WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), issued the following statement in reaction to President Obama's decision to release 30 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve:
"The Obama Administration should be commended for rallying an international coalition to prevent disruption in oil markets due to the ongoing conflict in Libya. However, today's action highlights America's dangerous dependence on foreign oil in a world where global oil supplies are failing to keep up with demand, and Middle East instability is on the rise. America's domestic oil production has recently increased to its highest level since 2003, but we need energy policies that replace imported oil with improved fuel economy, advanced biofuels, domestic natural gas vehicles and better transit options."