Democrats Sen. Ted Kaufman (Del.) and Barbara Mikulski (Md.) joined Sen. Lautenberg in opposing the plan.

Kaufman:

“While I share the President’s commitment to taking our dependence on foreign oil head-on, I do not believe opening Delaware’s coasts to drilling is the way to meet that goal. It is a simple fact that the United States has only a tiny percentage of world oil reserves – 3 percent – while we consume 25 percent. We cannot achieve meaningful energy independence through our own oil reserves. We can and must focus on building an energy economy that relies on clean, renewable domestic sources.
“Here in Delaware, we are pushing forward on the nation’s first offshore wind project. We believe that our oceans offer the promise of clean, renewable energy that will create jobs, cut our greenhouse gas emissions, and move us toward energy independence.
“My concerns with expanding drilling are not just about the environmental effects – the harm to aquatic life and our water quality. I also worry about the damage that oil spills could do to the tourism that drives the Delaware coastal economy.
“I look forward to working with the President and Senators from around the region to find ways to reduce our dependence on foreign oil without risking our environment and our economy.”

Milkulski:

“We must do what we can to help Americans deal with rising energy costs without opening up our Atlantic coastline to drilling. Offshore drilling brings with it great concerns – from the potential of oil spills to the protection of our defense facilities located along the coast – for our national security. The coastal states that are on the front lines need to have to a say when it comes to decisions that have an impact far beyond one state’s coastline. I will continue to do what I can to protect these coastal areas, and the Chesapeake Bay, for future generations,” said Senator Mikulski.