Pelosi Statement on President Obama's News Conference on British Petroleum Oil Spill

WASHINGTON, May 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi released this statement following President Obama's press conference on the catastrophic British Petroleum oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  At the news conference, President Obama announced tough and appropriate new restrictions on deepwater drilling, the suspension of oil exploration efforts off the northern coast of Alaska, and the cancellation of lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of Virginia, among other efforts. 

"After eight years of the Bush Administration's cozy relationship with Big Oil, President Obama is working to rid regulatory agencies of Bush appointees burrowed deep into the bureaucracy.  The performance of these appointees indicates they are incompetent or placing the interests of the oil industry over the interests of their nation.  The recent Inspector General report is a reminder of this legacy and the need to clean house.

"The Congress will continue legislative and oversight responsibilities in response to this disaster.  House committees have held and scheduled more than two dozen oversight and investigative hearings on this disastrous oil spill.  We will increase the fee that oil companies pay into the oil spill trust fund to ensure the industry pays, not the taxpayer.  And as we get more information from committee oversight and the various investigations, we will take up legislation to address the problems that led to this tragedy.

"The President rightly pointed out the need to pass comprehensive energy and climate legislation through Congress.  The American Clean Energy and Security Act, passed by the House last June, will create clean energy jobs here in America, protect consumers, reduce our dependence on dirty and foreign fuels, and help ensure our national security.  We have much common ground with the Senate bill and look forward to its progress."

SOURCE Office of the Speaker of the House

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