SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Monique Limón (D – Santa Barbara) presented Assembly Joint Resolution 29 to oppose the U.S. Department of Interior proposal to expand offshore oil and gas drilling in federal waters, and joined the Sierra Club and other environmental advocates in a rally on the State Capitol steps. The rally was held ahead of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) public comment forum on the Department of Interior proposal, the only forum to be held in California.
“Californians from across the state have gathered here on the steps of the State Capitol to collectively voice their opposition to the expansion of offshore drilling,” said Limón. “The threat and reality of oil spills impact all communities. Our legislature joins this growing multitude of voices in speaking out against the shortsighted expansion of offshore oil off the California coast.”
Representing all three regions of the California coast, Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) with Assemblymembers Todd Gloria (D- San Diego), David Chiu (D-San Francisco) and Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) presented Assembly Joint Resolution 29 on the Assembly Floor condemning the Department of Interior proposal and calling for the Federal government to rescind the proposal. The measure passed off the Assembly Floor with bipartisan support, and now moves to the California State Senate.
A recent Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) study found that an overwhelming 69% of Californians opposed additional offshore drilling, transcending regional differences between coastal and inland regions and demographic categories, including age, education, gender, income and racial/ethnic groups.
According to the National Ocean Economic Program, the California coastal economy employs 15.8 million people, generates approximately $2.1 trillion and creates an estimated 85% of the State Gross Domestic Product.
— Monique Limón represents the 37th Assembly District which includes Santa Barbara, Ventura, Goleta, Carpinteria, Ojai, Santa Paula, Fillmore, Buellton, Solvang, Summerland, Isla Vista, Montecito and parts of Oxnard. She currently serves as Chair of the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee.