Democrats Eye New Oil Legislation Before August Recess

By Alexa Gitler-Talk Radio News Service

Before Congress leaves for its annual August recess, Democrats are eager to pass a series of measures in both the House and the Senate that would set new minimum safety standards for wells and require offshore drilling rigs to be built in the United States.

The House is set to debate and vote on a 238-page drilling package on Friday. The legislation, which attempts to stitch together several drilling bills advanced by committees in recent weeks, includes a bipartisan measure  that would set minimum standards for the design of wells, cement barriers at the sites and blowout preventers that are designed as a last defense against uncontrolled surges of oil and natural gas. The second measure, a 16-page bill, is aimed at allowing whistleblowers in the industry to voice their opinions without fear of retribution.

The package, which will be amended this week, would also bar companies with bad safety records from drilling on federal land.