Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, released the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s announcement of increasing offshore oil and gas drilling:

“The president’s reckless action is the largest assault on our oceans in American history. This proposal opens over 90 percent of the Outer Continental Shelf, including Washington state, to new oil and gas drilling, putting our economy, culture, recreational resources and environment at risk of a catastrophic oil spill. This is why we must act urgently at the state level to protect our marine waters and shorelines from oil spills and increasing oil transportation. And, this is exactly why we will be introducing the Salish Sea Protection Act and a package of other orca whale and Salish Sea protection bills in the coming days that will provide greater protection from the serious threats of an oil spill while providing other critical protections for our orcas, salmon and Salish Sea habitat.”