FLORIDA LEGISLATORS CUT OFF DIALOGUE ON OFFSHORE DRILLING WHILE EARTH DAY NETWORK CONTINUES TO MOBILIZE COASTAL COMMUNITIES TO STOP OFFSHORE DRILLING

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Florida Legislators Cut Off Dialogue on Offshore Drilling While Earth Day Network

Continues to Mobilize Coastal Communities to Stop Offshore Drilling

TALLAHASSEE, FL (JUNE 20, 2010) – Florida legislators cut short a special session on offshore drilling today that would allow Florida voters to vote on offshore drilling this November. Despite the immediate adjournment, Earth Day Network will continue to work with coastal communities and local advocates to ensure that their voice continues to be heard in the state and federal debates on offshore drilling. In the past week, Earth Day Network has engaged more than one dozen mayors in coastal communities from Florida’s east and west coasts. This local outreach has both highlighted and influenced the creation of mayoral resolutions supporting an offshore drilling ban. Tourism contributes to one third of Florida’s budget, employing one out of every 19 Floridians and accounting for more than $50 billion of Florida’s economy . The recreational and commercial fishing industries contribute more than $6 billion and 60,000 jobs to Florida’s economy . “With countless jobs and millions of dollars at stake, it is irresponsible of the state government to cut short the dialogue on Florida’s offshore drilling,” said Earth Day Network President Kathleen Rogers. “Earth Day Network is committed to working with locally elected officials to help prevent another major spill from occurring off the shores of our communities and affecting people’s livelihoods.” “The people of Florida should be able to depend on their local officials and trust that their voice speaks loud enough to be heard. The time is now for federal and state legislators to focus on the cities and people they represent,” said Rogers.

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Contact: Emily Hartman Phone: 202-518-0044, ext. 20 Email: [email protected]