Audio of the address is available here and video of the address will be available here once the embargo is lifted at 6 a.m. Saturday.

Contact: Matt Lloyd or Mary Vought, 202-226-9000

WASHINGTON, June 13 /Standard Newswire/ -- The following text is the weekly Republican Address by Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN):

I'm Indiana Congressman Mike Pence.

Across the country, gas prices and home utility bills are on the rise again. 

During these difficult economic times, higher energy prices impose a great hardship on families struggling to make ends meet.

Unfortunately, the Democrat Majority in Congress is embracing a national energy tax that will lead to even higher energy prices and massive job losses for the American people.

President Obama even admitted that under his energy plan utility rates would "necessarily skyrocket."

If the Democrats' cap and trade bill were to become law, estimates suggest that the average American family would face up to $4,300 a year in extra energy costs and anywhere between 1.8 and 7 million American jobs could be lost.

That's a heavy price to pay for a plan that will do very little to clean up our environment, since manufacturers will probably ship their plants, and their pollution, to countries with less stringent environmental safeguards.

This national energy tax amounts to an economic declaration of war on America's families, small businesses and family farms.  The American people know we can do better.

This past week, House Republicans introduced the American Energy Act.  It's an "all of the above" energy plan that offers energy independence, more jobs and a cleaner environment, without imposing a national energy tax.

The Republican energy plan calls for more domestic exploration for oil and natural gas, a renewed commitment to clean, emissions-free nuclear energy, investments in renewable and alternative energy technologies and incentives to spur greater conservation among individuals and businesses.

The American Energy Act is the comprehensive energy solution this country desperately needs to achieve energy independence, create good jobs and help our environment.

During these difficult times, the American people don't want a national energy tax out of Washington, D.C.  We want a 21st century answer to our nation's energy needs.

The "all of the above" strategy of the American Energy Act is that answer.  For more information about the American Energy Act, log on to GOP.gov.

I'm Mike Pence, thanks for listening.

Audio of the address is available here (www.gop.gov/resources/library/audio/pence-6-13-09.mp3) and video of the address will be available here (www.youtube.com/republicanconference) once the embargo is lifted at 6am Saturday.
 
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