House Approves Oil Spill Bill; Stalled in Senate

Demonstrator Mary Ann Thomas wears chocolate syrup on her face next to a similarly stained stuffed...

Demonstrator Mary Ann Thomas wears chocolate syrup on her face next to a similarly stained stuffed duck on a fence during a protest in Berkeley, Calif. on Friday, July 30, 2010 to mark the 100th day anniversary of BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

(AP)

The House has approved a bill to boost safety standards for offshore drilling and remove a liability cap for oil spills, but a partisan fight in the Senate will likely delay action on a response to the Gulf oil spill until Congress returns from its summer recess.

Democratic leaders hailed the House bill, approved Friday, as a comprehensive response to the devastating oil spill. They said it would increase drilling safety and crack down on polluting oil companies, such as BP.

Companies with significant workplace safety or environmental violations over the preceding seven years would be banned from new offshore drilling permits, and whistleblower protections would be extended to oil and gas workers who report hazardous conditions or other problems.

The measure was approved, 209-193.

Republicans and some-oil state Democrats opposed the bill, calling it a federal power grab that would raise energy prices and kill thousands of American jobs because of the liability provision and new fees to be imposed on oil and gas production.

Despite the House action, final approval of oil spill and energy legislation remains in doubt.

The House adjourned for its summer recess shortly after the vote, so Congress won't be able to approve a final bill until at least September. And Senate approval is anything but certain.

Democratic leaders conceded this week that they might not have the necessary 60 votes to advance their legislation, given the opposition of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and other Republicans.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has introduced a bill that tightens restrictions on offshore drilling and promotes energy efficiency, electric cars and the use of natural gas in trucks.

Reid, a Nevada Democrat, offered the bill after he realized he couldn't get 60 votes for more sweeping legislation that would have put a cap on carbon dioxide emissions blamed for global warming. But Democrats don't yet see 60 votes for the watered-down bill, either.