The legislation introduced in both the House and Senate is supported by a broad coalition of New England lawmakers, including the other members of Rhode Island’s delegation, U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed.
In an effort to counter President Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Rep. David N. Cicilline both introduced legislation Thursday to prohibit all oil and gas drilling off the New England coast.
The legislation introduced in both the House and Senate is supported by a broad coalition of New England lawmakers, including the other members of Rhode Island’s delegation, U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed.
The federal lawmakers of all five New England states with coastline, including Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, are unanimously sponsoring the legislation in both chambers, according to members of the Rhode Island delegation.
“Rhode Island’s coastline supports good-paying jobs and economic growth in every city and town across our state,” Cicilline said in a news release. “President Trump is putting these jobs and the security of our natural resources in jeopardy.”
On Jan. 4, the U.S. Department of Interior announced plans to significantly and “responsibly” expand leases for drilling oil and natural gas in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Supporters, including Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, assert that the expansion will develop energy resources offshore and boost the economy.
“This proposed plan shows our commitment to a vibrant offshore energy economy that supports the thousands of men and women working in the offshore energy industry, from supply vessels to rig crews,” Zinke said in a statement.
A joint news release issued by the Rhode Island lawmakers says that Zinke had announced that Florida would be exempt from offshore drilling proposals.
According to the Los Angeles Times, 37 Democratic senators from coastal states, including Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris of California, sent a letter of opposition Tuesday to Zinke.
The lawmakers said they "object to sacrificing public trust, community safety and economic security for the interests of the oil industry," according to the Times.
On Thursday, Both Langevin and Whitehouse referred to the plan as “reckless.”
“Rhode Island is the Ocean State, and we rely on our waters to support tourism, commercial fishing, boating and other industries to drive our economy,” said Langevin. “This Administration is putting the interests of fossil fuel companies ahead of the health and safety of our coastal communities.”
Officials from the federal Bureau of Ocean Management will take input on the plan and answer questions from 3 p.m. to 7 at the Marriott Providence Downtown hotel on Orms Street on Jan. 25.
— mreynold@providencejournal.com
(401) 277-7490
On Twitter: @mrkrynlds