Congress Frees Cleanup Money for Gulf Oil Spill

The House has voted to make more money available to the Coast Guard to pay for its response to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The bill now goes to President Barack Obama.

It removes the $100 million limit that the Coast Guard can spend on the spill from a government trust fund used to pay cleanup costs. Rep. James Oberstar of Minnesota says the Coast Guard will run out of money to fight the spill next week if the spending cap is not lifted.

The House voted 410-0 on Thursday to lift the spending cap. Lawmakers said the federal government will require BP to reimburse the Coast Guard's expenses.