White House Conference Call on BP Oil Spill

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 12, 2010

TODAY: Senior Administration Officials Brief on BP Oil Spill Response Legislation


WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today at 10:00 AM EDT, senior Administration officials will detail legislation going to Congress that is targeted at strengthening the response to the BP oil spill and recovery efforts underway in the Gulf.

Participating in the on-the-record call are:

· Melody Barnes, Assistant to the President and Director, White House Domestic Policy Council;
· Carol Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change; and
· Jeff Liebman, Acting Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

The President has been clear that BP and any other responsible party will pay for all costs of stopping the spill in the Gulf and cleaning it up. To deal more generally with the harms created by oil spills, the White House is sending legislation to Congress to toughen and update the law surrounding caps on damages. The legislation also would provide important support for the fisheries industry and for workers who lose their jobs as a result of the spill. Additionally, the proposal would give federal agencies additional authorities to respond to disasters like Deepwater.

WHAT: Senior Administration Officials hold conference call on proposed White House legislation related to the oil spill in the Gulf Coast.

WHO: Assistant to the President and Director, White House Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Carol Browner and Acting Deputy Director of OMB Jeff Liebman

WHEN: Wednesday, May 12, 2010, 10:00 AM EDT

DIAL-IN: Media who wish to join this call should dial (800) 230-1766 and ask to join the “White House Call.”