DeGette Visits Gulf to Witness Reality of Oil Spill Tragedy; Hears Testimony From Local Businesses and Families Devastated by Spill

LOUISIANA – Today, Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-1) completed a two-day visit to the Gulf of Mexico, to witness first-hand the devastation to the region following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. On Sunday, DeGette joined with other Members of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations to tour the marshes impacted by the spilling oil over the last 49 days. Today, DeGette and her colleagues heard testimony from widows of men killed in the April 20 explosion, as well as from small businesses and community advocates struggling to address the challenges created by this tragedy.

"The Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill is a national tragedy, but as we are seeing here, its local effects are felt far more acutely," said DeGette as today's hearing opened. "More and more, it is apparent that this catastrophe was a man-made ‘perfect storm.' We're going to get to the bottom of what happened that day so it never happens again – so we never have to face the loss of human lives; the loss of ecosystems; the loss of economies; the loss of jobs – that has been the result."

Rep. DeGette questioned two panels of impacted individuals from the Gulf Coast region. The first panel provided perspective on the realities of working on the rig, from Natalie Roshto of Liberty, M.S., and Courtney Kemp of Jonesville, L.A., two widows whose husbands were killed in the Deepwater Horizon explosion. The second panel spoke to the business and environmental impact of the spill with testimony from: Kelby Linn, Owner, ACP Real Estate, Inc., and Vice President, Dauphin Island Chamber of Commerce; Clarence Duplessis, Braithwaite, Louisiana; Moby Solangi, Ph.D., President and Executive Director, Institute of Marine Mammal Services; and Wilma Subra, President, Subra Company.

In today's hearing, DeGette heard testimony regarding the failures of preparedness on the rig, including the need for better emergency training; the gaps in the chain of command, particularly between BP staff and their subcontractors' staff; the environmental impact of dispersant on the wildlife, including the specific devastation from the dolphins' current birthing season; the health hazards to workers cleaning up the spill who have not received proper equipment from BP; and the immediate economic devastation to local communities.

In one of the most revealing exchanges, Kelby Linn of Dauphin Island expressed frustration with the cumbersome process of filing economic loss claims, and the seemingly insurmountable challenges of recovering what's been lost. Linn told Rep. DeGette, "We as individuals with small businesses? We do not have a chance of fighting BP. We will not win that battle. But you guys? You guys can help us."

"And we intend to help you," responded DeGette. "We're going to stay on this until we do."

Last evening, Rep. DeGette toured the marshes outside of Venice, LA to survey the direct impact of the oil on the Gulf Coast's ecosystem. She described the significance of seeing the oil covering the marshes' sensitive vegetation, and the smell of oil in the air. "Witnessing the miles and miles of devastation first-hand, underscores the reality that this is a massive environmental disaster we are going to be living with for many years to come."