The lessons of Hurricane Katrina, where the State of Mississippi was forced to establish a claims process, have shown us the importance of a transparent claims procedure to ensure that our Coastal residents can survive during the current oil spill without the worry of having to sign releases.  The Coastal Attorneys General have worked to force BP to implement such a process.  I recently asked the House Judiciary Committee in Congress to change some laws to protect the interests of our Coastal states.  I met with the Coastal Attorneys General in Montgomery last week to develop a claims protocol which will protect our citizens who have been hit hard by this catastrophe.  On Friday, following a panel discussion in Biloxi, we three Attorneys General will be meeting with BP claims administrator Ken Feinberg to give him our written claims protocal.

On Thursday afternoon, I will meet with the executive directors of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Marine Resources and the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to coordinate the state’s investigation and claims.  Next week, I intend to meet with other experts and agencies to ensure that the Office of Attorney General is prepared for litigation, if necessary.

I will continue to work with the Department of Justice, Mr. Feinberg and BP to make sure that the State of Mississippi and its citizens collect every dime that they are owed by whatever means is necessary and proper according to the law.