OSPIRG and a broad-based coalition blocked a proposal to repeal the 30-year federal moratorium on offshore oil and gas drilling in November 2005.

The moratorium has enjoyed bipartisan, bicoastal support from Congress, but the Bush administration, aided by key congressional allies, pushed to open our coasts.

“Despite this victory, this debate isn’t over. We expect some members of Congress to introduce legislation once again to hand over our coasts to the oil and gas industry.” said Jeremy Wright, OSPIRG’s environmental advocate.

Wright continued, “We are calling on the champions of our coasts, including Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, to do everything that they can to permanently protect the nation’s coasts.”

In February, members of Congress from Florida to New Jersey to California introduced bills that would protect their regions’ coasts from drilling.

“We applaud these champions of the coasts, and urge Congress to pass a bill that will protect the United States’ entire coast and the Great Lakes from oil and gas drilling,” said Wright.