(Washington, D.C.) –
Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) joined Washington state fishermen and
small business owners at Fisherman’s Terminal in Seattle to discuss how the devastating
impact of the Exxon Valdez oil spill emphasizes the need to hold BP accountable
for the Gulf Coast spill and make sure a similar catastrophe never happens off
of the West Coast.
Murray was joined by
Margaret Hall, the owner of a seafood processing plant who spoke
about how she was devastated after the Exxon Valdez oil spill and her business
has never been the same. Richard Tarabochia and his son Ryan also spoke.
Their family has been fishing for three generations, but after the Exxon Valdez
oil spill they had to fight to get the compensation they deserved and they
ended up losing their livelihood.
At the event today, Murray
discussed a bill she co-sponsored, the Big
Oil Bailout Prevention Act, which would make sure that BP is held
accountable and Washington state taxpayers are not left holding the bag for Big
Oil’s mistakes. She also talked about her strong support for a West
Coast drilling ban to make sure that the devastation we are seeing now in
the Gulf never happens off the shores of Washington state. She noted
that Washington state’s coastal region supports 150,000 jobs and generates
almost 10 billion in economic activity – all of which would be threatened if
drilling were allowed to happen off the West Coast.
Key excerpts from
Senator Murray’s remarks:
“Today we are
going to hear about livelihoods that were lost, jobs that disappeared, and
lives that were impacted—all at the hands of a big oil company that promised to
pay for the damages it caused when the spotlight was on them, but failed to
deliver once the public eye moved elsewhere.”
“So knowing what I know about what happened here, when
it comes to BP’s promises to cover all the costs associated with this disaster
– I’m sorry – but I’m not ready to take them at their word.”
“My bill writes into law something that shouldn’t be
controversial: Taxpayers should never be asked to bail out big oil
companies; And fisherman and small businesses owners shouldn’t have to worry
about being left holding the bag.”
“To me, this is a simple issue of fairness—if an oil
company causes a spill, they should be the one to pay to clean it up—and they
should be the ones to fully compensate those affected— not the taxpayers. And
it shouldn’t have to be a fight.”
“I am also going to keep fighting to make sure what is
happening now in the Gulf Coast never happens here off of our coasts.
Because I don’t even want to imagine what would happen to our economy and our
environment if there was an oil spill off of our shores—it would be a disaster.
“I’ve always been opposed to drilling off of
Washington state, and this tragedy is just one more painful reminder of the
potential consequences of opening up the West Coast to drilling.”
“As we will hear shortly, the economic and
environmental devastation caused by the Exxon Valdez disaster is still
impacting families, small business owners, and industries in my state”.
“Washington state’s coastal region supports over
150,000 jobs and generates almost 10 billion in economic activity – all of
which would be threatened if drilling were allowed to happen off the West
Coast. “
That’s why I’m going to keep fighting for a West Coast
Oil Drilling Ban to make sure big oil companies are never allowed to roll
the dice with Washington state’s economy and environment, and these waters
behind us remain clean and open for business.”
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