Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I have come to the floor this evening to speak about our Nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve, sometimes referred to as the SPR. It is a national security asset that has come into the news of late for a host of different reasons. I am here this evening because of the concerns I have that others are potentially looking to our Strategic Petroleum Reserve--our strategic energy asset--as nothing more than a piggybank to fund some of the needs we have here in this Congress. I believe it is extremely shortsighted to raid our Nation's oil stockpile as an offset for the extension of the highway trust fund, and that is what we have had some conversation about today. We had a vote earlier about whether to move forward on the highway trust fund. But as we have looked to find pathways forward for a multiyear highway trust fund reauthorization, which is something I support, it is important to know that not all pots of money are equal, that perhaps some are truly national security assets for which perhaps we need to show more considered respect. I had an opportunity a few days ago--on Friday--to tour our Strategic Petroleum Reserve. I went to the Choctaw Bayou site near Baton Rouge, LA. It was an opportunity for me to get a firsthand look at some of the challenges that currently face our four Strategic Petroleum Reserves that we have down in the Louisiana, Texas area and to have a better understanding as to their operational readiness.…”