Rep. Mike Levin Fights to Ban Drilling Off of California & Florida Coasts

Skip to content I Want to Hear from You About Your Health Care Concerns. NEW: Rep. Levin Announces New District Data Map to Showcase Federal Project Funding. Close About Services Federal Project Funding Map Federal Policy Impact Resources Clean Energy Tax Credits Help With A Federal Agency Constituent Success Stories Grants Applicants Commendations and Greetings Tours and Tickets Military Academy Nominations Internships Flags Surplus Books Program Art Competition Constituent of the Month Congressional App Challenge Vietnam War 50th Commemoration Program Member-Designated Transportation Projects Community Project Funding Requests The Congressional Award News Press Releases In The News Op-Eds Contact Email Me Newsletter Subscription Offices Internships Request a Meeting with Rep. Levin Website Problem I Want To Hear From You Español Close Search Site SEARCH About Services Federal Project Funding Map Federal Policy Impact Resources Clean Energy Tax Credits Help With A Federal Agency Constituent Success Stories Grants Applicants Commendations and Greetings Tours and Tickets Military Academy Nominations Internships Flags Surplus Books Program Art Competition Constituent of the Month Congressional App Challenge Vietnam War 50th Commemoration Program Member-Designated Transportation Projects Community Project Funding Requests The Congressional Award News Press Releases In The News Op-Eds Contact Email Me Newsletter Subscription Offices Internships Request a Meeting with Rep. Levin Website Problem I Want To Hear From You MENU Español Search Instagram Icon Twitter Icon Facebook Icon Youtube Icon Bluesky Icon Home News Press Releases June 03, 2026 Rep. Mike Levin Fights to Ban Drilling Off of California & Florida Coasts Watch Rep. Levin’s Remarks Here Washington, D.C.— Today, during a House Appropriations Committee markup, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) introduced an amendment to prohibit leasing activities for oil and gas off the coast of California and in the Eastern Gulf near Florida. The amendment was rejected by Republicans on the Appropriations Committee—including Republican Members who represent Florida. In November 2025, the Trump Administration announced new offshore drilling plans for the nation that would include up to 34 offshore lease sales covering approximately 1.27 billion acres of United States coastline, including three lease sales in Southern California and three more throughout the rest of the state. The plan would also include 21 lease sales off the coast of Alaska and seven in the Gulf of Mexico, including two in the Eastern Gulf near Florida. The proposed leasing areas include waters used by the U.S. military for training, testing, and operations. Since entering Congress in 2019, Rep. Levin has fought extensively for a ban on offshore drilling off the coast of California. In April 2025, he reintroduced he reintroduced the Southern California Coast and Ocean Protection Act to ban offshore drilling along the Southern California coast. He also co-sponsored Rep. Jared Huffman’s (CA-02) West Coast Ocean Protection Act , which would ban offshore drilling throughout California and the Pacific Northwest. Rep. Levin’s bill has been endorsed by numerous environmental groups and cities throughout the 49 th Congressional District. Rep. Levin’s amendment would have prevented new offshore drilling leases off the costs of California and Florida in order to protect coastal economies, military installations, tourism, and the environment. Read Rep. Levin’s remarks as prepared for delivery below: I am proud to represent 50 miles of beautiful Southern California coastline and the vibrant coastal economy that relies on its clean and healthy ocean ecosystem. It is well known how much our coastline supports the economy, from tourism, to recreation, to fisheries, to deepwater port commerce. But what we do not talk about enough is the fact that our coastline is also home to a broad network of military installations, testing sites, and naval training areas that are essential to our military readiness, including Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in my district. It’s not just California that relies on a healthy coastline; every one of us from a coastal state knows just how important the ocean is to our constituents and our military. Which is why I am so concerned that the first proposal on the 11 th National Outer Continental Shelf Program would open waters off the coast of California and in the Gulf off of Florida to offshore drilling. Last year, the Interior Department proposed to expand drilling into the Eastern Gulf near Florida as well as the entire California coast, where no new drilling has taken place in more than 50 years. The U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard all use at least one range off California or in the Gulf, and at least two dozen military bases rely on these waters in some capacity. So I rise today to offer an amendment to prohibit leasing activities for oil and gas off the coast