SACRAMENTO – California’s iconic coast is one of state’s most important environmental and economic resources.

The California coast attracts more than 150 million visitors every year and the Golden State’s coastal economy is worth $40 billion and nearly a half million jobs are dependent on a healthy coast.

President Trump has introduced an executive order that would turn back the five-year moratorium that President Obama approved in the final days of his presidency that banned all offshore oil and gas drilling off the shores of California, Oregon and Washington.

North Coast Sen. Mike McGuire is leading the fight to forever protect California’s coast from offshore oil drilling and has introduced Senate Resolution 51, which will be voted on by the State Senate Thursday.

This important resolution will put the State Senate on record, firmly against the president’s plans to reopen the Pacific Coast to new oil and gas leasing.

This resolution comes as the federal comment period on the proposal is set to close on Aug. 17, 2017.

“This is an unprecedented and unconscionable action from President Trump, and goes against the opinion of the vast majority of Californians who adamantly oppose any new oil drilling off our coast,” Sen. McGuire said. “Trump’s claim that this will lead to ‘millions and millions of jobs’ is typically specious and patently false. California’s coastal economy is worth over $40 billion and the President is making stuff up as he goes and we will fight any action that puts our coast and economy at risk.”

President Trump’s proposed 5-year National Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing Program represents a renewed call for opening offshore areas for drilling, despite decades of work to protect California’s coast from the impacts of drilling.

The lifting of the moratorium on oil and gas production in federal waters could lead to more oil spills, increased dependence on fossil fuel, and more damaging impacts from climate change.

“Opening offshore oil drilling is a threat to the nation’s economy, our state’s future and California’s ambitious renewable energy goals,” Sen. McGuire said. “We will fight this in every way possible – from the Senate floor to the courts. The president’s claims that state legislatures are expressing interest for more oil and gas leasing is total malarkey. Let me be clear: The state of California will oppose any modifications to the current ban.”

Senator McGuire is joined by Senator Hannah Beth Jackson as the primary co-author and Pro Tem Kevin De León, Senators Ben Allen, Toni Atkins, Bill Dodd, Steve Glazer, Bob Hertzberg, Bill Monning, Bob Wieckowski, and Scott Wiener as co-authors.

McGuire’s district includes Lake County.