The proposal, led by Democratic Sens. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota and Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, would allow drilling 45 miles from most of the Gulf Coast, and as close as 10 miles in the Florida Panhandle. The surprise amendment passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee by a 13-10 vote June 22.

Though a 2006 law passed by Congress prohibits drilling within 225 miles of Tampa Bay, the new proposal would supersede that legislation.

Supporters of the new bill plan to pair it with climate change legislation aimed at fighting global warming. It is a political move that could put senators in a position to oppose the global warming legislation, a top priority for President Barack Obama, in order to block drilling off the coast of Florida.

With Democrats in control in Washington, a false sense of security set in among environmental groups and anti-drilling allies in Congress, said Michael Gravitz of Environment America, a nonprofit group that is trying to mobilize opposition to the latest drilling plan.