Lynn C. Woolsey: “We have a disaster in the Gulf of Mexico which makes it absolutely obvious that we do not have the answers to preventing…”

“We have a disaster in the Gulf of Mexico which makes it absolutely obvious that we do not have the answers to preventing and combating such carnage. We have not, any of us, Republicans or Democrats, invested in the necessary science and the important steps to prevent and combat an oil spill of this size. That's why, as a result of the San Francisco Bay spill over a year ago, I introduced H.R. 2693, to streamline from 17 to three agencies and oversee the prevention and the responsibility to respond to preventing oil spills and to cleaning up oil spill emergencies. I would have the three agencies be: NOAA, which brings its expertise on how to protect marine life and sensitive marine ecosystems. It would be the lead agency. I would have the Coast Guard, which will bring the expertise as the first responder, and the Environmental Protection Agency would be the third agency, to provide an understanding of the environmental and public health needs of any response and prevention methods. We may need more. We'll find out later.”