[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 107 (Tuesday, July 20, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S6037]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING IMPACTS OF THE BRITISH PETROLEUM OIL SPILL

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 588.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant editor of the Daily Digest read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 588) recognizing the economic and 
     environmental impacts of the British Petroleum oil spill on 
     the people of the Gulf Coast and their way of life and urging 
     British Petroleum to give all due consideration to offers of 
     assistance, products, or services from the States directly 
     impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be 
laid upon the table) with no intervening action or debate, and any 
statements related to this matter be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 588) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 588

       Whereas on April 20, 2010, the Mobile Drilling Unit 
     Deepwater Horizon experienced a tragic explosion, resulting 
     in the loss of 11 men;
       Whereas the explosion resulted in the sinking of the Mobile 
     Drilling Unit Deepwater Horizon and a discharge of 
     hydrocarbons from the Macondo well;
       Whereas since the tragic day of April 20, 2010, a 
     significant amount of oil has flowed into the Gulf of Mexico;
       Whereas resources such as fishing, tourism, shipping, and 
     energy exploration in the Gulf of Mexico generally account 
     for over $200,000,000,000 in economic activity each year;
       Whereas the release of oil has caused a Federal fishery 
     closure since May 2, 2010, which has encompassed up to 37 
     percent of the Gulf of Mexico exclusive economic zone;
       Whereas the impact on the Gulf Coast economy has amounted 
     to over $175,000,000 in reported claims to date;
       Whereas tourism is down significantly on the Gulf Coast as 
     a result of the oil spill;
       Whereas the workforce in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, 
     Florida, and Texas has been negatively impacted as a result 
     of the oil spill; and
       Whereas Federal disaster response procurement law 
     recognizes a preference for local firms in the award of 
     contracts for disaster relief activities: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil 
     spill on the way of life, economy, and natural resources of 
     the Gulf Coast States;
       (2) supports the continued public and private efforts to 
     stop the oil spill, mitigate further damage to our treasured 
     Gulf Coast, and clean up of this environmental disaster; and
       (3) urges British Petroleum (BP) to give all due 
     consideration to individuals, businesses, and organizations 
     of the States directly impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil 
     spill where practicable, as BP considers services or products 
     related to ongoing efforts in the Gulf of Mexico associated 
     with this tragic oil spill.

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