Blumenthal, 15 Senators Reintroduce COAST Act in Response to Trump Executive Order to Expand Offshore Drilling

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and 15 Senate cosponsors today reintroduced the Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism (COAST) Anti-Drilling Act that would ban offshore oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic Ocean. Last Friday, President Trump signed an executive order that takes the first steps towards allowing offshore oil and gas drilling along the East Coast.

“The Long Island Sound is a beautiful treasure integral to Connecticut’s history, identity, and economy. We want to see our coastline brimming with swimmers and fishermen—not giant, polluting oil rigs. In the face of efforts by President Trump to benefit Big Oil, this measure would protect waterways like the Sound for future generations,” Sen. Blumenthal said. 

The COAST Act prohibits the U.S. Department of Interior from issuing leases for the exploration, development, or production of oil or gas in the North, Mid-, or South Atlantic Ocean or the Straits of Florida.  This commonsense, anti-pollution legislation would prevent short- and long-term marine and coastal damages, and protect and preserve shore economies.

The bill was led by Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and cosponsored by Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).