LONG BRANCH, NJ (TIP): NJ Senator-elect Vin Gopal, Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling and Assemblywoman Joann Downey were joined today, January 5, by Senator Menendez, Congressman Frank Pallone, Governor-Elect Phil Murphy and members of the shore community to speak out against a renewed effort by the Trump Administration to expand offshore drilling off the coast of New Jersey.

Legislators Houghtaling, Downey, and Gopal spoke fervently against the proposal, citing high risk for catastrophe and the severe impact an oil spill could have on New Jersey’s $44 billion tourism industry.

In August, Assembly Members Houghtaling and Downey submitted a letter in opposition of the plan to the Department of the Interior.

“We’ve seen environmental disaster over and over again, and so many of these catastrophes are directly linked to decisions like,” said Houghtaling (D-Monmouth), “We have a multitude of energy options available. The federal government needs to invest in our infrastructure, not put our environment and our economy at risk with dangerous moves like this.”

“The risks are clear and so is the public’s opposition,” said Downey (D-Monmouth), “Year after year we’re seeing oil spills around the country. As recent as April, thousands of gallons of oil were spilled in a once pristine bay of Alaska. Tens of thousands of New Jerseyans have voiced their opposition to this policy and the Trump Administration needs to heed those calls before they put us in danger.”

“Not only could an oil spill be an environmental catastrophe, but, in New Jersey, it could be an economic catastrophe as well,” said Gopal (D-Monmouth), “Thousands of small business owners and their employees rely on New Jersey’s beaches and tourism for their livelihood. This is how they put food on the table and this policy puts that $44 billion industry at risk.”