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WASHINGTON, Sept 23, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Today, Congress caved to Big Oil and the Bush administration by refusing to include even limited safeguards against the damages of offshore drilling in the House continuing resolution that will fund the government past September 30th.
Below is a statement by Richard Charter of the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund:
"This action just goes to show that the Bush administration and its oily friends in Congress are dead-set on expanding the reach -- and the pocketbooks -- of Big Oil.
"Despite the passage last week of a House energy bill that includes expanded drilling, Big Oil wasn't satisfied, urging that even limited restrictions on offshore drilling be lifted. While this can be expected of a self-interested industry raking in record profits at the expense of American taxpayers, we expected more forethought from a Congress that claims it is concerned with moving America towards energy independence.
"If the OCS moratorium is allowed to expire, oil derricks could be placed in federal waters virtually anywhere along our coasts, without regard to their impact on human safety, water quality, wildlife or state economies. Only action by the next administration would stand between our fragile coastlines and the threat of oil spills and other drilling damage.
"Where will it end? When will Congress stop caving in to Big Oil and giving away more of our lands and waters to a dirty, outdated industry?
"What America really needs is a shift away from the failed energy policies of a flailing administration and its oil funders, and towards a clean energy future that finally delivers energy independence and fosters American innovation and leadership. Unrestricted offshore drilling only takes us further away from this reasonable goal."
The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund ( http://www.defendersactionfund.org) provides a powerful voice in Washington to Americans who value our conservation heritage. Through grassroots lobbying, issue advocacy and political campaigns, the Action Fund champions those laws and lawmakers that protect wildlife and wild places while working against those that do them harm.
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