Loose Federal Oversight Contributed To Oil Spill, Says Top House Democrat

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Tuesday that the federal agency tasked with quality oversight of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig that exploded last month, spilling millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, could have done more to prevent the catastrophe.

When asked during his weekly news briefing whether the Minerals Management Service (MMS), an agency within the Department of Interior, should have been firmer with BP, the company in control of operating the site, about installing proper spill prevention mechanisms in recent years, Hoyer responded by saying, “I think that’s accurate, I think you’re right.”

"I think there was a sense that [MMS] wasn't on top of this," he added. "That's why [MMS Associate Director Chris Oynes] is retiring."

Hoyer also said he expects the House to hold a vote on imposing sanctions against Iran before the upcoming holiday recess.

"I think it's very important that we pass the Iran sanctions conference report prior to leaving on Memorial Day," he said. "I'm hopeful that...we will have it on the floor next week."

Earlier in the day, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced during a hearing held by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the U.S. had reached an agreement with four permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- including Russia and China -- on ordering sanctions.