John Culberson: “Congressman Brady, I know you have seen, as I have, these countries where these rigs are going overseas. The companies…”

“Congressman Brady, I know you have seen, as I have, these countries where these rigs are going overseas. The companies themselves also have got high standards. They are going to maintain a safe, clean environment for their workers and produce oil as safely and cleanly as they can. But common sense tells you, where are they going to have better, cleaner standards for producing oil and gas: In Indonesia, or off the coast of Louisiana and Texas? Where are the standards going to be better to protect the environment: Here in the United States or in a Third World nation where they are not as concerned with protecting the environment as we are here in America? I had a chance to work on offshore rigs in the summers in college as what is called a mudlogger, sort of a well-side geologist. It was great work. These are great jobs. I had a chance to experience it firsthand and see the level of commitment of these men and now women that work on the rigs and in the offshore industry that know better than anybody how to make sure a well doesn't blow out. No one has a greater stake in protecting the safety of their workers, in protecting the environment, in producing oil and gas safely and cleanly, than the companies themselves. The liability that they are exposed to is immense. They care deeply about the safety of their workers. The rigs that I worked on offshore were both jack-up rigs and semisubmersible rigs.”