U.S. Senators Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., and Richard Shelby, R-Ala., today introduced legislation that calls for dedicating at least 80% of BP penalties paid under the Clean Water Act (CWA) to Gulf states to invest in the long-term health of the coastal ecosystem and its economies. Joining Sens. Landrieu and Shelby as original cosponsors of the RESTORE the Gulf Coast Act of 2011 are Sens. David Vitter, R-La., Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., Thad Cochran, R-Miss., Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Bill Nelson, D-Fla., Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas. Sen. Barbara Boxer, Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, who was instrumental in forging an agreement on the bill, has committed to taking up the bill in her committee as soon as possible.
The RESTORE the Gulf Coast Act of 2011 will establish the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund to be made up of 80% of all civil penalties paid by BP or any other responsible party in connection with the Deepwater Horizon spill.