Francis Rooney meets with Interior Secretary Zinke For Discussion of Draft Proposed Offshore Drilling Plan

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On Tuesday, Congressman Francis Rooney met with Department of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and fellow coastal members of Congress, for a discussion of the draft proposed offshore drilling plan.

Congressman Rooney stated, “I would like to thank Secretary Zinke for his attention on offshore drilling – a proposal to drill in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico is wholly incompatible with Florida’s economy and ecology, and I appreciate the opportunity to express my thoughts directly. Making permanent the existing drilling moratorium that is set to expire in 2022 is critical to our unique Florida environment and to our military’s ability to properly train for combat.”

Congressman Rooney has led the fight on protecting Florida’s Gulf Coast:

Background:

  • H.R. 4770, Protecting and Securing Florida’s Coastline Act, amends the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 to permanently extend current moratorium boundaries.
  • Congressman Rooney is also a co-sponsor of two additional bills related to offshore drilling
  • H.R. 2002, Florida Coastal Protection Act – Provides for permanent extension of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico moratorium, straits of Florida planning region, and South Florida planning area.
  • H.R. 2261, Marine Oil Spill Prevention Act – Extends existing Eastern Gulf of Mexico moratorium to 2027 and codifies current drilling regulations.