Maxwell Frost: “Let us be very clear what is going on today. The Republicans are debating a press release. They are not debating a bill.…”

“Let us be very clear what is going on today. The Republicans are debating a press release. They are not debating a bill. Let me read their bill: Report on Diplomatic Efforts. Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this act, the President shall transmit to the Congress a report describing any diplomatic efforts undertaken in accordance with subsection A and the results achieved by those efforts. That is all we are debating today. That is it. This is a press release. Last night, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell) came to the Committee on Rules and asked that an amendment be made in order to permit the President to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve after March 31. March 31, that is a week from this Friday. That is when the authority runs out under current law. The Republicans will not let that be voted on today. All they want to vote on is a press release. They do not want to vote on specific actions that could help American consumers.”