Washington, DC -- Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) issued the following statement following the news that the Federal government will be filing suit seeking damages from BP stemming from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico this summer.  Rep. Engel is a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

 

“BP spent the entire summer failing to tell the American people the truth after their well, and their lack of any clear ability to clean up after themselves, led to massive damage to the Gulf region.  I agree with the actions taken by the federal government.  Justice must be served for what happened to the environment, and especially for what happened to the people of the Gulf, many of whom have seen their livelihood shattered because of this incident. 

 

“The House passed the Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources (CLEAR) Act of 2010, (HR 3534) to hold oil companies fully accountable for spills and badly needed investments in habitat and land conservation. The oil spill catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico illustrates the simple fact that drilling for oil and gas is inherently risky, and poses a threat to people, our economy and the environment.  I also introduced the Denial of Certain Tax Benefits to Offending Oil Polluters Act of 2010 following BP’s attempts to secure tax breaks as businesses in the Gulf lay in ruins.

 

“BP has failed on so many levels to reverse their damage, if litigation is necessary to make them take responsibility and pay their fair share, then the Administration has my full support.”

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