Senator Dana Young (R-Tampa) today filed Senate Bill 442, an act relating to advanced well stimulation treatments, which effectively bans fracking throughout Florida. The bill bans fracking of all types in Florida, including hydraulic fracking, acid fracking, and matrix acidizing.
“As a 6th generation Floridian and avid outdoorsman, I believe we must act quickly and decisively to protect our fragile environment from incompatible well stimulation practices in our state,” said Senator Young. She continued, “We have seen the detrimental impacts fracking has had in many states around the country, most notably Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. As Floridians, we must join together and say ‘no’ to this harmful activity, before irreversible environmental damage is done.”
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Jack Latvala (R-Clearwater) said, “I am proud to support and co-sponsor this very important piece of legislation which will help keep our environment safe and protect our aquifer from being one accident away from becoming the next oil spill which would contaminate our drinking water for years to come,” he continued, “More than 75 counties and cities have passed ordinances and resolutions banning fracking and it is time their voice is heard on this issue and this bill gets a fair hearing in the Senate.”
Senator Gary Farmer (D-Lighthouse Point) said, “I am pleased to co-introduce this legislation that will finally ban all forms of fracking in our beautiful State. The time has finally come to end this dangerous practice. This bill represents the now bipartisan recognition that Florida’s unique geological makeup leaves our water-supply particularly vulnerable, and must be protected.”
Senator Keith Perry (R-Gainesville) said, “I am proud to stand with Senator Young in supporting this important legislation which will put Florida’s future generations first and protect Florida’s vast natural resources.”
Representative Mike Miller (R-Orlando) who will sponsor the legislation in the House of Representatives said, “Florida’s natural beauty is what attracted me to this state over 40 years ago. My family and I have spent many vacations here enjoying and exploring it. Florida is a truly unique place and I will do my part to protect it and our clean water supply for future generations.”
House Minority Leader Janet Cruz (D-Tampa) said, “I’m proud to prime co-sponsor this great piece of legislation to ban the dangerous practice of fracking in Florida because we must do everything we can to ensure the long-term environmental and economic prosperity of our state.”
Fracking is an oil extraction method, which injects chemical-laden fluids into a well at pressures that exceed the fracture gradient of the rock formation for the purpose of increasing oil and gas production. Matrix acidizing involves injecting acids into the rock formation for the purpose of dissolving the formation to increase production of oil and gas.
In closing, Senator Young stated, “I have been fortunate to have grown up in a family with a very deep connection, understanding and appreciation of Florida’s beautiful natural environment. I have filed this bill for my children and for all the current and future generations of Floridians who I believe deserve to have this same opportunity.”
ban
Support for Sen. Young's bill to ban fracking in Florida
State Senator Dana Young filed a bill this morning that would ban fracking in Florida. Over 75% of Floridians live in a city or county that has passed a resolution or ordinance opposing this dangerous drilling practice, including Dade City, Zephyrhills, Tampa, and Pinellas County.
Jennifer Rubiello, Environment Florida state director, issued the following statement:
“We applaud Senator Young for listening to her constituents and Floridians across the state who want a ban on fracking. A ban on fracking will ensure our communities, our health, and our environment are better protected. Floridians should celebrate this bill, pick up their phones, and tell their state senators to support it.”
Statement on introduction of 20-week abortion ban
Below, please find a statement from Laura Goodhue, Executive Director of the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates on the introduction of a 20-week abortion ban by Rep. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota), HB 203:
“This bill poses a serious threat to women’s health, ignoring women’s individual needs and circumstances. This kind of legislation seeks to deny a woman the dignity to make personal, private decisions.
“However we feel about abortion at different points in a pregnancy, a woman’s health should drive important medical decisions – not political agendas. Politicians are not medical experts and this is not an area where they should be interfering. Throughout her pregnancy, a woman must be able to make her own decisions with the advice of the health care professional she trusts.
“We’ve seen what happens when politicians stand in the way of women’s health and interfere in these deeply personal medical decisions. In states that have passed laws like this, some women and their families have been put into unimaginable situations – needing to end a pregnancy for serious medical reasons, but unable to do so.
“At the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, we believe that all people – no matter where they live or how much money they have – should have access to affordable health care. We will continue to work every day to ensure Planned Parenthood patients get the highest quality care, without judgment and without stigma – no matter what.”
What do the experts say?
The American Medical Association “strongly condemn(s) any interference by the government or other third parties that causes a physician to compromise his or her medical judgment as to what information or treatment is in the best interest of the patient.”
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists opposes the 20-week abortion ban, calling it part of legislative proposals “that are not based on sound science (and that) attempt to prescribe how physicians should care for their patients.”
Please visit www.fappa.org for more information.
