IIB 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6016 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 29, 2010 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation AN ACT To provide for a GAO investigation and audit of the operations of the fund created by BP to compensate persons affected by the Gulf oil spill.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Audit the BP Fund Act of 2010.

2.

Investigation and audit

(a)

In general

The Comptroller General shall conduct an ongoing independent investigation and audit of the operations of the fund and claims process created by BP to compensate persons affected by the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico beginning on April 20, 2010, as those operations take place to determine their effectiveness, including the timeliness of claim payments and the accuracy of those operations in determining amounts of damages compensated. (b)

Use of subpoena power

The Comptroller General may use any investigative powers, including those of subpoena granted to the Comptroller General for the purposes of other investigations and audits, to conduct this investigation and audit. (c)

Report to Congress

Every 90 days during the operations, and once after all those operations are completed, the Comptroller General shall report to Congress on the effectiveness of those operations.

3.

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that— (1)BP should fully cooperate with the Comptroller General to assure that the BP relief fund is accurately, expediently, and efficiently compensating Gulf coast victims of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill for their losses; and (2)the costs incurred by the Comptroller General to carry out responsibilities under this Act should be reimbursed by BP.

Passed the House of Representatives September 28, 2010. Lorraine C. Miller, Clerk.