[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 96 (Thursday, June 24, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1195]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 GRANTING SUBPOENA POWER TO COMMISSION INVESTIGATING BP DEEPWATER OIL 
                                 SPILL

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                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 23, 2010

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of today's 
legislation to give the President's bipartisan Oil Spill Commission the 
subpoena power it needs to get to the bottom of why the Deepwater 
Horizon disaster happened and what steps are needed to make sure it 
never happens again.
  For the Commission to complete its work in a timely and effective 
manner, it must have unfettered access to any witness, record or piece 
of evidence necessary to shed light on the catastrophe unfolding in the 
Gulf. Once we understand exactly what happened and why, we can hold the 
responsible parties fully accountable and take comprehensive corrective 
action.
  Since the Deepwater Horizon sank on April 22, 2010, Congress has held 
its own oversight hearings on the crisis and enacted legislation 
enabling the Coast Guard to obtain advances from the Oil Spill 
Liability Trust Fund in order to finance the ongoing mitigation 
efforts. Additionally, the House has passed legislation to strengthen 
the solvency of the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund so that taxpayers 
will not have to foot the bill for the Deepwater Horizon clean up.
  Madam Speaker, this is necessary legislation. It has ample precedent 
in previous national crises. I urge its immediate passage.

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