Kailey Leinz

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Listen to what we have heard from the president over the course of the last two weeks about the prospects for this agreement.

So for more, we turn to Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis of New York, who is in our New York headquarters right now, joining us on Bloomberg TV and radio.

Congresswoman, it's wonderful to have you back on Balance of Power.

I think clearly there is a sense in the White House here in Washington that the hope is that diplomacy prevails.

But the president maintains that there is the military threat still there that he is willing to use if necessary, if no deal is

can be reached.

In the absence of a diplomatic breakthrough this weekend, would you be supportive of the president resuming military operations and specifically going as far in those as he has indicated he is willing to?

Well, to your point, Congresswoman, about the importance of the Strait of Hormuz economically, you said specifically it is important economically for the United States, which is something that the president has disputed.

His argument is that actually when it comes to the energy flowing out of the Middle East, that is much more a concern for other countries, European, Asian ones, not so for the United States.

Is that a sentiment that your constituents would agree with, especially as they're looking at prices of the pump, as you alluded to?

Well, and what role should Congress play, if any, in ultimately the finalization of an agreement?

As we know, the president didn't ask you and your colleagues first before launching these operations.

You didn't have a direct say, but should there be a say in how this ends?

Senator Lindsey Graham, of course, who has been an advocate for this war, says any agreement should have a vote in the Senate, that they should get to take a look at it.

I wonder if you agree with that notion.

Well, I'd also like to talk about the next steps for lawmakers, for you and your colleagues in the House as you get set to return from recess next week.

Pretty quickly, it seems you're going to have to.

take action on a reconciliation bill to fund at least parts of the Department of Homeland Security.

The president wants it on his desk by June 1st.