[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 106 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 6, ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2005

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                               speech of

                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 28, 2005

  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose the 
offshore drilling provisions included in this bill.
  I am categorically opposed to this bill because of provisions which 
would increase pressure for oil drilling in the protected waters off 
Florida's coast. It would also give billions of dollars in tax breaks 
and other giveaways to traditional fossil-fuel producers.
  Included in this bill is a requirement to conduct an offshore 
inventory of oil and gas reserves. An expensive and environmentally 
damaging inventory in the protected waters of the Gulf is likely to 
increase pressure to lift the drilling moratorium off Florida's coast.
  Another provision is a reduction in royalty payments for deep gas 
wells leased in the Gulf of Mexico. Any giveaway to the oil companies 
to reduce their costs will cause an increase in production. This will 
cause more exploration.
  Florida is a beautiful state with miles of coastline. The Sunshine 
State economy depends heavily on tourism and the environment is the key 
factor in Florida's attractiveness to tourists. The tourism industry 
has an economic impact of $57 billion on Florida's economy. Not 
inconsequential is the 770 miles of gulf coastline and 5,095 of gulf 
tidal shoreline, and the hundreds of miles of beaches.
  Florida's coastline is a treasure not just for Floridians, but all 
Americans and the rest of the world. For years Florida's delegation has 
worked together to protect our coastline and natural resources. Even 
conducting an inventory of resources in the Gulf of Mexico will begin 
to destroy the efforts we have made as a state to preserve our 
sensitive lands. As long as there are rigs in the area, the potential 
for devastation to Florida's beaches persists. Florida's beaches are 
not something we can afford to compromise. This decision goes against 
everything that Floridians have worked for over so many years. 
Certainly, the people of Florida do not support this ill-advised 
decision.
  The impact of offshore drilling threatens irreversible scarring to 
the landscape, affecting thousands of species, each critical to the 
ecosystem. The great weather, pristine beaches, and marine wildlife are 
the number one draws to our fine state. By moving forward with even a 
resources inventory, you risk a multi-billion dollar industry for only 
a few barrels of oil.

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