Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-07) took part in a hearing held by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, called to examine the liability requirements for oil spills that are imposed by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) and related statutes on offshore facilities and vessels operating in U.S. waters. The Committee also considered the potential impact on the offshore industry of the liability claims arising from the loss of the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico and the subsequent oil spill from the Macondo well site. To get more information on the issue of both claims and liability caps, Cummings and the Committee also questioned a panel of oil and insurance industry experts, hearing testimony regarding the potential of raising the liability cap.