Chairman Rockefeller Remarks on Today’s Executive Session

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Good afternoon, and welcome to today’s executive session. We have a full docket today and some very important bills up for consideration: bills that will help grow our economy, secure our waterways, and preserve the health of our marine ecosystems.

Key Quotes from Hearing on Defending U.S. Economic Interests in the Arctic

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Senate Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard Subcommittee today convened a hearing on defending U.S. economic interests in the changing Arctic. The hearing examined how the United States can better position itself to take advantage of emerging economic opportunities in the Arctic region and assess whether federal agencies are proactively positioning themselves to promote U.S. Arctic interests, and whether they have adequate capacity to meet their goals in the region.

Key Quotes from Hearing on Lessons in Prevention, Response, and Restoration from the Gulf Oil Spill

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Senate Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard Subcommittee today convened a hearing on lessons in prevention, response, and restoration from the Gulf oil spill. The hearing examined the ongoing response to and lessons learned from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In addition, the Subcommittee addressed the continuing challenges relevant agencies and stakeholders face in the wake of the spill, the state of progress of damage assessment and restoration activities, and recommendations for improving the nation’s oil spill prevention and response capacity, and ensuring the long term successful restoration in the Gulf.

Rockefeller Remarks on Lessons in Prevention, Response, and Restoration from the Gulf Oil Spill

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The goal of today’s hearing is to get an update on the Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent leak that covered 1,600 miles of the Gulf Coast with oil. It’s unacceptable to me that more than a year after the worst environmental disaster in the Gulf, the responsible parties have not yet been held fully accountable. The Gulf of Mexico—the people, the coast, and the wildlife, is still waiting to be fully restored—and may never be.

Executive Session Summary

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held an executive session and favorably reported out the following legislation and nominations: