Cunningham Secures Language Banning Offshore Drilling and Seismic Airgun Blasting in House Funding Package

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Joe Cunningham (SC-01) secured critical language banning offshore drilling and seismic airgun blasting off the Atlantic coast in the Fiscal Year 2021 Interior-Environment funding package, which was approved by the House Appropriations Committee today. Thanks to Cunningham’s advocacy, the legislation will prohibit federal funds from being used to allow for any new oil and gas leasing or seismic activities along the Atlantic coast, Pacific coast, Eastern Gulf, and the Arctic Ocean. The House will vote on the bill later this month.

This follows a ruling by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to allow the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to proceed in processing seismic testing permits off South Carolina’s coast, overriding South Carolina’s objections and making it clear that the threat of offshore drilling and seismic testing is still on the table.

Cunningham advocated for these priorities in a letter to the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee earlier this year. Cunningham also testified in front of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior and Environment in March, urging the Subcommittee to prohibit funding for offshore drilling and seismic testing.

“Despite coastal communities like the Lowcountry making their opposition to offshore drilling and seismic airgun blasting abundantly clear, the threat to our coasts remain,” said Rep. Joe Cunningham. “Through the appropriations process, we have an opportunity to block funding for this dangerous and unwanted practice and ensure there is never an oil spill off our shores. I am proud to have secured these results and I look forward to voting on this legislation on the House floor.”