U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor from Hillsborough has signed onto the proposal.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-St. Petersburg, has offered an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would encourage the prioritization of military readiness over offshore energy exploration and extraction.

The amendment aligns with the Department of Defense’s position that increased offshore drilling would conflict with missions and training exercises.

The amendment has bipartisan support from Reps. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa; Don Beyer, D-VA; Val Demings, D-FL; Ted Deutch, D-FL; Lois Frankel, D-FL; Alcee L. Hastings, D-FL; Al Lawson, D-FL; Frank LoBiondo, R-NJ; Brian Mast, R-FL; Stephanie Murphy, D-FL; Frank Pallone, D-NJ;  Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-FL; Darren Soto, D-FL; and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-FL.

“Offshore drilling should not be allowed to interfere with our military readiness. It puts the health of our environment and economy at risk, we can’t also allow it to put our national security at risk,” Crist said. “The bipartisan support of our amendment shows the importance of prioritizing military readiness over further exploration, and I hope to see similar support for this common-sense effort in the Rules Committee and on the House floor.”

Crist represents Florida’s 13th Congressional District, which includes mid- and south Pinellas County.

For a copy of Crist’s proposed amendment, click here.

For information about Crist, go to crist.house.gov.

Charlie Crist | Military Readiness | Offshore Drilling | Tampa Bay News | TB Reporter

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