American Beaches at Risk
Last month, public outcry and lack of congressional support thwarted an offshore drilling amendment introduced by Rep. Peterson (R-PA). It also helped to put many members of Congress on both sides of the aisle on the record against drilling off of our sensitive coastline.
This month, the drilling issue is back and previous opponents of offshore drilling are wavering. |
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Congressman Richard Pombo (R-CA) has introduced a bill that would repeal the existing moratorium that protects our coasts and leave Americans no more than 100 miles of protection from offshore drilling, 50 of which would have to be requested and renewed by each state's legislature every five years. This is a dangerous plan that jeopardizes the environment and economies of coastal states like Florida.
The US has about 3% of the world's oil reserves but consumes about 25% of the world's energy. We simply cannot drill our way to energy independence. We should invest more time and money in clean energy solutions like improving energy efficiency and developing alternative energy capacity. This bill provides mechanisms for neither. The only thing it will deliver is an industrialized coastline, polluted beaches, and grave risks to birds and coastal habitats.
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HOW YOU CAN HELP
Rep. Pombo's H.R. 4761 is scheduled for a vote this week and several of Florida's representatives are faltering in their resolve to protect our coastline from drilling. Ask your Representative today to defend the existing moratorium protecting our coastlines and vote against H.R. 4761.
(1) Use our email function to urge your Representative to vote against H.R. 4761
(2) Call your Representative through the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Look up your Representative here. |
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Please defend our coastline and oppose HR 4761
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
As a constituent concerned with conservation, I am dismayed to learn that the House of Representatives is considering legislation that could open America's coasts to oil drilling as well as drilling for natural gas. I urge you to oppose H.R. 4761, and preserve our beaches and coastal environment for future generations of Americans.
H.R. 4761, introduced by Congressman Richard Pombo (R-CA) removes the long-standing moratorium on coastal oil and gas drilling. This short-sighted policy threatens the environmental and economic well-being of our coastlines and coastal communities from Maine to Florida, and Washington to California.
We do not need to sacrifice clean beaches and put at risk coastal economies when cheaper, quicker, and safer solutions to our energy problems are available.
The U.S. has only 3 percent of the world?s oil but consumes 25 percent of the world's energy. We simply cannot drill our way to energy independence. We must decrease our energy dependence by using American know-how to make our cars, homes, and appliances more energy efficient and making our cars go further on a gallon of gas.
Please resist efforts that imperil America's beaches and coastal tourism just to provide a special favor for special interests like big oil and gas companies already rolling in record profits.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
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Campaign Launched:
June 23, 2006
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