Press Release

English Demands Economic Reform Before the Greenville Rotary

Greenville, Pa. — Today, U.S. Rep. Phil English (R-Pa.) met with members of the Greenville Rotary and discussed the state of the American economy. 

“The American economy is clearly facing its greatest challenge in decades,” said English, a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax issues. “Local families, seniors and entrepreneurs in western Pennsylvania have been feeling a recession for months now and the whole country is beginning to recognize that tougher times are ahead.”

Last week, Congress enacted a $700 billion rescue package to restore confidence into the financial markets. English, a member of the Joint Economic Committee, voted against the measure, citing concerns over the lack of taxpayer protections.

“From the outset, it has been my strong belief that any rescue proposal necessarily include real consequences for bad actors, strong taxpayer protections and accountability and transparency of any tax dollars used,” English said. “The bill considered by Congress was a poor remedy to a very real problem.”

English went on to note that Congress’s long-term failure to craft an energy policy that successfully brings more energy to market has partially led to the economic struggles America is experiencing today.  English, a long time advocate in the development of a strong and effective energy policy, called on Congress to advance an energy plan to help lower prices at the pump and bring greater stability to energy markets through increased domestic production.

“Washington can no longer afford to continue to turn a blind eye to the energy crisis we are experiencing today,” English said.  “We have got to unite behind a bipartisan federal energy policy that stresses conservation, more competitive energy markets and new technologies to realize the potential of biofuels and renewable energy sources.”

As a senior member of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, English further stressed the need for Congress to tackle increasing costs in health care.     

“As health costs continue to rise, American families and employers across the country are all too often forced to direct even more of their scarce household resources toward health care coverage or choose between keeping health coverage or employees,” English said. “Clearly, the American health care system is facing a financial crisis and the time has come for Congress to tackle these challenges and build a health care system that not only meets the demands of the 21st century but guarantees universal access to affordable, quality care for every American at every stage of life.”

This Congress, English has championed several pieces of legislation to make healthcare more affordable and accessible to all Americans.  English teamed up with U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.) to introduce H.R. 6210, the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Act, bipartisan legislation designed to make health insurance more available and affordable for small businesses and their employees.  In addition, English is an original cosponsor of H.R. 6444, the Healthy Americans Act.  This bipartisan legislation guarantees affordable health care for all Americans at a level of care comparable to that available to federal employees. 

“With these bills, we not only promote preventative care and competition to drive down the cost of health care, but we insist on health care reform that is pro-consumer choice, English said.

In closing, English advised on the Congressional agenda for the next Congress.

“Congress needs to move to deal fully and directly with the economic challenges that our country and our communities are facing,” English said. “Congress can best restore its reputation by enacting an energy plan that meets the needs of the 21st century, embracing strong pro-growth tax policies that will benefit everyone by reinvigorating the economy and enacting measures that will restore the public’s faith in the integrity and competence of the American health care system.”

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