Jeff Jackson: “We just heard from the gentleman from South Carolina that the purpose of this bill was to make sure that the use of our…”

“We just heard from the gentleman from South Carolina that the purpose of this bill was to make sure that the use of our Strategic Petroleum Reserve was confined to instances in which there was a national emergency. The purpose of this amendment is very simple. It is to make sure that if we are going to restrict releases from our strategic reserve, it have an exception for national security. That is it. Very simple. If you are going to tie the President's hands to respond to an energy crisis, at least include language that allows for a swift response in the event of a threat to our national security. At least do that. I understand the concern about the use of our reserve. I do not understand the lack of concern for a future situation that could call for its use when our national security is at stake. This is a simple amendment. It only adds language with respect to national security. This should be a bipartisan concern, and I welcome bipartisan support. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.”