House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement regarding the final report and recommendations from the President’s National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. The House Natural Resources Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing, with testimony from Commission Co-Chairs William Reilly and Bob Graham, on Wednesday, January 26^th at 2:00 PM.

“From day one I’ve stressed the importance of having all the facts surrounding this disaster so that Congress, the federal government and industry can make smart, educated, and effective reforms. This Commission report, findings from other investigations, and Committee hearings will all be used to determine the appropriate next steps.

“Congress needs to ensure that offshore energy production meets the highest safety standards, but as gasoline prices continue to rise we cannot allow ourselves to become increasingly dependent on hostile foreign nations for our energy needs. Our economic competitiveness, American jobs and our national security are all dependent on getting this right and finding responsible ways to move forward with offshore and onshore American energy production.

“Several of the recommendations put forward deserve real consideration and will be more closely examined during our Committee hearings. Reforms should accomplish our shared goals of improving safety, allowing drilling to move forward in a timely manner, and putting people back to work. Proposals that prolong the de facto moratorium in the Gulf, cost American jobs, or delay future energy production will be viewed skeptically in both the House and Senate.

“I look forward to hearing directly from Chairmen Reilly and Graham later this month and from the Department of the Interior and industry in the future about how some of these recommendations should be implemented.”

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