WASHINGTON, June 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi today released the following statement on the House passage of H.R. 5481, which provides the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling with subpoena power. The House passed the bill by a vote of 420 to 1.

"Today's action by the House to provide the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling with subpoena power will help ensure a complete and independent analysis that will better prevent future disasters. Subpoena power is an essential resource to make certain that BP and others cooperate in this investigation and will allow the Commission to get testimony from crucial participants, such as those who reported equipment problems prior to the explosion.

"This legislation builds on the work of this Congress to address the oil spill, including ensuring the federal government has the resources it needs to continue to respond to the crisis, and conducting oversight that has already yielded key findings.

"The New Direction Congress will continue to move our nation to clean American energy — and away from a national energy policy Republicans let Big Oil write and execute. Those who work against us are protecting the special interests over the public interest."

SOURCE Office of the Speaker of the House