David Rivera: Obama Administration Needs to Stop Cuban Offshore Drilling

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. David Rivera received a briefing earlier in the week from Rear Admiral William Baumgartner of the U.S. Coast Guard on Cubas plans for offshore oil drilling. According to Baumgartner, drilling could begin in late 2011 or early 2012.

There is no longer a question of if, but a question of when Cuba will start drilling for oil, said Rivera. Some of the drilling sites could be as close as 50 miles from the coast of Key West. This is an opportunity for the Obama administration to strengthen Helms-Burton and prevent oil exploration by a terrorist state.

Rivera is a co-sponsor of fellow Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanans bill that would penalize companies that do business with nations under American sanctions and embargos -- which would include Cuba.