For immediate release: Monday, June 14, 2010
Contact: Oversight Committee Press Office, (202) 225-5051

Statement from Chairman Towns and Ranking Member Issa on the Committee Tour of the BP Oil Spill

New Orleans, LA -- House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Edolphus "Ed" Towns (D-NY) and Ranking Member Darrell Issa (R-CA) today released the following joint statement after the committee's tour of the oil spill off the coast of New Orleans, LA and briefing by the Unified Command:

"Today we viewed a portion of the enormous footprint of this tragic oil spill. We are deeply disturbed by the sight of the spill and we have serious questions regarding the failures of both industry and government to put in place the necessary safeguards to expedite containment of a spill of this magnitude.

"If our nation intends to pursue an energy policy that includes deep sea drilling we need to ensure that regulations are in place, and diligent oversight implemented, to prevent a future spill. We have a moral obligation to ensure that our environment is protected as well as the economies that rely on our nation's waters for their livelihoods. We will continue to pursue an aggressive investigation of the spill to get the American people answers they deserve."

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