When Will Americans Learn

Floor Speech

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Ms. DEAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1941, H.R. 1146, and H.R. 205, three bills which will prevent oil and gas leasing on our Outer Continental Shelf, in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and near Florida's Gulf Coast.

In 1969, America suffered a disastrous oil spill off Santa Barbara. Two decades later, Exxon Valdez devastated Prince William Sound. In 2010, Deepwater Horizon ravaged the Gulf of Mexico.

When will we learn? How much more of our coastline will have to be ruined? How many more local economies will be shattered? How many more lives will be lost?

Republican and Democratic officials oppose the administration's expanded drilling plans. They know the health, environmental, and economic costs of oil spills and that those accidents occur thousands of times each year. There is no reason to take such risks, especially when we have cleaner, safer ways of producing the energy we need.

I applaud Representatives Cunningham, Huffman, and Rooney for offering this legislation to protect our planet and in the spirit of Pennsylvania's Constitution, which guarantees the people the right to clean air, clean water, and the preservation of our natural aesthetic.

I urge Members to support these bills. And I, too, say God bless America this day and all days.

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