The Oil Pollution Research and Development Program Reauthorization (H.R. 2693) and the Safer Oil and Natural Gas Drilling Technology Research and Development Program (H.R. 5716)

Floor Speech

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of today's oil spill legislation as part of Congress' comprehensive response to the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf.

The Oil Pollution Research and Development Program Reauthorization (H.R. 2693) will provide badly needed additional resources for oil spill research and development, as well as streamline the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Oil Pollution Research currently responsible for the nation's federally funded oil spill pollution R&D. Additionally, the Safer Oil and Natural Gas Drilling Technology Research and Development Program (H.R. 5716) will ensure that the federal government's existing R&D program for deepwater drilling is as focused on accident prevention, worker safety and environmental impact mitigation as it is on resource recovery.

While relatively modest in scope, these two initiatives will bring a more appropriate balance to federal policy with respect to deepwater drilling, help reduce the risk of future deepwater accidents, and improve our ability to respond to those accidents should they occur again.

I urge a yes vote.

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