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Published on: Press Releases

PRESS STATEMENT: FCV Responds to Dana Young Campaign’s Comments on Fracking and Oil Drilling

published on: September 23, 2016

PRESS STATEMENT
For Immediate Release: September 22, 2016
Contact: Aliki Moncrief, Executive Director, [email protected], 850-443-7609 or Jonathan Webber, Deputy Director, [email protected], 954-593-4449
Twitter: @fcvoters

Yesterday, Rep. Dana Young’s campaign released the following statement to FloridaPolitics.com:

“Dana Young opposes fracking, offshore and onshore drilling, and has worked tirelessly on water issues during her entire time in the legislature.”

In 2016, Rep. Young voted for the fracking bill, HB 191. Not only would this bill have paved the way for fracking in Florida, but would have made it illegal for local communities to ban or otherwise restrict fracking. This bill also would have made it difficult for the public to find out what toxic chemicals are used in the fracking process. And what’s worse, Rep. Young voted against several amendments that would have required additional environmental and public health protections, among them, an amendment that would have required the fracking industry to study the impact of fracking chemicals on prenatal health. Rep. Young also voted against an amendment that would have prohibited fracking companies from using known cancer-causing chemicals.

Rep. Young voted for similar pro-fracking legislation in 2015 (HB 1205) and 2013 (HB 743).

In 2012, Rep. Young voted in committee for a bill that would have expanded onshore oil drilling (HB 695). The bill would have allowed oil and gas exploration and drilling in state parks, forests, preserve, or other public lands.

During that same session, Rep. Young voted for HB 87, which would have given tax breaks to oil companies to expand oil production in Florida.

Statement from Jonathan Webber, Deputy Director, Florida Conservation Voters

“Fracking poses one of the most serious threats to Florida’s drinking water supply, both in terms of the quantities of water required and the pollution that inevitably results from fracking chemicals. Over the course of her political career, Rep. Young has had ample opportunity to champion our water and environment, but in vote after vote, she’s let the people of Tampa Bay down. Rep. Young’s legislative record on fracking speaks for itself.”

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Florida Conservation Voters Action Fund is committed to electing pro-conservation candidates to public office.

Paid electioneering communication paid  for by Florida Conservation Voters Action Fund, 1700 N. Monroe St. #11-286, Tallahassee, FL 32303