WASHINGTON — When BP Chief Executive Officer Tony Hayward appeared before a House panel Thursday, Democratic Rep. Mike Ross told the man who has become the face of the Gulf oil spill that he was “frustrated and downright angry” at the company’s response to the crisis.
“It seems apparent that BP put profit before safety,” said Ross, a member of the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on oversight and investigations, which summoned BP’s top executive for his first congressional appearance.
Ross, whose 4th Congressional District includes much of southern Arkansas, said the impact of the spill reaches beyond the Gulf coast.
“The jobs and economies of the surrounding states are hurting, as well,” he told Hayward. “My state of Arkansas borders Louisiana. And many of my constituents, people I know in my hometown, work on offshore rigs. These jobs are also at risk, and I hope BP will take responsibility for all those who are affected by this spill, regardless of where they live, and work to help pull them through this disaster, as well.”
Later in the hearing, Ross joined the sharp bipartisan questioning of Hayward.
“I don’t know if BP quite understands how angry the American people and the world is at them,” the congressman said. “I can tell you it’s rare that you see Democrats and Republicans on this panel agreeing with one another.”
Ross asked Hayward about the decision-making process before the April 20 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig. He also asked about the relief wells being drilled to help stem the flow of oil and about how the company will dispose of the solid and liquid waste being created by the cleanup.
“It seems to me that BP has not been honest with the American people,” Ross said. “It’s not been honest with our government. And it seems as though you’re trying to hide something.”
Arkansas’ two Democratic senators took steps to respond to the recent flash flooding at the Albert Pike Recreation Area in Montgomery County.
On Wednesday, Sen. Mark Pryor met with officials from the U.S. Forest Service to discuss how campers could be better warned when severe weather is approaching.
“The bottom line is I want these campgrounds to stay open” because thousands of families have used them for decades, Pryor told reporters.
He said that such flooding had never occurred before at Albert Pike, but “now that it has happened we need to look at various campsites to make sure that they are safe and that people can get the adequate warning ... to avoid this type of tragedy in the future.”
On Thursday, Sen. Blanche Lincoln placed comments in the Congressional Record honoring the 20 people killed in the June 11 flash flooding at the campground.
In the statement, Lincoln offered condolences to the victims’ families and praise for those who rallied to help. She also included the names of those who died.
“It was heartbreaking to hear the stories of those who struggled to make it out alive - and those who were not so fortunate,” Lincoln said. “There were many true heroes - of all ages - who continued to rescue others even when they knew members of their own families had perished and in the face of unbelievable personal danger.”
Also on Thursday, Lincoln testified in support of the Rural Energy Savings Program Act, a bipartisan bill designed to promote job creation and energy efficiency in rural America.
Lincoln said the legislation would “help put Arkansans back to work and help consumers save on energy costs, while in turn increasing energy conservation.” Lincoln and Pryor are among the 18 co-sponsors of the bill, which was introduced in March by Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon.
Her comments came during a hearing of the Senate Agriculture subcommittee on energy, science and technology. The Rural Energy Savings Program would create a $4.9 billion loan program for energy-efficiency upgrades to homes or businesses, which would be administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Bill Hanesworth, vice president and general manager of the Rheem Air Conditioning Division in Fort Smith, also testified that the legislation would create jobs and spur demand for products such as those made at the Arkansas plant, which has 1,300 employees.
At the same time, Hanesworth said, the measure would help families afford to increase the energy efficiency of their homes, which would ultimately reduce their expenses.
“Government incentives that encourage investment inhome energy efficiency are powerful tools to help support the American consumer and the industries that supply them,” he said. “The Rural Energy Savings Program Act in particular is critically important to energy-efficiency efforts because it lowers the cost barrier faced by consumers interested in investing in energy efficiency.”
The bill is pending before the Agriculture Committee, which is headed by Lincoln.
Members of the Arkansas congressional delegation announced federal funding last week for a number of projects throughout the state, including:
More than $22 million in grants to 106 housing authorities in Arkansas from the U.S.Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under its Capital Fund program to develop, modernize and better manage public housing units.
The grants are part of more than $2.3 billion awarded to more than 3,000 public housing authorities nationwide to make capital improvements.
More than $1.2 million in Department of Transportation funding for repairs and new construction at 10 Arkansas airports - Bearce Airport in Mount Ida, Bentonville Municipal Airport (Louise M. Thaden Field), Blytheville Municipal Airport, Frank Federer Memorial Airport in Brinkley, Howard County Airport in Nashville, Kirk Field in Paragould, Marion County Regional Airport in Flippin, Manila Municipal Airport, Mena Intermountain Municipal Airport, and Osceola Municipal Airport.
A $355,116 U.S. Justice Department grant to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration to continue its “Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners” program at correctional facilities in the state.
A $125,000 grant for the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services to continue its Arkansas Empowering Older Adults Project, which offers disease-prevention programs for senior citizens. Funds will go to four nonprofit agencies that provide services for senior citizens throughout the state to help older individuals manage their health.
Eligible senior citizens can enroll in programs at CareLink in North Little Rock, the Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Arkansas in Harrison, the East Arkansas Area Agency on Aging in Jonesboro, and the Area Agency on Aging of West Central Arkansas in Hot Springs.
Front Section, Pages 6 on 06/20/2010