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Md. Members Divide Along Party Lines as House Votes to Ban Offshore Drilling

September 11, 2019

U.S. House lawmakers approved bipartisan legislation Wednesday that would block new offshore drilling off the majority of the U.S. coast – despite pushback from many Republicans. The legislation would put in place far-reaching new protections, blocking drilling off most of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Lawmakers are scheduled to vote Thursday on a similar ban for drilling in the Arctic Ocean. The efforts take aim at the Trump administration's push to open up vast new areas of the U.S. coasts to oil and gas exploration.... "Reckless decisions by the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans to expand offshore drilling along our coastlines pose serious risks to local economies, to public health and to marine ecosystems and wildlife," said Rep. John P. Sarbanes (D-Md.). "In the midst of a global climate crisis, we cannot afford to bow down to dirty polluters."

Issues:Environment