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Ranking Member Burgess: Why Are Energy And Commerce Democrats Shielding Secretary Salazar From A Hearing On The Oil Spill?

Washington, June 24, 2010
Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement after Committee Democrats announced the postponement of the Secretary Salazar hearing on the Gulf Coast oil spill, scheduled for Tuesday, June 29, 2010. “It has been 66 days since the spill began, and we still have no sworn testimony or documents from the Obama Administration before this Committee. “Secretary Salazar has already testified – alone – before three other House and Senate Committees. Why the Energy and Commerce Democrats think they need to shield him from the Committee’s members is a mystery.
Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement after Committee Democrats announced the postponement of the Secretary Salazar hearing on the Gulf Coast oil spill, scheduled for Tuesday, June 29, 2010.

“It has been 66 days since the spill began, and we still have no sworn testimony or documents from the Obama Administration before this Committee.

“Secretary Salazar has already testified – alone – before three other House and Senate Committees. Why the Energy and Commerce Democrats think they need to shield him from the Committee’s members is a mystery.

“What is it Democrats are trying to gain by postponing this important hearing with the head of a key federal agency behind the oil spill and response? What is it that the Democrats are trying to hide by keeping the relevant federal agencies out of the investigation?

“Given the frustration of the public with BP and the Administration’s handling of the oil spill and response, one would think the Democrats would be eager to find out why federal authorities approved BP drilling plans and what role the federal government played in responding to the oil spill. We need answers to a host of questions and soon – the American people are demanding answers now.

“Secretary Salazar had already agreed to be present for next Tuesday’s hearing, so it appears that the Democrats are delaying this hearing for purely political reasons. The Majority has set up the greatest Witness Protection program this Congress has seen.”

Burgess has requested several times that the relevant federal agencies come before the Oversight and Investigations subcommittee to testify on their role as it relates to the Gulf Coast oil spill. Burgess sent a letter on May 4, 2010, requesting that the appropriate federal agencies testify before the Committee on the oil spill. And in last week’s hearing with BP CEO Tony Hayward, Burgess pressed Subcommittee Chairman Stupak on when federal representatives would appear before the subcommittee.


Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D., is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations, and a member of the Health and Energy & Environment subcommittees. He is also a member of the bipartisan, bicameral Joint Economic Committee. Prior to becoming a member of Congress in 2002, Congressman Burgess practiced medicine in North Texas for over 25 years.