WASHINGTON, D.C. -Today, January 27th, 2023, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 21, the Strategic Production Response Act. The passage of the bill followed the House’s bipartisan approval of Rep. Nick LaLota’s (NY-01) amendment to H.R. 21. LaLota’s amendment was co-sponsored by Reps. Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), Anthony D’Esposito (NY-04), Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02), Chris Smith (NJ-04), and Tom Kean (NJ-07).
LaLota’s amendment ensures the House’s preference to increase American energy production and decrease reliance on our nation’s adversaries does not override any existing drilling bans in offshore waters from New Jersey to Maine.
To read the full text of the amendment, click HERE. To watch LaLota speak in support of his amendment, click HERE.
“I believe in replenishing the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and ensuring American energy independence but I do not believe we should drill off the coast of Long Island. I am proud that my common sense amendment to protect Long Island’s waters unanimously passed the House with bipartisan support,” said LaLota. “I promised to protect Long Island’s waters which are home to a vibrant ecosystem and are the foundation of an already struggling fishing industry. My amendment is pro-energy, pro-worker, pro-fishing, and pro-Long Island and I thank my colleagues, from both sides of the aisle, for their support.”
“While I believe domestic energy production is essential for both the economic prosperity of the United States as well as our national security interests, I have long opposed offshore drilling off the coast of Long Island,” said Garbarino. “Our waters and beaches are Long Island’s greatest natural resources, and I am committed to keeping them safe for recreation, fishing, and wildlife for generations to come. I voted to protect Long Island’s waters from drilling when I was in the New York State Assembly and, with this amendment, we can ensure that oil and gas leasing in the waters surrounding Long Island continues to be prohibited. I am pleased that Representatives LaLota, D’Esposito, Van Drew, Smith, Kean, and I were able to secure the inclusion of this amendment to H.R. 21 and I thank my colleagues in the House for lending their support to this measure.”
“It is of vital importance that Long Island’s unique aquatic environs are protected from any attempts to ease restrictions on oil and gas drilling in nearby federal waters,” said D’Esposito. “I look forward to working with my congressional colleagues from Long Island as we seek ways to establish American energy independence in a sustainable, environmentally conscious manner that safeguards our community’s shores.”
“Ensuring our strategic petroleum reserve is protected from partisan use is common sense policy,” said Van Drew. “At the same time, I am proud of the work that my colleagues and I accomplished to ensure that no plan resulting from this legislation would allow for offshore drilling off the coast of New Jersey. From the state senate to the United States Congress, I have always vowed to never allow offshore drilling off our coast. Today, I kept that promise.”
“The Strategic Production Response Act (SPRA) will help reestablish America’s energy independence and secure our Strategic Petroleum Reserve to ensure it is not depleted for political purposes,” said Smith. “Fortunately, our amendment as adopted by the House ensures that the SPRA does not jeopardize our longstanding, successful efforts to ban drilling off the Jersey Shore. This critical amendment will safeguard the work we have done to protect our beaches, tourism, marine life, and fishing industry from the threat of disastrous oil spills.”