From CNN’s Lauren Pratapas
Congressmen introduce new oil rig safety legislation.
Washington (CNN)–Amid the tragedy unfolding in the Gulf Coast region, two U.S. congressmen have teamed up to prevent future devastating oil spills.
Republican congressmen Aaron Schock from Illinois and Adam Putnam from Florida introduced legislation Friday that would incorporate new safety and preventative measures that countries such as Norway and Brazil have already implemented.
Their bill, titled the Offshore Safety and Response Improvement Act, would require offshore oil rigs to have acoustic remote control emergency shut off devices.
“The recent calamity in the Gulf Coast has clearly illustrated we must improve our disaster planning and prevention as we mine for fossil fuels in the future,” said Schock, who sits on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
“We must correct this situation, and we must correct it now,” Putnam said. “Until we can develop new sources of energy, our nation will continue to depend on fossil fuels for many years to come. We must be able to access these resources in a way that is safe and environmentally sound.”
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