NRDC's Updated Tool Reveals Virginia Delegation’s Stances on Offshore Drilling
WASHINGTON – The Natural Resources Defense Council has updated a digital tool to help the public track where governors and members of Congress stand on the Trump administration’s proposal to expose nearly all of our coasts to offshore oil and gas drilling.
The following is a statement from Alexandra Adams, legislative director for the Nature program at the Natural Resources Defense Council:
“The Trump administration has given every break to the oil industry, and all but shut the door to the public in crafting its plan to open nearly all of our coasts to dangerous offshore drilling.
“Virginia’s elected officials should represent the will of people in fighting this plan, and this tool gives people a way to hold the state’s officials accountable. You can look up where Virginia’s leaders stand, and then let others know on social media if they are fighting to protect our coasts or supporting the administration’s plan to open them to the risks of oil and gas drilling.”
Here’s what NRDC’s analysis reveals about the Virginia delegation:
There’s still work to do to solidify opposition to Trump’s plan: More than half of the Virginia delegation has called upon the Trump administration to reverse course and protect its shores from offshore drilling.
But 2 members of Congress continue to support offshore drilling:
- Representative Rob Wittman
- Representative Morgan Griffith
Representative Jennifer Wexton, joined by Representative Abigail Spanberger and Senator Mark Warner, oppose new offshore drilling only at the state level, leaving Virginia’s coast vulnerable to oil spills and the harms of climate change.
The following lawmakers oppose all new offshore drilling:
- Senator Tim Kaine
- Representative Elaine Luria
- Representative Tim Scott
- Representative Donald McEachin
- Representative Don Beyer
- Representative Gerry Connolly
Click on NRDC’s digital tool, “Where Do Your Elected Officials Stand on Offshore Drilling?” to see where members of Virginia’s delegation and other leaders across the nation stand on offshore drilling.
For more on the topic, here is a blog by NRDC’s Alexandra Adams.
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The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.