For Immediate Release: July 25, 2012
Press Information: Lindsay McNamara
For Policy Questions: Cindy Zipf (732) 996-4613 or
Sean Dixon (732) 872-0111
NY/NJ CONGRESSMEN JOIN TOGETHER IN
BI-PARTISAN
SUPPORT OF A CLEAN OCEAN!
Ocean defenders say “NO” to expanded
offshore oil drilling and fight to protect clean ocean economies.
Sandy Hook, NJ--This afternoon, the New Jersey Congressional delegation voted
nearly unanimously in bi-partisan support for the ocean by saying “NO” to HR
6082, the latest attempt to bring Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling to the Atlantic
Ocean. Unfortunately, despite New Jersey’s strong bipartisan opposition,
and the support of New York’s coastal Congressional Democrats, the bill
ultimately passed by a margin of 253 – 170.
New Jersey Republicans LoBiondo (R-2nd), Runyan (R-3rd),
Smith (R-4th), Lance (R-7th), and Frelinghuysen (R-11th) joined with New Jersey
Democrats Andrews (D-1st), Pallone (D-6th), Pascrell (D-8th), Rothman (D-9th),
Holt (D- 12th), and Sires (D-13th), and coastal New York Democrats Bishop
(D-1st), Israel (D-2nd), McCarthy (D-4th), and Nadler (D-8th) in voting against
this bill that could bring oil and gas rigs to the greater Mid-Atlantic Ocean
within the year.
The five New Jersey Republicans voting no to HR 6082 were
only joined by 4 other members of the Republican caucus – making the NY/NJ
delegation the fiercest bi-partisan group defending clean ocean economies.
“The bipartisan support for the ocean by the NY and NJ
Congressmen today affirmed the region’s longstanding leadership and bi-partisan
commitment to our clean ocean economies,” said Cindy Zipf, Executive Director
of Clean Ocean Action. “We are extremely proud that our leaders put politics in
the back seat, instead choosing to protect our fisheries, coastal businesses,
and our Atlantic Ocean.”
“All along the New Jersey and Long Island coastlines, our
Representatives have heard the voices of coastal citizens and businesses,”
noted Clean Ocean Action attorney Sean Dixon; “bringing oil and gas drilling to
the Atlantic Ocean would risk the ruin of our billion-dollar commercial and recreational
fisheries, our billion-dollar tourism and recreation industries, and our
priceless history of ocean stewardship.”
This vote, the fifth or sixth vote by the House of
Representatives trying to open a majority of the nation’s oceans (including the
Atlantic Ocean) to offshore energy production, will not likely be passed by the
Senate, and if it was, President Obama has promised a veto.
This summer, Clean Ocean Action will be holding a “Tour for
the Shore” – travelling from Cape May Point, NJ on August 10th to Montauk
Point, NY on the 24th, holding rallies and meet-ups in each of these
Congressional districts to thank these Representatives for their commitment to
the ocean and to call for the establishment of the nation’s first Clean Ocean
Zone (www.cleanoceanzone.org).
For more on the Tour for the Shore, see cleanocean.wordpress.com/tour
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