Defenders Statement on ‘Restoring Energy Dominance’ Hearing

The House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources today held a hearing taking aim at science and longstanding legal protections for U.S. coastal waters, as Republicans opened discussion on increasing drilling operations in federal waters.  

Defenders of Wildlife released the following statement in response:

“The majority in Congress and the oil industry are dead set on rolling back protections for coastal communities, endangered species and marine mammals even though the United States already produces more energy than any country in history,” said Sierra Weaver, Senior Attorney for Defenders of Wildlife. “Coastal communities know that clean beaches, abundant wildlife and thriving tourist economies are more valuable than lining the oil industry’s pockets.

“We must also remember the Deepwater Horizon disaster, which took lives, closed fishing grounds, wreaked havoc on communities and resulted in catastrophic harm to tens of thousands of whales, dolphins and sea turtles. This year marks the 15th anniversary of that catastrophe — a sobering reminder of the dangers created by such a dramatic increase in energy production. This is no time to double down on dirty offshore drilling.”