Rep. Nancy Mace
An amendment offered by U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) to prohibit offshore drilling off the South Carolina coast until 2032 on Friday received approval from the U.S. House of Representatives.
House Amendment (H.Amdt.) 4, which Rep. Mace introduced on Jan. 26 to amend the Strategic Production Response Act, H.R. 21, specifically would prohibit such offshore drilling in the South Atlantic Planning area. The House on Thursday voted 389-42 to accept the amendment and then on Jan. 27 passed H.R. 21 with a 221-205 vote.
“This amendment is a victory for the state of South Carolina and all those who have long advocated for protecting our coast from the dangers of offshore drilling,” said Rep. Mace. “It is also a win for our local community, [which] relies on the tourism industry; it’s a win for the environment and for future generations who will benefit from the preservation of these priceless resources.”
The amended H.R. 21, which would limit the drawdown of petroleum in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the U.S. Department of Energy develops a plan to increase the percentage of federal lands leased for oil and gas production, now heads to the U.S. Senate for action.