Frank Lautenberg

Do you think that destroying NICS background check records that were used in approving a gun purchase in just 24 hours is a good idea?

I have to shake my head as I hear what is being said. The land that is drilled on is Federal land. It is land that everybody owns. It is our land. It is not their land. If you come into my yard and destroy my house, you pay for it because…

I think the only concern we had is, is that it's written in the bill as being in--within the Department of Transportation; we think it ought to be within the Department of Labor and the body of law that surrounds that.

We do stop flying when we know that there is imminent danger... what we ought to do is stop drilling.

Should oil companies play a part in more funding on the research and development of new technologies that get us, to use BP's own expression, 'beyond petroleum'?

I want to thank each one of you for your excellent testimony.

Should these spills that we have seen demand a halt to all new drilling, shift to an all hands on deck policy in an effort to develop and deploy technologies that will end our dependence on oil and fossil fuels, and especially doing…

We are not going to rest until every last cent of the Administration's response is paid for by the oil companies.

Big oil doesn't deserve our trust.

These funds should be directly invested in research and development of next generation engines, clean and safe fuels.

No more special favors and special treatments given to big oil.

Bring dangerous offshore drilling pursuit to an end.

It will protect the American taxpayers and say to big oil: You did it, you pay for it; that is the way it goes. I learned that if you fouled up, you were responsible for cleaning up... The American people want those responsible for doing…

Does this spill not show a more urgent need for big investments in clean alternatives to oil?

It is shocking and wonderful, I say with some envy.

This, in all fairness, confirms our concerns about deep water drilling off the coasts.

I wanted to just get a couple of things squared away. And I ask whether or not, can anyone, all three of you, can you separately guarantee that a spill like this will never happen again in U.S. waters on your watch?

Well, at some point, one or more, well, all of you will be involved in anything that occurs by way of expense.

I then heard, and I do not remember whether it was you, sir, or someone else in the company who said reasonable claims, that is what you are doing.

The fact is that what it says to me is that these projects, as valuable as they are, bring with them a level of danger that is terrific, a very heavy risk to the nearby seashores, communities, States, et cetera.

The conclusion that I draw is that nobody assumes the responsibility, whether it is yet or because of the time.

The bottom line is that if you drill in the ocean, oil spills cannot be a surprise.

Yes, I'll tell you what I draw. The conclusion I draw is that nobody assumes the responsibility.

Tonight, I would ask you first, Mr. McKay, is BP the party responsible for the leak?

I will tell you what I draw. The conclusion I draw is that nobody assumes the responsibility.