[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 74 (Thursday, May 26, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S3448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ROCKEFELLER:
  S. 1140. A bill to provide for restoration of the coastal areas of 
the Gulf of Mexico affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I rise today to reintroduce 
legislation previously sponsored by a Member of the Commerce Science 
and Transportation Committee in the 111th Congress that would direct 
funds from the administrative, civil, and criminal penalties stemming 
from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to fund coastal and marine 
restoration, research and education, as well as promote tourism and 
economic development in the coastal Gulf states. The bill that I 
introduce today, the Gulf Coast Restoration Act, is identical to the 
bill by the same name introduced in the 111th Congress and referred to 
the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.
  To remind my colleagues, under Senate Rule XXV(f), the Commerce 
Committee possesses broad jurisdiction, including over ``Coast Guard . 
. . coastal zone management . . . interstate commerce . . . marine and 
ocean navigation, safety and transportation, including navigational 
aspects of deepwater ports . . . marine fisheries . . . merchant marine 
and navigation . . . oceans . . . regulation of consumer products and 
services including testing related to toxic substances . . . science, 
engineering, and technology research and development and policy . . . 
transportation, and the transportation and commerce aspects of Outer 
Continental Shelf Lands.'' As Chairman of the Committee I am well aware 
that individual Members of my Committee have strong views on all of 
these issues.
  In the coming weeks, the Commerce Committee will be reviewing and 
considering a legislative package in a renewed effort to respond the 
Gulf oil spill. My introduction of the bill today is intended to 
clearly establish that the Commerce Committee continues to hold strong 
views about how to direct funding from the assessed penalties back to 
restoring the Gulf economy and environment. It is also intended to 
assert the Commerce Committee will conduct its oversight over the 
promotion of commerce, as well as over ocean and coastal programs, and 
reserve its rights to review and consider the authorization of programs 
needed to support the economic recovery of the Gulf, and the long term 
restoration of Gulf ecosystems. Finally, introduction of this bill is 
intended to provide Commerce Committee Members with the opportunity to 
ensure that needed baseline science is put in place, along with 
emergency response technology and programs, to support improved 
offshore energy decisions in the future. I look forward to revising 
this bill following introduction to reflect the views of the Committee.
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