LEESBURG — Lake and Sumter County’s U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Dist. 11) has joined other U.S. lawmakers in an open letter to the President to withdraw planned oil leases along the Florida Gulf Coast after the Trump Administration announced an expanded oil and gas drilling plan.
Webster has joined Republican and Floridia U.S. representatives Jimmy Patronis of Panama City, Neal Dunn of Northeast Florida, Mike Haridopolos of East Central Florida, Vern Buchanan of Bradenton/Manatee County, Laurel Lee of eastern Hillsborough County, Scott Franklin of Lakeland and Byron Donalds of southwest Florida in writing a letter to President Donald J. Trump regarding the upcoming Big Beautiful Gulf Lease Sale 1, urging that blocks within the Eastern Gulf Test and Training Range be withdrawn to protect critical military operations and regional economic interests.
“These blocks within the Eastern Gulf Test and Training Range (EGTTR) impact the critical missions at Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field, Tyndall Air Force Base and Naval Air Station Pensacola,” the letter says.
“While we wholeheartedly support your push for American energy independence and expanded domestic oil and gas production, the EGTTR is critical to advanced weapons development, flight testing and joint exercises essential to maintaining America’s military superiority. The combination of its size, isolation, and proximity to the narco-terrorists, to key bases, and to the Caribbean and Venezuela makes it a one-of-a-kind resource vital to national security.”
The lawmakers also said that further oil exploration could have severe economic consequences for the region by reducing the economic impact of the military in Northwest Florida, which contributes $21.8 billion to gross domestic product and generates nearly 200,000 jobs in the region. The plan will likely also reduce tourism along the Gulf Coast, “which is God’s gift to Florida.”
They also raised concerns over “electromagnetic interference” and that allowing the expanded drilling “would have a chilling effect on the military’s ability to test new munitions, including hypersonic and counterdrone weaponry, which appear to be key to maintaining America’s military dominance on the ever-changing battlefield.”
On. Nov. 20, Webster also reintroduced the Helping Everyone Access Long Term Healthcare (HEALTH) Act with Rep. Greg Steube (R-Sarasota).
The bill, his spokesperson said, will provide a tax deduction to healthcare providers for pro-bono health services to low-income individuals and families who rely on Medicaid or CHIP.
“This bill helps more Americans have access to the care they need, from the doctor they choose, at a price they can afford,” Webster said.
“The HEALTH Act offers a new solution to provide healthcare services to low-income families and has the potential to help Medicaid and CHIP programs save on costs,” Webster said. This legislation allows doctors and other healthcare professionals to provide pro-bono healthcare services to low-income individuals, including children in the CHIP programs, in exchange for a simple tax deduction.”
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: In a letter to Trump, Rep. Webster joins legislators in warning Trump about Gulf oil leases
Reporting by Julie Garisto, Leesburg Daily Commercial / Daily Commercial
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