In a settlement announced this afternoon by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, BP has agreed to pay approximately $4.5 billion and plead guilty to criminal charges in a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over the deadly 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion led to the largest oil spill in U.S. history.

A nationwide network of consumer groups is mobilizing against BP's bid to use expenses related to the Deepwater Horizon accident and oil spill as tax deductions.

I would like to draw attention to the fact that not only do miners deserve better protection but all American workers deserve to have a safe and healthy workplace.