[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 98 (Thursday, July 18, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1303]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2003

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. MAXINE WATERS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 17, 2002

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1854) making 
     appropriations for the legislative branch for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 1996, and for other purposes:

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the Capps amendment to 
prohibit the use of funds for new oil drilling on 36 leases off the 
coast of California.
  Oil spills would devastate the sensitive marine environment of 
California's coast. The Santa Barbara oil spill in 1969 dumped over 
four million gallons of oil into the sea, killed thousands of animals, 
blackened beaches and decimated the local marine envirorunent. The 
coast took years to recover.
  California's economy depends upon the health of its coasts. Tourism 
brings in nearly $30 billion a year to our state, and the fishing 
industry is also important to our economy. California cannot afford the 
risks of offshore oil drilling.
  The people of California are strongly opposed to offshore oil 
drilling. Leases off the coasts of Florida, Alaska and North Carolina 
have already been terminated. It is time to terminate the California 
leases as well and respect the will of California's people.
  I urge my colleagues to support the Capps amendment.

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