Gerry Connolly: “I do want to take a moment to clarify a conversation we had here on the floor last week on sanctions legislation against…”

“I do want to take a moment to clarify a conversation we had here on the floor last week on sanctions legislation against Mr. Deripaska, a Russian oligarch. My remarks were passionate and aimed at the administration's proposed policy to lift sanctions on that individual. In no way did my remarks intend to reflect on the integrity of my friend from Texas, who was, in fact, comanaging the bill to oppose that action. As my friend from Texas knows, I admire him deeply, and I believe that he is a leader of integrity. Nothing I said last week was meant in any way to deflect from that. I wanted to clarify that publicly on the floor. I thank my good friend for yielding me time, and I look forward to talking about the issue at hand. I, again, thank my good friend from Texas.”