Welch visits BP oil spill with bipartisan delegation

Rep. Peter Welch on May 7 took part in a bipartisan congressional delegation trip to the Gulf of Mexico to see the devastating impact of the BP oil spill on the Gulf Coasts environment and economy.

Welch and seven other members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee conducted a fly-over of the oil spill with experts from the U.S. Geological Service and the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration. They were briefed at the Unified Command Center in Robert, La., by the Coast Guard and the Department of Interior. Finally, they will meet with local officials, members of response teams and Gulf residents and businesses affected by the spill at Hopedale, La., one of the oil spill response staging areas.