Information about the vote from special interest groups and other information providers in our Report Cards:
Sierra Club
Destructive Oil and Gas Development off Florida's Coastline.
The House approved an amendment by Rep. Jim Davis (D-FL) and Joe Scarborough (R-FL) to the Department of Interior Appropriations bill that would delay for one year any activities related to oil and gas exploration and development off Florida's coasts.
The Bush Administration is planning to go forward with a lease sale that would allow oil companies to place drilling rigs as close as 17 miles from Pensacola's shoreline. The vast majority of Florida citizens, as well as Florida Governor Jeb Bush (R), oppose the plan.
The Davis-Scarborough amendment to the Department of Interior appropriations bill (H.R. 2217) passed.
League of Conservation Voters
Public Lands & Public Resources - Gulf Drilling.
In early 2001, the Bush administration appeared poised to move forward with a controversial oil and gas leasing program off the east coast of the Gulf of Mexico, known as Lease Sale 181. Environmentalists contended that the routine pollution associated with offshore drilling—not to mention the threat of a deep-water oil spill—could do irreparable damage to Florida’s unique and fragile coastline, the vacation and recreation destination for millions of Americans.
During consideration of H.R. 2217, the Fiscal Year 2002 Interior Appropriations bill, Representatives Jim Davis (D-FL) and Joe Scarborough (R-FL) offered an amendment to delay oil and gas leasing off Florida''s coastline. The House approved the Davis-Scarborough amendment.
Following the House vote, the Interior Department proposed canceling a large part of Lease Sale 181 while still allowing new leases in the eastern Gulf that may further encroach on sensitive shorelines. Their plan would offer new oil and gas leases in a 1.47-million-acre area in the eastern Gulf—scaled back from the 6-million-acre area originally proposed. In July, the Senate voted to table an amendment to prevent any part of Lease Sale 181 from moving forwardThe House-approved amendment was later stripped from the Energy and Water appropriations bill in conference. The House and Senate approved the conference report on November 1, and President Bush signed it on November 12. Thus the President''s compromise plan, which allows some drilling in the eastern Gulf, will go forward.
American Conservative Union
Energy Independence.
Davis (D-FL) amendment to the Interior Appropriations Bill that would prohibit production of oil and gas from a portion of the Gulf of Mexico until after 1 April 2002. This amendment was adopted.U.S. Public Interest Research Group
Environmental Preservation/Oppose Drilling off Florida Coast.
The Florida coastline dominates the geography of the eastern Gulf and is the vacation and recreation destination for millions of Americans. Unfortunately, off-shore oil and gas drilling threatens the precious coastline with routine pollution and increases the risk of a damaging deepwater oil spill. In order to protect the eastern Gulf of Mexico from harmful offshore oil and gas drilling, Reps. Davis (D-FL) and Scarborough (R-FL) offered an amendment during consideration of H.R. 2217, the Interior Appropriations bill. This amendment would delay oil and gas leasing off Florida's sensitive coastline. The House approved the Davis-Scarborough amendment.