — or nearly three times the total annual emissions in the U.S.

Offshore drilling is fueling our ever-worsening climate crisis and threatens the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans who rely on a clean, healthy ocean. That is why support for protecting our coasts from new offshore drilling is so widespread and bipartisan, including:

Nearly every East and West Coast governor;
More than 390 coastal municipalities;
Over 2,300 local, state, and federal bipartisan officials;
East and West Coast alliances representing over 55,000 businesses; and
The Pacific, New England, South Atlantic, and Mid-Atlantic fishery management councils, and several commercial and recreational fishing interests.

The Coalition behind ending new offshore drilling is bipartisan, diverse, and strong.

Bipartisan Congressional Opposition to Expanded Offshore Drilling

53 U.S. Representatives: Led by Representatives Frank Pallone, Salud Carbajal, Jared Huffman, Alan Lowenthal, Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Donald McEachin, a letter was sent to President Biden applauding his Executive Order pausing new leasing for offshore oil and gas drilling on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio: Sent a letter to the Interior Department urging that Florida be excluded from drilling plans.
17 Senators: Led by Senator Menendez (D-NJ), a letter was sent to the Interior Department asking for the removal of their states
Florida delegation: The entire Florida delegation, led by Rep. Kathy Castor and Rep. Francis Rooney sent a bipartisan letter to the Interior Department asking for the removal of Florida
23 Senators: Led by Senator Markey (D-MA), a letter was sent to the Interior and Commerce Departments opposing seismic airgun blasting
93 U.S. Representatives: Led by Congressman Rutherford (R-FL), a bipartisan letter was sent to the Interior and Commerce Departments opposing seismic airgun blasting
Florida Delegation: Reps. Crist (D-FL-13) and Buchanan (R-FL-16) led a delegation of 19 other Florida House Representatives in a bipartisan letter to the Interior Department
Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner: Sent letter to Department of Defense on the potential harm that BOEM’s Draft Proposed Program’s five-year plan could cause economically and to regional military assets
East Coast Republicans: Sent letter to the Interior Department opposing the inclusion of the Atlantic Ocean and Eastern Gulf of Mexico in the Draft Proposed Program
Maryland Delegation led by Senator Cardin: Sent a bipartisan letter to the Interior Department strongly opposing the Draft Proposed Program
New York Congressional delegation: Sent letter to the Interior Department requesting New York State be exempt from the Draft Proposed Program
U.S. Congressman Rutherford (R-FL): Sent letter to BOEM requesting an extension for the Draft Proposed Program public comment period and more hearings in Florida
U.S. Senator Cantwell (D-WA) and Pacific Northwest delegation: Sent letter to the Interior Department urging the removal of Washington/Oregon planning areas from the Draft Proposed Program
Rhode Island Congressional delegation: Sent letter to BOEM urging him to remove RI from the Draft Proposed Program
U.S. Representative Jones (R-NC): Sent letter to the Interior Department urging public hearings in Dare County, NC for the Draft Proposed Program
California Congressional delegation: Sent letter to the Interior Department urging public hearings in Northern and Southern California coastal areas for the Draft Proposed Program
Florida Congressional delegation: Sent letter to the Interior Department reiterating strong opposition to offshore drilling in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico
Maryland House Democrats: Sent letter to Maryland Governor Hogan urging him to ask the Interior Department to remove MD from the Draft Proposed Program
Florida Congressional delegation: Sent letter to Defense Secretary Mattis urging him to weigh in on the Draft Proposed Program to protect military interests in region
Senators Warner (D-VA) and Kaine (D-VA): Sent letter to the Interior Department urging public hearings in coastal VA for the Draft Proposed Program
U.S. Representatives Reichert (R-WA) and Herrera-Beutler (R-WA): Sent letter to the Interior Department urging the removal of WA from the Draft Proposed Program
U.S. Senator Nelson (D-FL): Sent letter to the Interior Department opposing the Draft Proposed Program
More than 150 House Democrats led by U.S. Representative Pallone (D-NJ): Sent letter to the Interior Department urging him to remove the Atlantic, Arctic, Pacific and Eastern Gulf of Mexico planning areas from the Draft Proposed Program
U.S. Senator Reed and 21 other Senate Democrats: Sent letter to the Interior Department urging the removal of their coastal states from the Draft Proposed Program
New Jersey Congressional delegation: Sent letter to the Interior urging public hearings in coastal towns during the Draft Proposed Program
New Hampshire Congressional delegation: Sent letter the Interior Department opposing the Draft Proposed Program
Massachusetts Congressional delegation: Sent letter to MA Governor Baker urging him to formally oppose the Draft Proposed Program
New Jersey Congressional delegation: Sent letter to the Interior Department opposing the Draft Proposed Program
36 Senate Democrats led by U.S. Senator Merkley (D-OR): Sent letter to the Interior Department.
U.S. Senators King (I-ME) and Collins (R-ME): Sent letter to the Interior Department urging the removal of ME from the Draft Proposed Program
U.S. Senators Menendez (D-NJ) and Booker (D-NJ) and Representative Pallone (D-NJ): Sent letter to the Interior Department urging the removal of NJ from the Draft Proposed Program
U.S. Representative Rice (R-SC): Sent letter to BOEM
30 U.S. Senators led by Merkley (D-OR) and Markey (D-MA): Sent letter to BOEM
68 U.S. Representatives led by Pallone (D-NJ) and Sanford (R-SC): Sent bipartisan letter to BOEM

Opposition From Municipalities and Counties

The following list shows the geographic diversity of communities opposing offshore drilling and each has passed a formal resolution establishing their position. Click the links for access to their formal resolution.

“I can guarantee you if I am president, there will be no offshore drilling. And I’d extend the moratorium, and I think it should be, basically, a permanent moratorium.”

The Coalition behind ending new offshore drilling is bipartisan, diverse, and strong.

Bipartisan Congressional Opposition to Expanded Offshore Drilling

Opposition From Municipalities and Counties

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