OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Oil Spill Prevention Act

Floor Speech

Date: June 24, 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Oil and Gas

Mr. BUCHANAN. Madam Speaker, this week, I introduced the Oil Spill Prevention Act of 2010. This Deepwater spill is the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. My bill would prevent future disasters from happening.

Number one, we want to reform the Interior Department by separating revenues--a structural separation of revenues in leasing from inspections. In other words, we've got people that are doing the leases on the revenue side cutting deals on environmental exemptions.

Second, strengthen the oversight of inspections. Sixteen inspections were missed with BP. That's got to stop with BP and the industry. We need to reschedule and make sure every safety inspection is done.

Three, eliminate the liability caps on major oil spills. Today, it's at $75 million. That's a joke. This is going to be tens of billions of dollars to fix.

We need to act now. I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support my bill and we'll eliminate spills.


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