Washington (CNN) - Louisiana Democrat Charlie Melancon lost his composure Thursday during a Capitol Hill hearing about the Gulf oil spill.

"Our culture is threatened. Our coastal economy is threatened. And everything that I know and love is at risk," Melancon, who represents many of the affected Louisiana shoreline areas, told his Capitol Hill colleagues.

Unable to finish reading his prepared statement, Melancon submitted it for the congressional record and then walked out of the hearing room as other lawmakers sought to comfort him.

Related: Obama clamps down on offshore oil drilling

Related: Relatives, rig survivors urge Congress to hold companies accountable