Himes and Fellow Congressman to Introduce the Gulf Coast Restoration Act

The Norwalk Hour, Saturday, June 26, 2010

A Gulf Coast Community Conservation Corps akin to the public works programs of the Depression era could spring into life to help clean up the massive Gulf Coast oil spill and help those who've been hurt by the disaster.

Congressman Jim Himes, D-4, is among a number of Washington, D.C., lawmakers who plan to introduce the Gulf Coast Restoration Act before Congress shortly.

"This project, which would be fully funded by British Petroleum, helps provide relief to victims of the tragedies of both the recession and the Gulf Coast Oil Spill," Himes said. "As we work to ensure BP pays for the complete clean up and damages associated with the spill, this legislation will have the added benefit of creating good-paying jobs."

Under the first section of the proposed legislation, workers would be hired directly through the Disaster Relief Employment Assistance program and help with cleanup, restoration, renovation, repair and reconstruction of the areas affected following the explosion of the drilling platform Deepwater Horizon off the Louisiana coastline April 20.

Under section two, a Gulf Coast Community Conservation Corps would focus on coordinating services and providing assistance to individuals harmed by the spill. The corps would be administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, which oversees AmeriCorps, and seek to employ primarily persons aged 18 to 24.

The idea got a local boost from Stuart W. Wells, Norwalk's Democratic registrar of voters, and Mary A. Geake, 2nd Taxing District commissioner. Wells suggested that the government resurrect the Works Progress Administration, which employed out-of-work Americans during the Great Depression. Geake contacted Himes' office.

"It's so simple in its simplicity that it's perfect," Geake said. "All these people that are unemployed because of the oil spill, all these college kids, the fishermen and businesses that are closing, and even high school kids, will be able to work there and know that they're doing something (to help)."

The act will be introduced in the form of a bill within the next couple days by Himes, and Reps. Jim McDermott, D-Wash.; Steve Israel, D-N.Y.; Gerry Connolly, D-Va.; and Jim Langevin, D-R.I., according to McDermott's office.

On Wednesday, Himes voted in favor of legislation to grant subpoena power to the commission investigating the oil leak. The commission will investigate the causes of the leak. It will report back to the Obama administration with recommendations on how to prevent and mitigate the impact of any future spills, according to Himes' office.

On offshore drilling itself, Himes distinguished between what he called straightforward, shallow-water drilling and "really dangerous" deep-water drilling.

"My own point of view is let's do everything we can to move away from oil," Himes said. "But in the meantime, let's drill safely. With "wells that are in 5,000 or more feet of water ... we don't have the technology to deal with the risk."