the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico has dominated the headlines since April 20. Because of that tragedy, we are more aware than ever of the important role great water bodies and the rivers that feed them play in our economy, our environment, and even our sense of who we are as a people. Late last month, the Environment and Public Works Committee reported out a number of bills addressing America's precarious water resources. The committee approved a bill to hold BP accountable for the devastation it has caused to the people and the ecosystem of the gulf. As all of America has seen in the morning newspapers and nightly news accounts, the current $75 million limit on oilspill liability damages represents a very small fraction of the actual costs of the damage done by BP. Senator Menendez's bill, S. 3305, which the committee adopted, will make sure that BP is legally bound to honor its pledge to pay all legitimate claims. I am proud to be a cosponsor, and I look forward to the adoption of this legislation by the full Senate. As we do everything we can to make sure the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster is not a knife through the heart of the Gulf of Mexico's ecosystem, we know that other great water bodies are also suffering. We are responding to those troubled waters as well.…
On the recordJuly 21, 2010
Editor's note · Context
The speaker addresses the impact of the Gulf oil disaster and legislative efforts to hold BP accountable.
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