[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 26 (Friday, February 12, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H778]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              PORTER RANCH

  (Mr. SCHIFF asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the environmental 
tragedy affecting residents in Porter Ranch.
  Just a few miles from my district, and until yesterday, methane gas 
continued to leak into the air from one of the wells, spewing 110,000 
pounds of methane per hour. This leak began last October. The full 
health and environmental impacts of this unmitigated disaster may not 
be known for many years, and already it has displaced thousands of 
families and caused innumerable illnesses and property losses.
  Today I am calling on the U.S. Department of Energy to lead a 
comprehensive investigation into what caused this leak, its inadequate 
response, and to provide recommendations for mitigating the damage and 
preventing future incidents. This tragedy must never be repeated.
  Between Porter Ranch and Flint, Michigan, it is clear that both the 
government and the private sector are far from placing the priority we 
need on our families' health and their safety.

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