Congressman Paul Tonko today joined a coalition of House members and signed onto a letter calling on BP CEO Tony Hayward to suspend dividend payments and advertising campaigns until the company has capped the flow of oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico, cleaned up the damage, and paid restitution to the businesses crippled by the disaster.

The letter, written by Rep. Peter Welch (VT), criticizes BP for deciding to distribute $10 billion in dividends to shareholders and launching a public relations campaign reportedly worth more than $50 million.

“BP needs to recognize that as oil continues to spill into the Gulf of Mexico, the number one priority should be to devote all of its resources into stopping the leak and fixing the damage,” said Congressman Tonko. “It is reprehensible that BP would move forward and spend billions on dividend payments and an aggressive advertising campaign as this situation continues to deteriorate.”

The text of the letter is copied below:

Tony Hayward

Chief Executive Officer

BP

1 St James's Square
London
SW1Y 4PD

Dear Mr. Hayward,

As BP presides over one of the greatest environmental and economic catastrophes of our time, we find it troubling that your company plans to divert financial resources to shareholder dividends and slick marketing campaigns.

Even as oil threatens to flow into the Gulf of Mexico for months to come, press reports indicate that you hope to distribute $10 billion in dividends to shareholders before the full cost of this devastating oil spill is known. At the same time, your company has launched an aggressive public relations campaign, with full page ads in major newspapers and a reported $50 million television blitz.

We urge you to halt your planned dividend payout and cancel your advertising campaign until you have done the hard work of capping the well, cleaning up the Gulf Coast and making whole those whose very livelihoods are threatened by this catastrophe. Not a moment before then should you return to business as usual.

Sincerely,

PETER WELCH
Member of Congress

Also signed by: Reps. Paul Tonko, Ed Markey, Lois Capps, John Hall, Bill Delahunt, Chris Van Hollen, Steven Rothman, Jim Langevin, Tim Bishop,  Raul Grijalva, James McGovern, Maurice Hinchey, Charlie Melancon, Betty Sutton, Pete Stark, Frank Pallone, Doris O. Matsui, Jan Schakowsky, Jared Polis, Mazie K. Hirono, Steve Israel, Russ Carnahan, Jackie Speier, Chet Edwards, John Olver, Rush Holt, Dennis Cardoza, Earl Pomeroy, Keith Ellison, Louise Slaughter and Mike Michaud.

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