Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today made the following statement following President Bush’s announcement today that he wants Congress to lift the ban on drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf.

“Today’s statement by President Bush was the height of hypocrisy—two years ago he said America is addicted to oil, and today, he wants to feed that addiction by going back to the past policies of drill, drill, drill.  John McCain has now flip-flopped and joined the President’s bandwagon.

“Not only is this proposal irresponsible and short-sighted, but it flies in the face of President Bush’s father’s legacy. 

“Offshore oil drilling threatens America’s $60 billion coastal economy, and we certainly don’t need to lift the moratoria to allow new leases when the oil companies hold 68 million acres of undeveloped leases.

“We need to get serious about America’s energy security—that means going after the oil speculators now in order to bring down gas prices, and make the important, long-term investments in alternative fuels, hybrid technology, and energy efficiency.”

Senators Boxer and Dianne Feinstein and Congresswoman Lois Capps reintroduced legislation last year to provide permanent protection for California’s coast from future drilling, in addition to prohibiting the Interior Department from conducting harmful inventory of Outer Continental Shelf resources off California’s coast. 

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