Independent senator and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders introduced legislation on Wednesday to ban new drilling on public land.
The bill, which is being introduced by Senators Sanders, Merkley and Leahy will help accelerate the transition to clean energy by ending all new federal leases for oil, gas or coal extraction on public lands.
“Worry less about your campaign contributions and worry more about your children and grandchildren,” Sanders told Republicans in the Senate.
“We are taking on the Koch brothers and some of the most powerful political forces in the world who are more concerned with short-term profits than the future of the planet. I’ve got four kids, and I’ve got seven beautiful grandchildren. We have a moral responsibility to leave our kids a planet that is healthy and inhabitable.”
The bill is being co-sponsored by Senators Cardin, Boxer, Gellibrand and Warren.
