Big Oil Bailout Prevention Act of 2011

Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 26, 2011

Big Oil Bailout Prevention Act of 2011 - Amends the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to remove the limit on liability (currently, the total of all removal costs plus $75 million) of a party responsible for an offshore facility except a deepwater port, from which oil is discharged into or upon navigable waters or adjoining shorelines.

Makes this Act effective on April 15, 2010.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Holt, Rush [D-NJ-12] · D–NJ

Committees

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

24 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jan 27, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Jan 26, 2011
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Jan 26, 2011
Introduced in House
Jan 26, 2011
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jan 26, 2011 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.492 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.492, 112th Congress: Big Oil Bailout Prevention Act of 2011

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/492

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-01-26.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr492/BILLS-112hr492ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:18:48Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.492 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.492 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss H.R.492, 112th Congress: Big Oil Bailout Prevention Act of 2011

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/492

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-01-26.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr492/BILLS-112hr492ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:18:48Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.492 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.492 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.492, 112th Congress: Big Oil Bailout Prevention Act of 2011

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/492

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-01-26.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr492/BILLS-112hr492ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:18:48Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.492 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.492 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.492, 112th Congress: Big Oil Bailout Prevention Act of 2011

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/492

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-01-26.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr492/BILLS-112hr492ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:18:48Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.492 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.