Granting Subpoena Power to Commission Investigating BP Deepwater Oil Spill - Extension of Remarks

Floor Speech

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of today's legislation to give the President's bipartisan Oil Spill Commission the subpoena power it needs to get to the bottom of why the Deepwater Horizon disaster happened and what steps are needed to make sure it never happens again.

For the Commission to complete its work in a timely and effective manner, it must have unfettered access to any witness, record or piece of evidence necessary to shed light on the catastrophe unfolding in the Gulf. Once we understand exactly what happened and why, we can hold the responsible parties fully accountable and take comprehensive corrective action.

Since the Deepwater Horizon sank on April 22, 2010, Congress has held its own oversight hearings on the crisis and enacted legislation enabling the Coast Guard to obtain advances from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund in order to finance the ongoing mitigation efforts. Additionally, the House has passed legislation to strengthen the solvency of the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund so that taxpayers will not have to foot the bill for the Deepwater Horizon clean up.

Madam Speaker, this is necessary legislation. It has ample precedent in previous national crises. I urge its immediate passage.

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