On Wednesday (July 25), the U.S. House or Representatives approved the Congressional Replacement of the Obama Administration’s Offshore Drilling Plan. 

The measure replaces the administration’s current five-year offshore leasing plan “and nearly doubles the amount of offshore leases made available for sale from 15 to 29,” according to Colleen Hanabusa‘s office.

Hanabusa sided with the minority in the 253-170 vote, which was heavily along party lines. Mazie Hirono did not vote.

Quote from Hanabusa:

I could not support a bill that ignores the hard lessons we learned from the worst environmental disaster in American history. Just two years ago, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico showed us how vulnerable we are to failures in oil exploration and drilling, and should have permanently reinforced in our minds the need for extreme care in allowing these operations

—Chad Blair