[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 13, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E710]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR STRENGTHENING SAFETY STANDARDS FOR OFFSHORE 
           BLOWOUT PREVENTERS AND EMERGENCY SHUTOFF EQUIPMENT

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                            HON. JAY INSLEE

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 13, 2011

  Mr. INSLEE. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to once again to introduce the 
Offshore Drilling Safety Improvement Act.
  As we rapidly approach the one-year anniversary of the catastrophic 
Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which killed 11 workers and dumped 
hundreds of millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, we must 
confront the fact that Congress still has yet to pass comprehensive 
safety reform for offshore oil drilling. A year after toxic sludge 
drenched the Gulf beaches, communities are still suffering from 
economic ramifications of the loss of tourism and fishing.
  Last year, after numerous congressional hearings and months of hard 
work, the House passed the Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic, 
CLEAR, Act, a comprehensive approach to make sure American jobs and 
coastlines are protected. Among other beneficial improvements, the 
CLEAR Act included important provisions requiring better technology on 
blowout preventers and other commonsense safety reforms. Unfortunately, 
the bill did not make it through the Senate, and over the last few 
months the House has yet to pass similar legislation.
  That is why I am once again, with bipartisan support, introducing the 
Offshore Drilling Safety Improvement Act. This act strengthens the 
standards for safety equipment on offshore oil rigs by requiring the 
use of the best available technology for blowout preventers and 
emergency shutoff equipment. It will also require the Administration to 
consider independent and reputable science and expertise when 
determining appropriate equipment. It is one vital piece of the larger, 
comprehensive effort to create a regulatory system that protects 
American jobs, coasts, and communities.
  We may never know for sure what exactly caused the disastrous leak 
but we do know that we must work together to protect our shores and 
local economies from future spills. Other countries around the world 
require more comprehensive emergency safety equipment. It is time that, 
in the places we decide to drill, we are using the best safety 
equipment available.

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