The Week Ahead (May 10-14)
May 7, 2010
02:56 PM
On Tuesday, May 11, the full committee will review issues related to deepwater offshore exploration for petroleum and the accident in the Gulf of Mexico involving the offshore oil rig Deepwater Horizon. Witnesses will be: Panel 1 -- Dr. F.E. Beck, associate professor, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX and Elmer Danenberger, former chief, Offshore Regulatory Program, Minerals Management Service; and Panel 2 -- Lamar McKay, president and chairman, BP America Inc., Houston; Steven Newman, president and chief executive, Transocean Ltd., Houston; and Tim Probert, president, global business lines and chief health, safety and environmental officer, Halliburton, Houston. (Kennedy Caucus Room, 325 Russell, 10:00 a.m.; overflow room is Dirksen 366)
For Reporters: This will be first time that officials from BP, Transocean and Halliburton will testify on Capitol Hill about the Deepwater Horizon accident. With that in mind, Senate Energy is planning to accommodate a larger than usual group of reporters. Thankfully, our colleagues from the Senate Galleries are helping us.
Given the interest in and importance of this hearing, the Committee will meet in a larger room, in this case the Kennedy Caucus Room (325 Russell). While it is our Committee's custom to always guarantee seating to journalists, with or without a reservation, we can’t assure that for this hearing. So, please coordinate seating reservations and equipment/logistical requests with the Gallery through which you are accredited. Thanks much.
Senate Daily Press Gallery: 224-0241
Senate Radio/TV Gallery: 224-6421
Senate Periodical Gallery: 224-0265
Senate Photo Gallery: 224-6548
Bonus …
Next week, the Senate is expected to consider SA 3892, a bipartisan amendment to the financial-overhaul bill which protects utility customers from being charged unjust and unreasonable rates by electricity and natural gas companies. The amendment (attached) preserves the authority that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the States have to ensure that this doesn’t happen. Failure to pass this amendment would create loopholes in the regulation of these utilities and put customers at risk. A rather notable group of senators is sponsoring the amendment: Sens. Bingaman (D-NM), Murkowski (R-AK), Reid (D-NV), Brownback (R-KS), Cantwell (D-WA), Cornyn (R-TX), Wyden (D-OR) and Corker (R-TN).
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