WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King has introduced the Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism (COAST) Anti-Drilling Act to ban offshore oil and gas drilling in Maine waters. The bipartisan, bicameral bill would permanently prohibit the U.S. Department of Interior from issuing leases for the exploration, development, or production of oil and gas in the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida Planning Areas of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.  

The health of the Atlantic ocean is critical to the success of Maine communities. The commercial fishery produces nearly $1 billion annually, and in 2021, tourists – many of whom come to visit the Atlantic coast – brought $7.9 billion to the state. Offshore drilling would jeopardize these key industries.

“Maine’s fisheries and coastal communities rely on a healthy Atlantic ocean to support their livelihoods. Offshore oil drilling would pose an immense threat to this delicate ecosystem and  the economies, people, and environmental surroundings it supports,” Senator King said. “As we respond to global energy crises caused by military conflicts and climate change, we must work together to find practical, fiscally responsible clean energy solutions that can protect Maine communities and the Atlantic ocean.”

Senator King is a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) and a founding member of the Climate Solutions Caucus, and has consistently advocated for policies that protect fisheries and coastal communities from the harmful effects of drilling for oil and gas. He has a strong record of protecting Maine’s environment and natural resources, which advance Maine people’s quality of life and provide a boon to Maine’s tourism industry and economy.

Senator King has also repeatedly spoken out against any drilling off the coast of Maine. After the Interior Department released its proposed plan for offshore drilling during the Trump Administration, he joined with Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) in sending a letter to then-Secretary Ryan Zinke expressing their opposition to the plan. Later that month, he joined the New England Senate colleagues in introducing the New England Coastal Protection Act to bar offshore drilling along the region’s coast. In addition, he spoke against the proposal on the Senate floor in February 2018 and highlighted the threat drilling poses to key sectors of the Maine economy.

Senate co-sponsors on this legislation include Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Diane Feinstein (D-Calif), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren. (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).

The full list of House co-sponsors includes Representatives Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.-07), Gerald Connolly (D-Va.-11), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.-14), Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.-09), Jimmy Panetta D-Calif.-19), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine-01), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01), Bobby Scott (D-Va.-03), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.-12), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.-12), Deborah Ross (D-N.C.-02), Ed Case (D-Hawaii-01), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.-03), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.-12), Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.-02), Donald Payne (D-N.J.-10), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02), David Cicilline (D-R.I.-01), Andy Kim (D-N.J.-02), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.-03), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.-At-Large), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii-02), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.-01), Tom Kean, Jr. (R-N.J.-07), Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.-05), Katie Porter (D-Calif.-47), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.-30), Donald Norcross (D-N.J.-01), Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.-06), and Rob Menendez (D-N.J.-08)

For more information on the bill, click here.