"This hearing is apparently taking place in a parallel universe where we did not suffer the worst oil spill in our nation's history last year..."
"There is not a 'de facto moratorium,' only a Republican moratorium on the facts."
"This is not about the Obama Administration slow walking permits. This is about oil company recklessness."
"Are we going to learn anything from the BP disaster? Is this Committee going to do anything to prevent such an accident from happening again?"
"This Committee should be taking action to implement the reforms of the Commission to ensure that we are protecting our workers, our environment and our economy."
"They were absolutely irresponsible, and their irresponsibility is something that goes to their safety record."
"Given your job don't you think you should have looked at those safety record recommendations?"
"Does that include implementing the safety recommendations of the BP Commission?"
"Even though you are not familiar with the safety recommendations of the BP Commission, you are ready to say that it is safe and people should go out there."
"The Obama Administration is not issuing new leases. In fact, the lease sales that were scheduled for this year have in fact been canceled."
"I do not think, sir, that oil companies are sending the rigs back just to idle. I do not think they are sending new rigs in just to idle."
"it is much more dangerous to do this in the United States than it is to do it in Europe for the same companies."