Rep. Jeff Landry wants mandated standby rescue vessels near rigs
by Bruce Alpert - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

Washington -- Rep. Jeff Landry, R-New Iberia, introduced legislation today that would require a standby vessel to be stationed within 12 miles of offshore drilling installations -- to allow quick rescue in the event of a blowout. The introduction coincides with the one-year anniversary Wednesday of the BP spill disaster. "As we pause to reflect on the 11 lives lost last year, we take the time to see that changes must be made to promote the safety of the men and women on the offshore platforms," Landry said. "As the representative for our oil and gas workers, it is my duty to make sure they come home safely to their families after spending weeks in the Gulf working to provide the energy our nation needs to create jobs." Landry said that similar legislation was introduced in a previous Congress by a former congressman from the Third Congressional District, Billy Tauzin, R-Chackbay, but never passed as Arco, a BP subsidiary, objected. "I hope this time, BP and my colleagues in the House will give it an open and transparent debate and I hope we can get it through both houses quickly," Landry said.