Rep. Wasserman Schultz Responds to The President’s Call for Offshore Drilling

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20) released the following statement today regarding proposals to expand drilling off of Florida’s coastline:

“While I appreciate President Obama’s commitment to developing a comprehensive energy policy, I have a long history of opposing expanded drilling for oil and gas off of Florida’s coasts and remain opposed today.   Ecologically, this exploration could threaten Florida’s unique coastal resources, home to 85% of the United States coral reefs.  Economically, it threatens Florida’s $65 billion a year tourism industry which relies on pristine beaches.  And strategically, it could compromise our military’s ability to effectively train in the Eastern Gulf while doing next to nothing to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.  Adding a fraction of a percent to the global oil supply will not lower gas prices and ignores the critical need to develop alternative energy supplies that finally break our addiction to fossil fuels.”