Matsui Statement on One Year Anniversary of BP Oil Spill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163

Matsui Statement on One Year Anniversary of BP Oil Spill

CA Today, on the one year anniversary of the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico, which killed eleven crew members and leaked an estimated 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA), released the following statement:

One year ago today, a tragically preventable accident that resulted in the loss of eleven American lives and the worst environmental disaster in our nation's history, occurred when the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. The BP Oil Spill devastated both the ecosystems and economies of the Gulf Coast. A year later, as the region continues to struggle towards recovery, this day serves as a difficult reminder of the risks that are a result of our nation's continued dependence on oil. We must not forget how the tragedy in the Gulf took lives, stymied the region's economy, and decimated the surrounding habitat.

More than ever before, America's leaders must commit ourselves to finding alternative sources of fuel, and to investing in our country's future by advancing clean energy technologies. Such technologies are better for our environment, our health, and our economy. As the BP Oil Spill showed us, we can no longer wait for our clean energy future. The future is now.

As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Congresswoman Matsui was an active participant in the hearings following the BP Oil Spill. To view her statement during last year's committee hearings, click here.

For more information about Congresswoman Matsui's work on clean energy, please visit www.matsui.house.gov.

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