[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 23, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H4682]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              BP OIL SPILL

  (Mr. TONKO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, the difference could not be any clearer. As 
tar balls continue to roll onto the beaches of the gulf coast States, 
my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are apologizing to BP for 
the government's holding them accountable. While they continue to chant 
``drill, baby, drill'' and to put forward ideas that benefit Big Oil, 
Democrats are moving America in a new direction.
  I rise today to stand with the families, the small businesses, the 
communities, and the economy of the gulf coast and our country to say 
that we can no longer be held hostage by our gluttonous dependence on 
dirty oil, most of which is imported from our enemies around the world. 
Instead, we must change our priorities and stand up to special 
interests by continuing to promote a clean energy economy and to create 
good-paying American jobs for American families. In fact, 87 percent of 
Americans support requiring utilities to produce more energy from 
renewable sources, sources that cannot be outsourced or imported.
  A clean energy economy will make our country safer, more energy 
independent and will create jobs. In the meantime, let's be strong and 
steadfast and hold BP accountable.

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