Moratorium on offshore drilling passes Oregon House
Bill to protect coastal communities, local jobs and pristine beaches now heads to Senate
The Oregon House of Representatives today voted 38-21 to preserve Oregon’s coastal legacy for the next generation. House Bill 3613, sponsored by Rep. Ben Cannon (D-Portland), protects Oregon’s coast from the threat of offshore oil and gas exploration for the next ten years, preserving coastal jobs and businesses which depend on more than $1 billion a year in fishing and recreation dollars and reinforcing Oregon’s commitment to renewable energy.
The moratorium is one of the Oregon Conservation Network’s three environmental priorities for the February session. OCN is a coalition of more than 40 of Oregon’s leading conservation groups from around the state who work together to pass pro-environment laws in the Legislature.
We need proactive leaders that we can depend on to protect the health of our environment and that of Oregonians.