Pallone, Booker Reintroduce COAST Anti-Drilling Act to Reinforce Permanent Protections Against Offshore Oil Development

Washington, DC - Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. and Senator Cory Booker today reintroduced the Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism (COAST) Anti-Drilling Act, a bill to permanently ban offshore oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic Ocean. The legislation is part of a coordinated push alongside lawmakers across the country to codify President Biden's historic executive action permanently protecting over 600 million acres of ocean from fossil fuel development.

The COAST Anti-Drilling Act would prohibit the Department of the Interior from issuing leases for oil and gas exploration, development, or production in the North, Mid-, and South Atlantic Planning Areas, as well as the Straits of Florida. While President Biden used his lawful authority under Section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to enact these protections in January, lawmakers are reintroducing companion bills to safeguard against attempts to unlawfully overturn these restrictions-particularly in light of President Donald Trump's illegal Executive Orderthat seeks to return the Atlantic Coast to a state vulnerability.

"President Biden permanently protected our coastal waters from dangerous offshore drilling, and our bill ensures that protection stays in place, no matter who sits in the White House," said Congressman Pallone. "Offshore drilling threatens our marine ecosystems, our economy, and the very character of coastal communities like those in New Jersey. Trump has made it very clear he is trying to illegally overturn protections he doesn't like. As environmental groups are filing in court to prevent Trump's executive order from taking effect, we need to lock this in under the law, and that's exactly what this bill does."

"This week marks both Earth Day and the 15^th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster," said Senator Booker. "I'm standing alongside my colleagues in the House and Senate to reaffirm our commitment to protecting our communities and our environment. Offshore drilling endangers our coastal communities - both their lives and their livelihoods - and threatens marine species and ecosystems. The COAST Anti-Drilling Act will ensure that marine seascapes along the Atlantic Coast, and the wildlife, industries, and communities that rely on them, are protected from the dangers of fossil fuel drilling."

New Jersey's economy remains heavily dependent on its coastal resources. Tourism and recreation account for nearly half a million jobs-roughly 10 percent of the Garden State's workforce-and the commercial and recreational fishing industries contribute billions annually. A single oil spill would devastate fragile marine ecosystems and cause catastrophic economic harm to small businesses up and down the coast.

The reintroduction of the COAST Anti-Drilling Act comes as House Republican leadership continues to push for expanded drilling through reconciliation and other legislative means. Despite bipartisan resistance from coastal states, including Republicans from Florida and the Carolinas, Republican leadership has indicated they will attempt to roll back environmental protections through partisan budget bills designed to bypass the Senate filibuster.

Lawmakers from California, Oregon, Florida, and other coastal states are also reintroducing similar bills to codify Biden's executive protections. Together, this coordinated effort reflects the broad, bipartisan support for protecting U.S. coastal waters from oil and gas leasing.

Pallone has led efforts in Congress for over three decades to block offshore drilling. The reintroduction of this bill continues his longstanding fight to keep New Jersey's coastline clean, safe, and oil drilling-free.

"The people of New Jersey want our oceans clean, unpolluted and full of life not oil rigs. Where oil drills, it spills. We need the coast act to protect our ocean future." Tim Dillingham, Executive Director, American Littoral Society

"Now is time to end the looming threat of drilling off the Atlantic Coast forever," said Joseph Gordon, Oceana Campaign Director. "Oceana applauds Congressman Pallone for reintroducing the COAST Anti-Drilling Act, which would enshrine permanent protections from offshore oil and gas drilling from Maine to Florida. Every coastal community deserves a healthy ocean and oil-free beaches. This bill is part of a national movement to safeguard our multi-billion-dollar coastal economy from dirty and dangerous offshore drilling."  

"The COAST Anti-Drilling Act will protect our environment, communities, and economy from the harmful effects of offshore oil and gas development. Offshore drilling is a dirty and damaging practice that threatens our nation's ocean recreation, tourism, and fisheries industries valued at $250 billion annually. The Surfrider Foundation urges members of Congress to support this important legislation to prohibit new offshore drilling in U.S. waters," said Pete Stauffer, Ocean Protection Manager, Surfrider Foundation

"The lingering impacts from the Deepwater Horizon Disaster and the massive damage it caused to the lives and livelihoods in Gulf coast states is a constant reminder of why new offshore oil & gas development is bad for the Atlantic coast and why we need the COAST Anti-Drilling ACT to protect our coast in the future. The Business Alliance for Protecting the Atlantic Coast is pleased to see this forward thinking legislation and the leadership of Representative Pallone in this effort," said Sandra Bundy, Acting President, Business Alliance to Protect the Atlantic

"We thank Congressman Pallone for his constant fight to protect our coast from offshore drilling. President Trump is trying to dismantle critical protections for our public waters, which would cause irreparable damage. The COAST Anti-Drilling Act will help codify protections from offshore drilling into law. The Sierra Club has fought offshore drilling for decades for its harmful pollution to our water and air quality, and threats to coastal communities and economies. In New Jersey, our coastline and continental shelf are invaluable natural resources: environmentally as critical habitat for marine and avian species and as a siting location for clean energy development, economically as a boon to the state's billion-dollar tourism and fishing industries, and culturally as a public recreational treasure," said Anjuli Ramos-Busot Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club

"The New Jersey coast is a treasured natural resource that supports our economy, our communities, and our way of life. We cannot allow reckless oil and gas drilling to jeopardize our environment, our health, and our future," said Ed Potosnak, Executive Director, New Jersey LCV. "While President Biden's Executive Order has provided crucial protection, we must ensure these safeguards are permanent by codifying them into law. The COAST Anti-Drilling Act is a critical step to prevent the oil and gas CEOs and their political allies from reversing progress and putting profits over people. New Jerseyans are standing up to say no to dirty fossil fuels and yes to a clean energy future. There's no doubt we have a tough road ahead when it comes to protecting the environment from extreme MAGA policies, but with champions like Congressman Pallone leading the charge, we will secure lasting protections for our oceans, wildlife, and coastal communities."

"I cannot believe that we are coming up on the 15-year anniversary of Deepwater Horizon and we are talking about drilling off the East Coast. Deepwater Horizon is still causing environmental damage to the Gulf of Mexico. Billions of dollars have been spent and hundreds of thousands of lives have been impacted. If a Deepwater Horizon situation happens off the Atlantic Coast, it will impact tens of millions of people and trillions of dollars. There is a greater population density along the East Coast than the Gulf," said Tom Fote, Legislative Chair of the Jersey Coast Anglers Association

"Human activity already threatens endangered and imperiled species along nearly every part of the Atlantic coast. Oil and gas drilling pose threats that no part of our coasts can afford," said Ben Prater, Southeast program Director for Defenders of Wildlife. "The risks of offshore drilling are undeniable, and the same can be said about the need to protect our coasts. The COAST Anti-Drilling Act is a bipartisan safeguard for coastal and marine wildlife, and for the communities who depend on healthy, resilient beaches and oceans."

"The recent strong permanent ban on offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean and beyond, by President Biden is a cause for celebration. That said, codifying this protection through an act of Congress would establish a bulwark against future efforts to re-open offshore drilling as well as being a vital affirmation of the importance of the ocean. It will also solidify the broad, bipartisan support for the ocean-a resource essential to the health of the ecosystem, we the people, and the region's clean ocean economy. We commend Congressman Pallone for his leadership introducing the bill in the House and urge swift bi-partisan passage," said Cindy Zipf, Executive Director of Clean Ocean Action.