mr. bingaman. >> i have a splendid statement which i am sure you will enjoy reading. in order to save time, as a unanimous consent to inserted into the record. >> without objection, so ordered. the gentleman's time has expired. tte chaar recognizes the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. doyle. >> thank you for convening this hearing today to examine the impact of our nation's dependence on oil and the safety of drilling operations. we're 57 days into this informal tragedy, and the response effort is ongoing. we of learned that this is the largest in u.s. history, new estimates showing that unlike barrels each -- leaking into the cult each day, it is likely 40,000 barrels leaking, but no one really knows. as such, president obama has issued a moratorium on all 33 of the deepwater horizon drilling rigs for six months or until th3 of this bill. -- of the spill. his hurricane season beginning with conditions right for pottntial disaster storms, i think the administration is avoiding an even more catastrophic event read in fact, recent events all over the country merit the n

mr. speaker, senate joint resolution 33 was introduced by the chairman of the senate energy and natural resources committee, jeff bingaman, which raised concerns of the constitution of the united states virgin islands. in order to adopt their own constitution, congress in 1976 enacted legislation to authorize the people of the virgin islands and guam to convene constitutional conventions and write their own local constitutions. this act, public law 94528 sets up parameters that the supremacy of the united states constitution must be recognized and adhere to as well as a process of federal review for any proposed amendments. review of any proposed constitution, including 60 days periods for both presidential and congressional reviews. we are at the very end of prescribed time for congressional action. the u.s. virgin islands, an unincorporated territory, acquired by the united states from denmark in 1917, is one of only two u.s. states and territories that does not have a constitution written by the people that determines its basic governmental organization and structure. instead, for more than half a century, the virgin