Virginia Congressman Dave Brat Pushes for Offshore Drilling – WVTF

Virginia Republican Dave Brat is pushing to open up Virginias coast to offshore oil and gas drilling. Democrats, though, say that would be terrible for the commonwealths economy and they're trying to combat the effort.

Matt Laslo has more from Washington.

Congressman Dave Brat was one of about a dozen lawmakers standing behind President Trump when he recently signed an executive order intended to open the door for oil and gas drilling off the east coast.

Renewed offshore energy production will reduce the cost of energy, create countless good jobs, and make America more secure and far more energy independent," said the President at the signing."This action is another historic step toward future development... And I have to say thats a real future with greater prosperity and security for all Americans, which is what we want.

While the presidents order calls on the Interior Secretary to review a five year ban on offshore drillingput in placeby President Obama, Congressman Brat wants to go further. Hes introduced a bill to reverse Obamas executive order which protected millions of acres in the Outer Continental Shelf from oil and gas drilling.

Brat's proposal would also bar future presidents from trying to block offshore drilling. He says it just makes sense.

Its just part of energy independence, number one," Brat says. "And then the job creation is in the tens of thousands and the economic impact is in the billions. So why would you say no to that?

While environmentalists worry a spill off the coast could devastate the commonwealths robust tourism economy, Brat says he also wants to ensure oil and gas companies cant mess up the shore.

Its still got to live up to the highest environmental standards it always has. But theres been a lot of good reporting Ive seen in the last couple days on the pipes underground pipes offshore, I mean no one can even tell anymore.

Trump recently lifted the Obama-era ban on seismic testing off the east coast. Northern Virginia Democrat Don Beyer has a bill to block that, because he says its terrible for marine life.

You find whole populations fleeing the sound," Beyer says. "Its the underwater equivalent of the airport noise we have in Northern Virginia. And especially if you open it up for offshore drilling its not just one seismic company, there could be five or six or seven at the same time, so a lot of this is just trying to preserve our marine biology.

But Beyer isnt trying to hide the true intent of his bill: he says its meant to keep drilling rigs off Virginias coast.

In the larger context too, if you dont do the seismic testing its an obstacle to the offshore drilling. And I think we have plenty of offshore right now in the Gulf Coast and the North Sea, lets focus on what we already have," he says. "Were doing fine with natural gas. Were very close to total energy independence in the United States. We dont need to be upsetting the Atlantic coast.

Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine says he was open to coastal drilling until the Pentagon warned lawmakers drilling rigs could hurt naval operations off the coast.

I was very open to this in 2007 at the start of the Obama administration, but when the Department of Defense weighed in with concerns in Hampton Roads, defense, I mean, its the biggest piece of the economy, says Kaine.

The senator points out that it's unclear how much money would come into Virginia if offshore drilling started, but he does know the states defense industry makes its economy churn.

I dont think you chase after a speculative industry and hurt the industry that is the biggest chunk of your economy, so I would have some concerns about it.

Still Republican Congressman Brat, the one sponsoring the bill on offshore drilling, says his effort is all about jobs.

Go talk to the 40-percent of college kids who are under employed right now and cant find meaningful high paying work," Brat says. "We need to get this economy growing again and this is just a no brainer.

As the Trump administration moves ahead with its efforts to open up the east coast to drilling, Democrats say theyre ready for the fight and plan to use every tool they have to block the move.

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Virginia Congressman Dave Brat Pushes for Offshore Drilling - WVTF