Contact: Nadeam Elshami/Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616
Washington, DC – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on the report of the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling and on steps the federal government and the oil industry should take to prevent similar disasters in the future. In the 111th Congress, the House of Representatives passed a series of initiatives representing the biggest overhaul of the oil industry in decades. As Pelosi notes in her statement, the commission’s findings mirror the legislative actions taken by the House last year (read report).
“Today’s report is a clarion call to follow through on our commitment to respond to the BP oil spill: to hold the oil industry accountable, to help the families and businesses of the Gulf recover and rebuild, and to better prepare for unforeseen disasters. It is also a reminder of the urgent need to develop and enact a comprehensive clean energy policy that creates jobs, protects our environment, and preserves our national security by reducing our dependence on oil.
“The commission’s work reveals what many already knew – that the spill was a result of systemic failures of oversight, management, transparency, and response on the part of BP and others responsible for the safety of the Deepwater Horizon rig.
“Last year, the House acted to address these failures, passing legislation to strengthen safety and oversight of oil drilling, ensure just compensation for the victims of the spill, and develop technologies to prevent and respond to future disasters. Indeed, the recommendations of this panel mirror the legislative actions taken by the House last year. In the new Congress, we must take up this challenge again and adopt the commission’s key recommendations for greater safety and higher standards of accountability for oil companies. And we must work to provide the Gulf Coast region with the resources to restore the local ecosystem and revitalize the local economy.
“I commend President Obama for his dedication to get to the bottom of the BP oil spill and for appointing this bipartisan panel, and I thank the commission for its work and leadership.”