Political Quotes

“Mr. President, today I am pleased to introduce the Outer Continental Shelf Reform Act of 2010. This act takes a number of important steps to ensure that the Outer Continental Shelf will be managed in a balanced, prudent, and vigilant way, to ensure energy production, safety, and protection of the environment. Its goal is to create a culture of excellence in this endeavor that benefits those who work in the oil industry, those who depend on other marine resources, and all Americans who care deeply about our oceans and coastal environment. This legislation is being introduced against the backdrop of oil still gushing into the Gulf of Mexico more than 60 days after the initial explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig. As the Congress formulates its overall response to this disaster, its first order of business must be to continue to care for the families of those who lost their lives in the rig explosion and those Gulf residents who are suffering every day through loss of livelihood and of places and wildlife that they love. Several Senate committees have important roles to play in formulating legislation in that regard. At the same time, it also is essential that we look to the future, and to creating a better structure and system within the regulatory agency. That is a particular responsibility of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. One goal must be, of course, to prevent future disasters. But we can and must do more than that.…”