Ted Poe: “The recent explosion of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico has raised legitimate concerns regarding…”

“The recent explosion of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico has raised legitimate concerns regarding safety and environmental standards of deepwater, offshore drilling. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families that lost loved ones in this tragic accident. Eleven individuals were killed. Safety and responsible operating procedures must always come first, particularly when human lives are at risk. It is important to reevaluate and address our safety procedures and hold those responsible for the accident accountable. At the same time, I believe the Federal Government has the obligation to make informed and responsible decisions regarding offshore drilling. We have to differentiate between the causes of this accident and other responsible and safe drilling operations. Our primary purpose right now should be to stop the leak and determine the cause of this tragedy, and the Federal Government needs to simultaneously address the cleanup. We need the full cooperation of Federal, State, and local agencies, as well as private industry, to immediately address the cleanup and containment situation in the Gulf of Mexico. In my opinion, there has not been sufficient urgency to do this thus far. Cleanup remains inadequate and is still bogged down in redtape from Federal bureaucrats.”