Fact Sheet: Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Legislative Package

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a massive and potentially unprecedented environmental disaster which can seriously damage the economy and environment of our Gulf states and could jeopardize the livelihoods of thousands of Americans who live throughout the Gulf region. From the beginning, the President has been clear that the Administration will not rest until this leak is contained and cleaned up and that we will aggressively pursue full compensation for damages from BP and other responsible parties. That is why the President today sent Congress a legislative package that will: enable the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill response to continue expeditiously, speed assistance to people affected by this spill, and strengthen and update the oil spill liability system to better address catastrophic events. While we are asking for additional funds in some cases, the federal government will not relent in pursuing full compensation from the responsible parties for the expenses it has incurred and for the damage caused by the spill. We will do everything in our power to protect our natural resources, rebuild what has been damaged, and help the Gulf region to persevere as it has done so many times before.

A ROBUST RESPONSE

Immediate Funding
The bill would permit the Coast Guard to obtain one or more advances — up to $100 million each — from the Principal Fund within the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to underwrite Federal response activities taken in connection with the discharge of oil that began in 2010 in connection with the explosion on, and sinking of, the mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater Horizon.

Food Safety
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) operates a safety program for all fish and fishery products under the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, the Public Health Service Act, and related regulations. The FDA program includes research, inspection, laboratory analysis, compliance, enforcement, and outreach. This bill would provide $2 million to the FDA to monitor and respond to the environmental impact of the oil on seafood fished from the gulf and surrounding areas. These efforts could include, but are not limited to, testing and deploying technology to speed the analysis of seafood samples for contamination that could harm consumers.

Monitoring and Improving Off Shore Oil Exploration
The legislation will provide $29 million for the Secretary of the Interior for additional inspections, enforcement, studies and other activities that are outside of those recoverable from the responsible parties or the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. In addition, the bill would extend the time allowed by statute for the Minerals Management Service to review and approve oil and gas lessee exploration plans to allow additional time for the required review.

Environmental Studies
The legislation would also provide funding to the Environmental Protection Agency ($2 million), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ($5 million) for various environmental studies that improve the federal response to the spill.

ASSISTANCE TO AFFECTED INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES
The legislation enables the Federal government to speed assistance in the event the spill gets worse and if the responsible parties are not paying claims to affected individuals quickly and fairly.

Oil Spill Unemployment Assistance
This proposal would create a new program of unemployment assistance to workers who are unemployed as a result of a spill of national significance. The program is modeled after the Disaster Unemployment Assistance program, and, if activated, it would provide up to 26 weeks of benefits to the self-employed, as well as other workers ineligible for regular unemployment compensation. This includes self-employed workers, which is particularly important to the commercial and charter fishermen along the Gulf Coast who may lose wages because of the spill. Benefit levels are determined by state law.

Nutrition Assistance
This proposal would enable those impacted by a spill of national significance who might not ordinarily qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to become eligible for the program. People who are already participating in the regular SNAP may be eligible for additional benefits as well. In addition, certification is streamlined both in terms of fewer eligibility factors and reduced procedural requirements