Alabama’s U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt joined a group of fellow Senate colleagues today in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.
In the letter, the legislators expressed concern over the Biden Administration’s “radical” climate agenda and inquired about the current and future rule makings in relation to protections and critical habitat designations for Rice’s whales ahead of upcoming Senate budget hearings.
“While NOAA and BOEM’s data is incomplete, we do have a robust understanding of the economic impact of the Gulf of Mexico,” the senators wrote. “Our ports provide a clear view of commercial activity in and out of the Gulf. In Texas, the Port of Houston generated $439 billion in statewide economic value in 2022. Ports across the state of Louisiana generated $182 billion in statewide economic impact, which includes nine ports located directly on the coast. In Alabama, the Port of Mobile generated more than $85 billion in total economic activity in 2021.”
RELATED: Save the whales? Gulf Coast officials warn of NOAA ‘overreach’
“Imposing restrictions on development in the Gulf of Mexico would directly harm the economic activity and jobs across coastal communities.”
According to Tuberville, the Biden administration has repeatedly implemented rules based on outdated data that lacks sound scientific backing, including a recent proposal to establish a 28,000-square-mile Critical Habitat for the Rice’s whale within the Gulf of Mexico, despite a lack of evidence supporting the need to establish one.
This isn’t the first time that Alabama’s two senators have been vocal on the issue.
In 2023, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) announced that it had formally denied a petition from non-government organizations to establish a mandatory 10-knot speed limit and other vessel related mitigation measures in the Gulf of Mexico to protect the whale.
RELATED: Gulf Coast wins against ‘far-left activists’ in NOAA decision, Alabama officials say
Senator Britt applauded the groups efforts.
I am happy to say that NOAA heard our request and today rejected the nonsensical Rice’s whale petition pushed by far-left activists,” said Britt. “This proposal would have significantly impeded operations at the Port of Mobile, damaged Alabama’s economy, and harmed commercial and recreational fishing operations off the Gulf Coast.”
Senator Tuberville agreed wholeheartedly with the decision by NOAA.
“I was glad to see the NOAA come to their senses and reject this part of the Biden Administration’s overreaching regulatory agenda in the Gulf of Mexico,” said Tuberville. “Unfortunately, we still have a long way to go. Designating a Critical Habitat for the Rice’s whale throughout this expansive area would impose undue burdens and restrictions on all vessel traffic, especially in and out of the Port of Mobile in Mobile, AL.”
“The Port of Mobile covers over 4,000 acres, generates nearly 313,000 jobs, provides approximately $2 billion in state and local tax impacts, and $85 billion in economic value to Alabama as a whole.”
“I will continue to fight back against Joe Biden’s attempts to make us reliant on our enemies for energy when we can be producing it right here in the United States, and especially in Alabama.”
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
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