[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 102 (Wednesday, July 24, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1321]
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. NANCY PELOSI

                             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. 5093) making 
     appropriations for the Department of the Interior and related 
     agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30 2003, and 
     for other purposes;

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Capps-Rahall-
Miller amendment, which would prohibit oil drilling off the coast of 
Califomia in the coming year.
  I commend my colleagues for offering this important amendment, 
particularly Congresswoman Capps, whose vigilance and leadership on 
this issue never flags.
  It is for good reasons that Califomians from all walks of life oppose 
drilling for oil off our coast.
  All it would take is one spill--like the blowout that dumped 4 
million gallons of crude oil in the Santa Barbara Channel in 1969--to 
devastate the marine environment, eliminate tourism along a long 
stretch of our beautiful coast, and destroy commercial and recreational 
fishing for years to come.
  And for what?
  There is little oil available and what is there is of low-quality 
oil.
  It is primarily used to make asphalt.
  So let me see if I've got this right: In exchange for hundreds of 
miles of lovely beaches, thousands of marine mammals, millions of tiny 
sea creatures, and billions of dollars in tourism and fishing revenues, 
we would get--asphalt?!
  Mr. Chairman, this is a bipartisan issue.
  It was President Bush's father, President George H.W. Bush who in 
1990 placed a 10-year moratorium on new oil leases off the California 
coast.
  President Clinton renewed that moratorium in 1998.
  We in California were happy in May for our friends in Florida when 
President Bush announced a buyout of federal oil leases off the coast 
of Florida.
  Now we call on the President to do the same for the 36 oil and gas 
leases threatening California--even though his brother is not the 
Governor of our state.
  I also urge the Bush Administration to drop its opposition to 
California's activities under the Coastal Zone Management Act.
  The Act gives the state the authority to review the potential 
environmental effects of offshore drilling.
  My colleagues, your vote for the Capps-Rahall-Miller amendment is 
your endorsement of termination of the California offshore leases.
  Please vote yes.




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