Obama pledges changes to avert future oil spills

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President Obama held his first meeting with the leaders of an independent commission investigating the Gulf of Mexico oil spill on Tuesday and said the panel will examine the disaster and its causes thoroughly to ensure that the United States never faces such a catastrophe again.

Obama spoke in the Rose Garden after the meeting and pledged that necessary changes will be made.

The president said that if laws are insufficient, they will be changed. He said that if government oversight was not tough enough, that will change too. And Obama said if laws were broken, those who were responsible will be brought to justice.

Obama said the leaders of the commission have his support to follow the facts wherever they lead.

-- Associated Press