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Dear Community Member,
Last month, the Administration released a proposal that could open federal waters off the California coast to new leasing for oil and gas drilling for the first time in four decades. The proposed five-year schedule for offshore oil and gas leasing represents the most aggressive in decades, with the U.S. Interior Department considering as many as 34 auctions in federal waters between 2026 and 2031, including as many as six sales off our California coast. As we know well, any offshore oil or gas drilling would infringe upon the many federal, state, and local regulations that we fought hard to put in place to protect the beauty and bounty of California’s 19th Congressional District.
During President Donald Trump’s first administration, he threatened to do the same thing with oil and gas drilling off of our coastline. But our community stood up, spoke up, and pushed back. We worked together at every level and put up legal, political, and logistical barriers to stall the proposal, and successfully saved our coasts.
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| Rep. Panetta continues the fight to protect our coastline. |
Once again, we must work together and fight back. For decades, the coastal communities on the Central Coast have stood firm in our opposition to new offshore oil and gas drilling. We must continue to use every tool at our disposal to protect our coastline and coastal economy. I continue to work with my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives, in the Senate, as well as with community leaders at all levels, to push back on this Administration's plan for offshore oil drilling.
Recently, I joined our two Senators and 25 of my colleagues in the California Congressional delegation in condemning the plan for offshore oil drilling, standing united with our community leaders in our mission to protect our coast and push back on this Administration. I'm counting on the people of the 19th Congressional District to join us in this fight.
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Rep. Panetta joined 27 of his colleagues in the California Congressional delegation in condemning the Administration's plan for offshore oil drilling.
To view the full letter to the Administration, please click the photo or here. |
There is a public comment period that is open until January 23, 2026. This 60-day comment period, initiated by the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is a crucial stage in a multi-year planning process for potential lease sales in U.S. federal waters from 2026 to 2031. This public comment is a direct way that you can influence government rules before they become law. This comment period makes the federal government more transparent by requiring agencies to explain their decisions and respond to our concerns. Agencies are legally required to consider all substantive comments before finalizing a rule. While this does not mean every comment will lead to change, agencies must consider thoughtful, evidence-based feedback.
Public comments can also improve outcomes by allowing agencies to identify unintended consequences of decisions they’re considering or offer practical alternatives based on community feedback. Moreover, this is your opportunity to join us and let the Trump Administration hear your voice about its plan to offer leases to open up our coastline to offshore oil and gas drilling. You have the power to help us push back and protect our coastline.
To register a public comment, click HERE.
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The Administration's proposed map for offshore drilling, released on November 20.
To enlarge above map, click above map or here. |
Once you submit a comment, please let me know that you joined our fight to protect our California coastline by pressing . You can also follow me on , , or to keep updated on my work for California’s 19th Congressional District.
We must let the Administration know that the California coastline is not the East Wing of the White House. It's our home, and together, we will continue to do everything possible for its protection.
Sincerely,
Jimmy Panetta
United States Representative
19th Congressional District, California
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