WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Edolphus “Ed” Towns (NY-10) recently voted in support of the Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources Act of 2010 ("CLEAR Act") that holds BP and responsible parties accountable for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The legislation will also prevent future oil spills and protect coastal communities.

“The measure we passed includes a set of strong reforms that respond directly to the Gulf Coast disaster that has disrupted the lives of millions of American families,” said Rep. Towns. “We want to ensure BP and other responsible parties – not taxpayers – are held accountable for costs associated with the disaster cleanup as well as costs related to this spill.”

In addition to holding the oil industry fully responsible for the cleanup costs of the oil spill, the newly passed legislation creates new safety measures and strengthens oversight of oil drilling. Specifically, the CLEAR Act will:

•    Implement new strong safety measures for offshore oil drilling.

•    Hold BP and other oil companies fully responsible for the cleanup costs and recovery by removing the $75 million cap on economic damages to be paid to families and small businesses.

•    Strengthen oversight of oil drilling by dismantling the current scandal-ridden agency, Minerals Management Service (MMS), in charge.

•    Restore the Gulf Coast and protect local residents.

•    Provide taxpayer protections to make oil companies pay their fair share for drilling on public lands.

•    Protect offshore oil and gas workers who report violations or practices that endanger the public to state and federal government authorities.

“The CLEAR Act will assist in the recovery of the Gulf Coast and strengthen the protection of our water and coastal communities,” said Rep. Towns. “At the same time, we are working ensure oil companies are held to a higher standard of safety and responsibility.”

In May, Rep. Towns, who is chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, launched a comprehensive investigation into the serious lapses in oversight and regulatory failures at MMS in the years leading up to the Deepwater Horizon disaster. As part of the committee’s investigation into the disaster, Rep. Towns led a tour in June of areas off the coast of New Orleans affected by the oil spill.

Late last month, Rep. Towns convened a hearing to examine the reorganization of MMS. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Michael Bromwich, the newly appointed head of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), testified on the agency's plan to reform the MMS.

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Return to Congressman Towns' website