Sens. Rick Scott, Ashley Moody Introduce Bill to Maintain Military Readiness in the Gulf of America

WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week, U.S. Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody introduced the Protecting Florida's Offshore Military Readiness Act to protect the critical Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range (EGTTR) from interference that could otherwise hamper the U.S. Department of War's (DOW) ability to maintain military readiness in the Gulf of America.

Senator Rick Scott said, "The federal government's first priority is to keep the American people safe. That means our military needs the irreplaceable value that the Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range provides to our warfighters. Protecting the range means protecting America's military readiness. I am glad to have Sen. Moody's support on this bill, and I look forward to working with President Trump and his administration to use every tool we have to deliver more abundant, cheap energy while ensuring our military remains the most lethal fighting force on earth."

Senator Ashley Moody said, "The Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range is a national military asset that can't be replicated anywhere else in the country, and the work done there directly shapes the lethality of our future military. I'm proud to join Senator Scott on the Protecting Florida's Offshore Military Readiness Act to keep the range as exactly what it was intended to be - a testing ground. Protecting Eglin is about our national security, and it's about preserving the Gulf Coast Floridians love."

BACKGROUND:

In an effort to expand American energy dominance and lower the cost of living, the U.S. Department of the Interior has recently been identifying potential lease sales for drilling in areas of the Gulf of America that are currently held in a moratorium from the first Trump administration to keep the EGTTR active.

The EGTTR is a key national security asset that provides the U.S. military with vital air, sea, and joint testing and training capabilities. Unleashing American energy production can be done without compromising this unique military resource. Codifying President Trump's previous protections for the range allows for uninterrupted access for critical operations and ensures America's armed forces remain prepared to respond to emerging threats.

Full text of the bill can be found here.

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