WASHINGTON _ The House of Representatives passed a bill to permanently ban offshore drilling off Florida's Gulf Coast on Wednesday, a move Florida lawmakers said will help the state's tourism industry and military installations.
The bill, Protecting and Securing Florida's Coastline Act, passed on a vote of 248-180, with 21 Republicans joining 227 Democrats in favor. Four Democrats and one independent, along with 175 Republicans, voted against the bill.
Rep. Francis Rooney, Florida's most pro-environment Republican member of Congress, sponsored the legislation and 12 other Florida lawmakers from both parties signed on.
