House Democrats introduce oil spill legislation

By Andrew Restuccia - 01/26/11 03:20 PM ET

Key House Democrats introduced legislation Wednesday to implement a series of recommendations outlined by the national oil spill commission.

But the legislation could face opposition from senior House Republicans, who have responded coolly to the spill commission’s report.

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) said Wednesday that it's important to "have all the facts and information surrounding the cause of this incident before there is a rush to judgment, or a rush to legislate."

The Democrats' legislation would remove the current $75 million cap on liability from a spill; divert 80 percent of spill-related fines to Gulf Coast restoration; create a “dedicated funding stream” for administration oversight of drilling; require companies to create “real, worst-case scenario oil spill response plans;” and impose new standards for blow-out preventers.

The bill is partly based on drilling legislation passed by the House last year.

The oil spill commission is making the rounds on Capitol Hill Wednesday. The commission’s co-chairmen testified before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Wednesday morning and are about to testify before the House Natural Resources Committee.

The oil spill legislation is co-sponsored by Reps. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) and George Miller (D-Calif.), among others.

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) said this week that he plans to introduce oil spill response legislation.