Rick Lazio: “I thank the gentlemen for both of their comments, but I would not want the House to be left with the impression that…”

“I thank the gentlemen for both of their comments, but I would not want the House to be left with the impression that somehow it is the House that conducts diplomatic efforts; it is the House that is involved in negotiating with oil ministers; that it is the House that has the discretion through Executive Order to release all or any part of the Strategic Petroleum Oil Reserve. Let us see if we cannot work together in a bipartisan fashion to actually come to a solution on this reauthorization; and hopefully, jointly, we can keep the pressure on the administration to continue to use more diplomatic efforts to increase production, because in the end, I think that is the best solution for American consumers and for businesses.”