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Senator Murray’s speech on the Senate floor
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(Washington, D.C.) –
Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) called on Republicans to end their obstruction
and allow passage of the Big
Oil Bailout Prevention Act. This bill, co-sponsored by Senator Murray,
would make sure taxpayers won’t have to pay to clean up spills and oil
companies are held accountable for the economic costs resulting from their
accidents. Shortly following Senator Murray’s speech, Senate Republicans once
again objected to the passage of the legislation.
“Once
again Senate Republicans have blocked efforts to make sure that taxpayers in
Washington state and across the country aren’t left holding the bag for big
oil’s mistakes,” said Senator Patty Murray. “To me, this is a simple issue of
fairness—if an oil company causes a spill, they should have to pay to clean it
up.”
More
information on the Big Oil Bailout Prevention Act
Key excerpts from
Senator Murray’s speech on the Senate floor:
“Who should be
responsible to clean this up? Who should bear the burden for big oil’s
mistakes? Should it be the taxpayers? Families and small business owners
who are already being asked to bear so much? Or should it be BP, the company
that is responsible for this spill and that made $6.1 billion in profit in the
first three months of 2010 alone?”
“I believe BP needs to
be held accountable for the environmental and economic damage of this spill.
And I will fight to make sure taxpayers don’t end up losing a single dime to
pay for the mess this big oil company created. To me, this is an issue of
fundamental fairness: if an oil company causes a spill, they should be the one
to pay to pay to clean it up, not the taxpayers.”
“I was extremely
disappointed when this bill was blocked by some Republicans last week.
But I am going to keep fighting for the Big Oil Bailout Prevention Act to
pass. And I’m going to keep fighting for families and taxpayers in
Washington state and across the country.”
“Because the bottom
line is this—if oil companies are going to make billions in profits when times
are good, they shouldn’t be allowed to leave taxpayers hanging when times
are tough.”
The full text of Senator
Murray’s speech follows:
“Mr. President, I come to
the floor today to strongly support the Big Oil Bailout Prevention Act.
“And to ask some simple
questions of every Senator who is considering objecting to this bill being
passed: Who are you fighting for? Who are you trying to help? Are you here
today to protect and shield the big oil companies? Or are you going to
fight for families and taxpayers?
“Mr. President, I know
where I stand. I came to the United States Senate to fight for families
and small business owners in my home state of Washington. And those are the
people I work for every single day.
“Moms and dads who are
working hard, paying their taxes, doing their best—but who have watched over
the last year as Wall St. executives and big banks derailed our economy then
held out their hand for a bailout from the rest of us.
“Men and women who have
stood by as their friends, family, and neighbors lost their jobs. Who have
driven by boarded up storefronts where neighborhood businesses had stood for
decades as anchors of the community.
“They have seen all this.
And they have also seen Wall St. and big banks go right back to their ‘bonus as
usual’ mentality.
“Acting like nothing ever
happened, handing out millions of taxpayer dollars to their executives, and
shamelessly sending lobbyists to Washington D.C. to try and water down reform.
“Families in Washington
state and across the country have seen all this—they are angry about it—and
they have good reason to be!
“But they should know
there are those of us who are fighting for them here in the United States
Senate. And I think the debate we are having today demonstrates clearly
who is standing up for them, and who’s not.
“Mr. President, here are
the facts.
“On April 20, 2010, there
was a massive blowout and explosion on a BP oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico.
Eleven workers are missing and presumed dead, and 17 more are injured.
“The explosion caused a
gushing spill that has poured hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil into the
Gulf—and threatens to spill millions more.
“It has created an
environmental and economic tragedy the magnitude of which we have only just
begun to comprehend. It is threatening entire communities and industries. And
the oil and chemicals dispersants being sprayed into the Gulf have the
potential to kill underwater wildlife and create underwater “dead zones” for
years and years to come.
“Those are the facts.
“Now Mr. President, the
questions are: Who should be responsible to clean this up? Who
should bear the burden for big oil’s mistakes?
“Should it be the
taxpayers? Families and small business owners who are already being asked to
bear so much? Or should it be BP—the company that is responsible for this spill
and that made $6.1 billion in profit in the first three months of 2010 alone?
“Mr. President, I
co-sponsored the Big Oil Bailout Prevention Act because to me, the answer is
clear.
“I believe BP needs to be
held accountable for the environmental and economic damage of this spill.
And I will fight to make sure taxpayers don’t end up losing a single dime to
pay for the mess this big oil company created.
“To me, this is an issue
of fundamental fairness: if an oil company causes a spill, they should be the
one to pay to pay to clean it up—not the taxpayers.
“This bill raises the cap
on oil company liability from the current limit of 75 million dollars—a
pittance considering this spill’s potential damage, and a rounding error for
the big oil companies—and it raises it to 10 billion dollars.
“So taxpayers will never
be left holding the bag for big oil’s mistakes.
“This is straightforward.
It’s common sense. It’s fair. And it hits particularly close to home for
families in the Northwest who saw first-hand the devastation caused by the
Exxon Valdez disaster and the long and arduous battle over cleanup costs.
“So I have to say, Mr.
President, I was extremely disappointed when this bill was blocked by some Republicans
last week. But I am going to keep fighting for the Big Oil Bailout
Prevention Act to pass. And I’m going to keep fighting for families and
taxpayers in Washington state and across the country.
“Because the bottom line
is this—if oil companies are going to make billions in profits when times are
good, they shouldn’t be allowed to leave taxpayers hanging when times are
tough.
“The Big Oil Bailout
Prevention Act writes this common-sense policy into law—and I urge every
Senator to side with the taxpayers and support this important legislation.
“Thank you, I yield the
floor.”
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