1. United States
2. R.I.
3. Letter

As your constituent, I am writing to express my urgent concern regarding the expansion of deep-water drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Today marks the 16th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizonexplosion—the worst environmental disaster in American history. It is a sobering reminder of the 11 lives lost, the 25,000 jobs destroyed, and the 5 million barrels of oil that devastated our ecosystems. Despite this history, we are now seeing "green lights" for companies like BP to drill even deeper than before. Current approvals allow for drilling more than 1,000 feet deeper than the Deepwater Horizon well, despite research indicating the risk of a spill in these conditions is 6 to 7 times higher. We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past. The coastal communities and wildlife in the Gulf are still recovering from the damage done 16 years ago. This Earth Day, I urge you to: 1 Oppose the expansion of ultra-deepwater drilling permits. 2 Support legislation that prioritizes coastal protection and clean energy over high-risk offshore extraction. 3 Hold oil companies accountable by ensuring safety regulations are strictly enforced, not rolled back. Please take a stand to prevent the next offshore disaster before it starts. Our oceans and the livelihoods that depend on them are counting on your leadership.