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Earlier today, Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) delivered the following opening statement during the House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigation Subcommittee hearing titled “The Role of the Interior Department in the Deepwater Horizon Disaster.”  Video of the opening statement can be found on Congressman Latta’s YouTube Channel.   

(as delivered and for the record)
MR. CHAIRMAN; MR. BURGESS: Thank you for holding this subcommittee hearing on the Interior Department’s role in the Deepwater Horizon Disaster and I thank our witnesses for appearing today.  

Last month, I had strong words for BP CEO Tony Hayward when he testified in front of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee and since then I have reiterated that BP needs to be held accountable for this disaster of epic proportions.   However, I have also been awaiting the opportunity to hear from and question Department of Interior officials regarding their role in the Deepwater Horizon disaster, especially since President Obama has repeatedly said that he and his Administration are “in charge” and take responsibility for the response effort, as the law so requires.

Earlier this month, I traveled with some of our colleagues to the Gulf to tour the Louisiana coast and meet with community leaders and residents who have been affected by the disastrous BP oil spill.  While I was encouraged by the spirit of the hard-working local residents, it is clear that they are frustrated by the federal response, and the lack of coordination amongst the government agencies.  The trip reinforced my belief that it is critical we find out what went wrong and how and why it happened – this includes a thorough investigation into the current Administration’s actions leading up to the incident and during the response.

Furthermore, I believe the Administration’s moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf is devastating to the region and I would like to hear about the Interior’s role in making this decision.  A recent report by a nationally-renowned economist from LSU states that the loss of 8,000 jobs, nearly a half billion dollars in wages, and over $2.1 billion in economic activity will be triggered in just the first six months of this moratorium.  The Administration would have been better advised at stopping the flow of oil instead of focusing on imposing the drilling moratorium, this in spite of a federal judge overturning the first moratorium and calling it “arbitrary and “capricious.”

Mr. Chairman, I look forward to hearing the testimony today and I yield back.