Political Quotes

“Just over 3 months ago, the Macondo well exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, causing the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history. Eleven workers on the oil rig died. The Energy and Commerce Committee has held nine hearings into the chain of events that caused the blowout of BP's well and its impact on the gulf coast. These hearings revealed that BP and its partners made a series of risky decisions that undermined well safety. Our committee then passed the Blowout Prevention Act, H.R. 5626, 48-0, to strengthen Federal drilling regulations. This bill before us today contains key provisions from our legislation. BP chose a risky well design on the Macondo well that provided minimal barriers to prevent dangerous gases from flowing to the wellhead. They ignored their contractors' urgent warnings about how to cement the well safely. This legislation will ban these dangerous practices. It's too late to stop the explosion, but this legislation can hold the appropriate parties accountable and make sure this type of catastrophic blowout never happens again.”