Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, today lauded President Joe Biden for shielding the Rhode Island coast from offshore oil and gas drilling.
“President Biden has done well by Rhode Islanders in protecting our coast from the economic and environmental dangers of offshore drilling. I’m hopeful that this action will put up a roadblock that will prevent the Trump administration from selling out the Atlantic to the top-bidding polluter,” said Whitehouse. “I’ve been on the front lines of helping the Ocean State recover after oil spills, and I’m keenly aware of just how damaging offshore accidents can be.”
Whitehouse has long sponsored legislation to permanently ban offshore oil and gas drilling off the coast of New England.
While working in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office, Whitehouse assisted Attorney General James O’Neill with the state’s response to the 1989 World Prodigy oil spill. As U.S. Attorney, Whitehouse led the federal response to the 1996 North Cape oil spill, securing what was then the largest settlement payment in Rhode Island history.
