Sacramento, CA – Clearing another major hurdle Monday, Senator Mike McGuire’s historic legislation to forever protect California’s coast from new offshore oil development continues to gain momentum and support as it heads to the full Assembly for final approval.

SB 788 – The California Coastal Protection Act – received bi-partisan support passing with a 7-2 vote in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee Monday afternoon.

“California’s coast is truly a worldwide wonder. Its natural beauty attracts 150 million visitors annually from all across the planet. It’s a core part of this great state’s identity and our coastal economy is a main driver of our statewide economic engine. In the wake of last month’s devastating oil spill, we cannot afford to wait any longer to permanently protect our treasured coast,” Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) said.

Senate Bill 788 would forever ban any new oil drilling in state waters off of the California Coast, and would not only protect our environment, it would help California’s coastal economy thrive. Coastal communities contribute $40 billion annually to the state’s economy along with 500,000 jobs working families depend on.

“The recent Santa Barbara oil spill proves, despite new technology, that the risks to our environment and economy are simply too great. Now is the time to take action and ban new drilling off the California coast,” Senator McGuire said.

The bill is also part of a historic package of legislative proposals that will strengthen California’s global leadership in tackling climate change. Comprised of 12 bills, the California Climate Leadership bill package includes new environmental and energy standards that will spur innovation. These bills are meant to incentivize economic growth, and further efforts to protect the state’s environment and make renewable energy and clean technology accessible to all Californians, while driving the goal of reducing our state’s petroleum use 50 percent by 2030.

More than 15,000 individuals have signed a petition endorsing SB 788, and the legislation is supported by a broad coalition of the state’s leading environmental organizations and businesses including the Sierra Club, Audubon of California, California League of Conservation Voters, the Center for Climate Protection, the Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, REI, Patagonia, Reef, as well as fisherman’s organizations, lodging and restaurant associations, tribal groups, and clean water advocates.

The bill is jointly authored by Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson and co-authored by Senators Mark Leno, Ben Allen, Loni Hancock, Bill Monning, Lois Wolk and Assemblymembers Bill Dodd, Marc Levine, Mark Stone, Jim Wood and Das Williams.

Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) represents 40 percent of California’s coastline from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border.

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