Louisiana Rep. gets emotional over spill

The Gulf oil disaster has provided a slew of indelible images: puddles of oil in the ocean, coated birds, blackened shoreline. But there have been few human faces that capture the enormity of the crisis, until now. In a House subcommittee meeting on the spill, Louisiana Rep. Charlie Melancon, who represents much of the coastal area being directly affected by the spill, broke down in tears while delivering his remarks. "I'd like to remind my collegues ... that the recovery phase is just as critical as the response phase," he read. "Everything that I know and love is at risk." His lip quivering as he tried to maintain his composure, Melancon was unable to finish his statement. He submitted it for the record and walked out of the hearing.

• 2010-05-28T06:05:00+00:00
• Duration: 01:41

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Charlie Melancon Louisiana congressman cries emotional oil spill House subcommittee Senate tv