Countering the Trump administration’s proposal to expand offshore oil and gas drilling in federal waters, California State Assemblymember Todd Gloria (D-San Diego) will join Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) and Assemblymembers David Chiu (D-San Francisco) and Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) to introduce an Assembly Joint Resolution condemning that action.

“California’s precious coastline is not for sale. We will not sit idly by and let the President put our environment and residents in jeopardy,” said Assemblymember Todd Gloria. “This is just another terrible idea from the Trump Administration and I hope every member of California’s congressional delegation will join us in this fight.”

“Californians know the cost of oil. A 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara dumped close to 100,000 barrels of crude oil into the Central California coastline—the biggest oil spill in California history. My community paid the price with their safety, with their health and with their lost businesses. That catastrophe jump started the modern environmental movement,” said Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara). “Californians are proud of their commitment to clean and renewable energy. This decision by the President and his administration to expand offshore oil drilling is an affront to our values.”

Offshore oil drilling jeopardizes marine ecosystems, coastal economies based on fishing and tourism, and the health and safety of marine animals. Since 1986, the more than 600 oil and gas pipeline spills, explosions and other incidents that have occurred in California caused at least $769 million in damages, 200 injuries and close to 50 deaths.

Trump’s plan, proposed by the Department of Interior, would commit upwards of 90% of the nation’s offshore reserves to leasing, including areas off all three regions of the California coast that have been off-limits to oil since 1984. The plan is subject to public comment and review.

“California’s wild coastline is one of our most precious environmental resources, and it is our solemn duty to protect it,” said Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco). “Once again, the Trump administration is demonstrating their industrial greed and scientific ignorance with this disastrous proposal.”

With all three Pacific Coast Governors united in their opposition to the proposal, the legislature will join a growing multitude of voices speaking out against the shortsighted proposal.

“The Trump administration continues to attack California on many fronts and now they are opening up our coastal waters to the environmental vulnerabilities of oil drilling, a coastline we have fought to protect for decades,” said Assemblyman Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg). “To ignore the environmental devastation done by oil spills and dismiss the critical importance of working toward independence from fossil fuels is irresponsible and, frankly, feels vindictive.”