English delivers weekly Republican address

Congressman Phil English has been chosen by the House Republicans to deliver the weekly radio address which you can hear here.

The following is a transcript of his remarks.

Hello, this is Congressman Phil English. I have the privilege of representing northwestern Pennsylvania’s third congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.

With Memorial Day just one week away now, many American families are planning weekend getaways. Unfortunately, though, families are facing record high prices as they head into the summer driving season. Breaking records eight consecutive days, the national average for a gallon of unleaded gasoline is nearing the $4 mark. Pennsylvania’s average, $3.77, isn’t far behind. The spike in gas prices – up more than $1.40 since the beginning of the 110th Congress – is an unprecedented economic burden on working families, small businesses, truck drivers, hospitals, schools, and local governments.

Working-class families, being squeezed by the soaring costs of living, rightfully look to Washington for solutions. And while promises were made to them – and broken – that Democrats would lower gas prices, a long-term, comprehensive energy policy will require the close work of both parties.

Congress took a positive step this week, albeit a small one, in the right direction toward increasing energy supply here at home, and delivering relief at the pump. Temporarily halting oil shipments to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve – which passed with 385 votes in the House – will help alleviate the financial pain American working families are feeling.

And while this move is sensible, American families deserve a break from paying record high gas prices. They deserve the chance to fix a broken Washington. We have those ideas, and will work to deliver what this Majority has promised and has failed to accomplish for the American people.

Next week my House Republican colleagues and I will unveil the energy portion of our Change America Deserves agenda. America has vast domestic energy sources that can be brought to market in an environmentally friendly manner: coal, oil shale, natural gas, nuclear power and new technologies to take kinetic energy from oceans just to name a few. We believe we must wisely utilize these resources.

A balanced energy policy must encourage environmentally sound production in the Outer Continental Shelf and the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve. Increasing the supply of our energy will help drive down the cost of gas, make us less dependent on foreign nations – many of whom don’t care for us very much at all – and will create good family-supporting American jobs right here at home.

And, importantly, we must do more to conserve the resources we have, and continue to invest in alternative and renewable energy technologies.

Record gas prices are straining the pocketbooks of millions of working American families. And as the global economy becomes even more competitive – with China and India playing ever growing roles and consuming more – America must address the issue of affordable and sustainable energy if we intend to compete.

This is Congressman Phil English. Thank you very much for listening.