Press Releases
Markey, Hinchey, Miller Call for End to Big Oil's Free Drilling
WASHINGTON (February 16, 2011) - Even as Republicans propose cutting services to seniors, children and the neediest American families in their new spending bill, they are leaving $53 billion in potential deficit-reducing funds on the table by protecting oil companies from paying their fair share to drill in the Gulf of Mexico. To fix this special interest loophole and recover billions of dollars from oil companies to reduce the deficit, Reps. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.) … Continue Reading
02.13.11
President's Budget Ends Sweetheart Deals for Big Oil, But Still Cuts Key Programs for Nation's Poor
WASHINGTON, D.C.(February 14, 2011) - President Obama's budget released today ends billions of dollars in giveaways to the biggest oil companies and increases research into cancer and other diseases, but still makes cuts to key programs needed to help our nation's poorest like low-income fuel assistance, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) said today. Rep. Markey has pushed for increased funding for the National Institute of Health and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and has introduc… Continue Reading
02.13.11
Markey Attacks Tea Party Republicans for "Scorched Earth" Spending Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 12, 2011) - After going back to the drawing board several times in order to appease demands of its extremist Tea Party caucus, House Republicans have released their latest proposal for the so-called continuing resolution (CR) spending bill to fund the federal budget. The resulting bill consists of an extreme and arbitrary package of cuts that would slash federal support for public safety, health care and research, public broadcasting, food safety and inspection, and ot… Continue Reading
02.09.11
House Democrats Unveil $40 Billion In Cuts To Wasteful Big Oil Subsidies
Today, Reps. Earl Blumenauer, Ed Markey, John Conyers, Jim Moran, Lois Capps, Peter Welch and David Price and others introduced legislation to cut the budget by ending roughly $40 billion over five years in wasteful subsidies to the oil industry. The "Ending Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act" (H.R. 601) eliminates subsidies that have worsened the deficit, weakened our energy security, undermined our ability to drive investment in sources of renewable energy, and damaged the environment. "The oil indust… Continue Reading
02.07.11
Reps. Markey, DeLauro, Green Push for Heating Help During Harsh Winter
WASHINGTON - Wild weather and political unrest have driven the prices for oil and natural gas higher this winter, even as demand for heating assistance has remained elevated during America's economic recovery. On Wednesday, Reps. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Gene Green (D-Texas) will call for full funding of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help vulnerable Americans who cannot afford to heat their homes during these frigid winter months. … Continue Reading
02.06.11
Markey, Holt Praise Obama Administration Wind Energy Announcements
WASHINGTON (February 7, 2011) - Following announcements by the Obama administration's Interior and Energy agencies on promoting the future development of wind energy off America's shores, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee and a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.), the Ranking Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee's Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, issued statements praising the admini… Continue Reading
02.02.11
Markey Report: Big Five Oil Companies Approach $1 Trillion in Profits for the Decade, Yet Still Rely on 100 Year-Old Subsidies to Sell $100 Oil
WASHINGTON (February 3, 2011) - Nearly $1 trillion - that's the total profit earned by the top five multi-national oil companies over the first decade of the new millennium. $36.5 billion - that's the total in tax subsidies the American public will provide to the oil industry over the next decade. $53 billion - that's the value that oil companies could receive from not paying royalties on some Gulf of Mexico production over the next 25 years. And 1916 - the oldest tax subsidy the oil companies s… Continue Reading
01.31.11
Markey to BP: Drop Challenge to Size of Spill, Or Drop Dividend Restart
WASHINGTON (February 1, 2011) - With BP's announcement today that they intend to restart dividend payments to shareholders, despite losing money in 2010 and tens of billions still outstanding from their company's spill, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) called on the company to cease their challenge of the size of the spill or cease handing out dividends. BP has challenged the flow rate and total spill numbers reached by the U.S. government's scientific team, which will be critical in determining … Continue Reading
01.31.11
Markey Statement on Upton/Inhofe Dirty Air Bill
WASHINGTON (February 2, 2011) - Responding to reports that Republicans in the House and Senate intend to introduce draft legislation restricting the ability of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to limit dangerous carbon pollution and promote clean energy solutions, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee and a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement: "The groundhog didn't see his shadow to… Continue Reading
01.25.11
House Democrats Introduce Oil Spill Reform Bill
Legislation Reflects Spill Commission Recommendations, House-passed Bill WASHINGTON (January 26, 2011) - House Democrats today introduced new, revamped legislation to reform and renew the practices and oversight of the offshore oil industry following the worst oil spill in U.S. history. The legislation reflects the recommendations of the independent oil spill commission tasked with investigating the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the practices of the oil industry. The bill, called the Impl… Continue Reading
01.24.11
Markey Announces Natural Resources Subcommittee Assignments
WASHINGTON (January 25, 2011) - Today the Democratic Caucus of the House Natural Resources Committee met to establish their recommendations for subcommittee leadership and membership for the 112th Congress. "We have a deep bench here on the Natural Resources Committee, and we will need the leadership and energy of every single member to promote sound policies to preserve and promote America's natural heritage and resources," said Rep. Edward J. Markey, the Ranking Democrat on the committ… Continue Reading
01.24.11
House Democrats to Introduce New Oil Spill Legislation
WASHINGTON - Coinciding with the presence of the Oil Spill Commission co-chairs on Capitol Hill, the top Democrats from several House committees tomorrow will introduce new legislation that will reform the safety and regulatory oversight of offshore oil drilling following the BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The new legislation will combine elements of the bill passed by the House last summer along with recommendations derived from the findings of the Oil Spill Commission. WHAT: Unveiling of new oi… Continue Reading
01.20.11
Markey Leads 46 Democratic House Colleagues to Defend Obama Wilderness Policy
WASHINGTON (January 21, 2011) - With America's wilderness areas targeted by House Republicans eager to hand over America's last remaining public lands to corporate interests, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and 46 of his Democratic colleagues have risen to defend the Obama administration's recent proposed "wild lands" policy. Rep. Markey, the ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee, along with dozens of colleagues, today sent a public letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar commending… Continue Reading
01.19.11
Markey Calls on Treasury Dept. to Review National Security Impacts of BP-Russia Deal
Washington D.C. (January 19, 2011) -- In response to the $16 billion share-swap announced last week between BP and state-owned Russian oil company Rosneft, today Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner requesting that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) begin an immediate review of BP-Rosneft transaction to determine whether it will threaten U.S. national security. The proposed deal would give Rosneft a 5 percent stake in … Continue Reading
01.18.11
Democratic Members of House Natural Resources Committee Announced
Washington D.C. (January 19, 2011) -- Today, the Democratic Caucus in Congress selected their representatives to serve on the House Natural Resources Committee. The list includes: NATURAL RESOURCES DEMOCRATS in the 112th CONGRESS Rep. Edward J. Markey MA Ranking Member Rep. Dale Kildee MI Rep. Peter DeFazio OR … Continue Reading
01.18.11
Markey: Health Care Repeal Would Threaten American Indian Community
January 19, 2011 - The first major act by House Republicans to repeal the services and patient freedoms in the historic health care reform package would affect 1.9 million American Indians and Alaskan Natives currently served by the Indian Health Service. The health care reform law that passed Congress and was signed into law last year updated and permanently authorized the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, and the repeal of the larger law would strip new services and freedoms like hospice and… Continue Reading
01.13.11
Markey Statement on BP Share Deal with State-Owned Russian Oil Giant
WASHINGTON (January 14, 2011) - Reacting to reports of a major share-swap between BP and the Russian state-owned oil company Rosneft, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) issued the following statement. Rep. Markey, who is the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, called for a thorough analysis of the agreement. If the deal is found to affect the operations of BP America, Rep. Markey says the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, a Treasury Department entity tasked wi… Continue Reading
01.11.11
Markey Queries Alyeska on Alaska Oil Pipeline Restart, Previous Congressional Testimony
WASHINGTON (January 12, 2011) - Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee, today asked the operator of the Trans Alaska Pipeline System to quantify how much oil may leak from the potentially still-damaged pipeline now that the company has restarted pipeline operations. Rep. Markey also reveals in the letter sent to the president of Alyeska that his company had touted in 2006 Congressional testimony improvements made at the exact location of the current … Continue Reading
01.11.11
It's Official: 2010 Hottest Year on Record
Washington, D.C. - Today, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced 2010 tied 2005 as the hottest year on record. Following the hottest decade on record, last year's temperatures continued the upward trend. NOAA's report also warned of more intense flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes. Every year since 1976 has been above the 20th century average in temperature, and this latest analysis highlights the relationship between unchecked carbon pollution and extreme weather ev… Continue Reading
01.10.11
Markey Statement on Oil Spill Commission Report
Congressman will introduce legislation reflecting commission's recommendations WASHINGTON (January 11, 2011) - On time and under budget, the independent commission to investigate the Gulf of Mexico oil spill delivered its final report today on the disaster, and made recommendations to enhance oversight and reform the operations of the offshore oil extraction industry. Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), who led a key Congressional investigation into the BP spill last year and co-authored the firs… Continue Reading