The US House of Representatives on Friday approved the toughest reforms ever to offshore energy drilling practices, as Democrats narrowly pushed through an election-year response to BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Passing the bill as the House leaves for its six-week recess gives lawmakers the opportunity to return home boasting they reined in Big Oil and held BP responsible for the worst offshore oil disaster in US history. The vote was 209-193 on the bill supported by President Barack Obama. But first, Gulf Coast Democrats won an amendment ending the federal moratorium on deepwater drilling for oil companies that met new safety requirements.
The Obama administration's moratorium would end in November. By the time the full Congress completes action on this offshore drilling bill - and it is uncertain that it will - it could be November or later. A similar offshore drilling bill is pending in the Senate, without the House's new provision to end the drilling moratorium. But it was unlikely that measure would pass before that chamber begins its summer recess on August 6.
House Republicans warned the bill would slash US oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico, a major supplier of domestic energy, and cut high-paying drilling jobs. "It will drive American companies out of the Gulf," said Republican Representative Kevin Brady. "This is a choice between American energy workers and foreign oil."
Democrats said the bill would make offshore drilling safer for workers, while also protecting the environment and Gulf Coast business from future oil spills like the one caused by BP that damaged wetlands and hurt the region's fishing and tourism industries.
The House vote on the bill was close, as several Democrats representing districts with strong oil industry interests joined Republicans in opposition. The House also approved a separate bill on Friday to give whistle-blower protection to workers who report violations in offshore drilling rules.