Lois Capps: “It is painfully clear that BP's gulf oil spill could dwarf any environmental disaster in our Nation's history. This…”

“It is painfully clear that BP's gulf oil spill could dwarf any environmental disaster in our Nation's history. This tragedy has claimed 11 lives. It has contaminated the water with millions of gallons of oil, and it is impacting the livelihoods of all who make their living from the gulf's resources. But this disaster will be all the more tragic if we fail to learn from it. The first steps, of course, are to stop the leaks, to contain the spill, and to attend to the devastating consequences of the explosion and of its aftermath. The Obama administration swiftly responded to the BP disaster from day one. It mobilized the government's resources to minimize the harm on the health, economy, and the environment of the coast. Now it is time to ensure the complete scrutiny of this horrible environmental disaster. Today, I am introducing legislation to establish an independent commission to examine the causes of the BP disaster and to make recommendations to prevent future tragedies. I urge my colleagues to join me in this effort to make sure a disaster like this never happens again.”