We Must Assure the American People That This Will Never Happen Again

Fortenberry speaks at a press conference this morning at the U.S. Capitol

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Jeff Fortenberry today joined House colleagues at a press conference to mark the 100 day anniversary of the BP Deepwater Horizon explosion that caused the oil leak in the Gulf Coast. Fortenberry issued the following statement:

“One hundred days since the explosion that began the leak, there are three main priorities: ensuring the leak remains stopped, ensuring the environment is cleaned up, and ensuring a disaster like this doesn’t happen again. Communities within the Gulf Coast are still struggling to contain the damage and prevent further landfall of oil still remaining in the Gulf. Local residents are exhausting themselves, doing all they can to save their land, way of life, and environment. The effects from this spill will not lie within just the Gulf Coast, but will be felt nationwide for years to come.

America needs a bold new sustainable energy future. This needs to be built in multiple chapters, including a strong emphasis on renewable energy, including biofuels, wind, and solar, but we must guarantee our domestic resources are used in an environmentally responsible way. As a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, I am particularly interested in the seemingly cozy relationship BP and other oil companies have had with the regulatory agency overseeing their practices, the Minerals Management Service (MMS). There were clear signs that BP had problems with this particular well. Yet BP’s corporate culture failed to take necessary precautions and questions remain as to whether the oversight agency was negligent.

I am continuing to dialogue with my colleagues in Congress about a way to move forward that both respects the wisdom and wishes of the local community and ensures that protective measures are safe and environmentally sound. We must assure the American people that this will never happen again.”