[PRESS RELEASE] NY/NJ CONGRESSMEN JOIN TOGETHER IN BI-PARTISAN SUPPORT OF A CLEAN OCEAN!

For Immediate Release: July 25, 2012

Press Information:  Lindsay McNamara

communications@cleanoceanaction.org

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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