Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources Act of 2010

Floor Speech

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Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of the CLEAR Act, one of the most important measures we will pass this week, and perhaps, this Congress.

It has been said that with great adversity comes great opportunity--today, we are presented with great opportunity.

We are presented with the opportunity to ensure that what happened in the Gulf never happens again.

We are presented with the opportunity to ensure that we have the tools and the means to clean the Gulf Coast and make whole those whose very livelihoods are threatened by this disaster.

We are presented with the opportunity to ensure that our children are able to enjoy the great lands and waters of our lifetime.

I offered two amendments to the CLEAR Act that sought to shift our OCS policy from a presumption of oil and gas extraction, to focus on protection of the environment as our primary concern.

Additionally, the amendments required the Secretary to consider geographical, geological, and ecological characteristics of OCS areas before drilling, not after.

Ultimately, this bill does move us toward that goal--from an emphasis on the bottom line to a clear focus on our future.

I urge my colleagues to support the CLEAR Act.

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