Today, Congressman Anh "Joseph" Cao (LA-02) appeared on C-Span to discuss the BP oil spill, telling Washington Journal host Paul Orgel  he was "worried" and "angry" yesterday when BP officials described for members of Congress a "worst case scenario" in which leaks from a sea floor well could grow in volume to 60,000 barrels a day--a 12-fold increase from the current leakage of 5,000 barrels a day.

Cao said, "My first reaction was worry.  I worry for the seafood industry of Louisiana.  I worry for the small businesses of Louisiana that will be impacted.   And I worry for the many fishermen whose livelihood will be affected.  And after the initial feeling of worry, obviously, the second feeling was anger.   Anger that we’re not doing enough to address this oil spill.  That from the very beginning there has been a lack of a comprehensive plan to address the spill and address the cleanup."

Cao said the disaster lends support for Louisiana's claim to royalties and lease fees currently collected by the federal government from the oil and gas industry on drilling in U.S. waters off its coast.  Cao said, "Traditionally, Louisiana has not received any revenue sharing, and we’ve been  the hub of the oil and gas industry.  Our coast has been devastated, but at the same time we’re not receiving the necessary money to restore our coast."  Currently, Louisiana and three other states--Mississippi, Alabama and Texas--are scheduled to begin sharing in 37.5% of royalties on new leases beginning in 2017.  Cao called for that revenue sharing to begin immediately.

Cao described the widespread anxiety and fear the spill has generated throughout Louisiana's second Congressional district.  He said,  "I had a tele-townhall  last night in which there were about 10,000 participants, and they were concerned for their health.   They were concerned for their businesses.   Many people are concerned about jobs—tourism has been affected.  Conventions I believe have been cancelled.   And quite frankly, people are rightly concerned because when I walk out of my front house I can smell the oil residue from my house."   

Cao said he was "disappointed" to learn during his meeting in Louisiana on Friday with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and other administration officials that "there was no comprehensive plan for the federal agencies to work in conjunction with BP over the issues."  He added, "They were supposed to work out the plan over the weekend, and hopefully there’s one in place."

Meanwhile, the Obama administration announced Napolitano will travel back to the Gulf Coast on Thursday.  She will be accompanied by Department of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco to inspect staging areas for protective boom deployments in Biloxi, Mississippi and Pensacola, Florida.   EPA Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe will travel to Louisiana on Thursday to review EPA's ongoing air and water monitoring activities.  

Cao will also be back in Louisiana this weekend to oversee the containment and cleanup operation--Louisiana's last line of defense against the encroaching oil slick.

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