Rob Portman: “I appreciate the comments from my colleague from Rhode Island. I would say ``all of the above'' energy, so I do support…”

“I appreciate the comments from my colleague from Rhode Island. I would say ``all of the above'' energy, so I do support the energy efficiency he was talking about and other opportunities to ensure we have the ability to be energy independent. But at a time when the price per gallon is over $4, on average, we also need to produce more in this country. And here we are at a time where we have an Executive order from the President, saying we are going to freeze all leases on public lands and waters. We have an Executive order from the President, obviously, stopping Keystone XL Pipeline. We have an Executive action by the President to rewrite the policies with regard to permitting that are in the waters of the United States that are very important to energy projects. So we have got to do it all because, otherwise, without certainty, we are not going to get the oil and gas production we should have here to be able to substitute what we are getting from places like Russia. The President did the right thing by banning the Russian oil, but we ought to also be doing the right thing with regard to North American production. I stand today to support the Postal Service bill that is before us. We are nearing the end of a long journey to help the Postal Service and to help the Postmaster General to be able to implement needed reforms. Last year, Senator Peters--who I see is on the floor here--and I introduced the Senate version of the Postal Reform Act.…”