Miller BP Fine Bill Would Aid Local Economy

April 6, 2011

Congressmen Jeff Miller and Steve Southerland, II introduced legislation Tuesday that would require a portion of the fines paid by BP for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill be used for economic development along the affected shores of the Gulf Coast.

The Gulf Coast Economic and Tourism Restoration Act, or H.R. 1333, would distribute 40 percent of the BP fines to the local communities and states directly impacted by the oil spill for use in economic restoration and tourism promotion.

“The Gulf Coast continues to feel the economic impacts of the Gulf oil spill, and BP must be held accountable,” Miller said. “Florida businesses are struggling, the real estate market has slowed, and individuals are still looking for work. My bill would ensure the fines paid by BP for their mistake would be returned to our area and promote the economies of the local communities still reeling from last year’s disaster.”

Under the Clean Water Act, BP is expected to pay between $5 billion and $21 billion in fines, based on estimates of the flow of oil from the Macondo well. Miller’s and Southerland’s bill would distribute 40 percent of these fines to the five Gulf states affected by the spill and further require each governor to send 75 percent of their allocation to the local communities directly impacted. A key component of the legislation is its focus on the economy, requiring that any funds spent be used specifically for economic development or tourism.

“North and Northwest Florida’s economy is heavily dependent upon Gulf Coast wildlife, fisheries, tourism, and real estate,” Southerland said. “This legislation is a critical step forward in ensuring that coastal families and small businesses receive the support they so desperately need to recover from the Deepwater Horizon spill.”

Comments

4 Responses to “Miller BP Fine Bill Would Aid Local Economy”

  1. Jane on April 9th, 2011 7:55 am

    Even though many qualified people told them the dispersant they were using would be toxic, OUR GOVERNMENT let them spray this into the Gulf. Yes, BP is responsible but our own government allowed the dispersant to be sparyed regardless of the effects in the Exon Valdez oil spill. Have we not learned ANYTHING from this? We need to make it clear to our government that this dispersant is as toxic as the oil spill was! At least oil is a naturally occuring element of nature…the dispersant is not. Send an email to Mr. Miller and ask him how he plans to fix THAT?!

  2. Kay on April 7th, 2011 11:47 am

    @just thinking.

    I like your idea if only we could…….

  3. Just thinking on April 6th, 2011 10:53 pm

    I think we should pull all of our troops out of the Middle East and let them fight each other as much as they want , then use the military $$ to buy every licensed driver in the US an ELECTRIC CAR. Then we will not need their stupid oil.

  4. Kay on April 6th, 2011 9:43 am

    This is another stupid thing. We will not know the impact to which the BP
    spill has impacted this state, our businesses, job growth, tourism, waters,
    or fish and marine life for years and years. They should pay and pay and
    pay for this one. It is no different than the Exxon Valdez spill and the
    fish population there has never returned to normal. There are some fish that
    never returned and most likely now they feel never will. How much money
    is that kind of impact worth

    BP sprayed a chemical into our ocean that was many times more toxic
    than the oil itself. How long before some of Ocean just dies? How long
    before the NEW CANCER shows up and who will have it, the FISH, US.
    OR BOTH?

    Will florida, business owners, or our waters and marine life ever be the same?

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News