Lynn Jenkins Weekly Republican GOP Address: Jobs Plan & American Energy Tour 05/26/12 TEXT VIDEO PODCAST

Summary: Lynn Jenkins Weekly Republican GOP Address: Jobs Plan & American Energy Tour 05/26/12 TEXT VIDEO Podcast of the address: Download MP3 for PODCAST || Download Video .mpeg4 || *EMBARGOED UNTIL MAY 26, 2012 AT 6:00 A.M. EST* Delivering the Weekly Republican Address on Memorial Day weekend, Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) honors America’s fallen heroes and talks about how best to ensure our servicemembers come home to a strong, growing economy. With Americans continuing to ask ‘where are the jobs?,’ Rep. Jenkins touts Republicans’ Plan for America’s Job Creators and the nearly 30 House-passed jobs bills that are stalled in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Several of these jobs bills call for an ‘all-of-the-above’ strategy that removes government barriers to domestic energy production, which Republicans highlighted this week as part of the House Energy Action Team’s (HEAT) 2012 American Energy and Jobs Tour. The text and the audio of the Weekly Republican Address are available immediately; the video will be ready to view and download after the embargo is lifted tomorrow at 6:00 a.m. ET. FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT: “Hi, I’m Lynn Jenkins, I represent the Second Congressional District of Kansas, home to Fort Leavenworth, the oldest active Army post west of our nation’s capital, Fort Riley, home of the Big Red One, the 190th Coyotes at Forbes Field; and nearly 12,000 National Guard and Reserve members. “It’s an honor to speak with you on Memorial Day weekend, a time to pause and thank the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who have died in the defense of our country. As we honor the fallen, we pray for our sons and daughters who are risking their lives so that we may live in freedom and security. “Of course, we owe it to our service members to do everything we can to ensure they come home to a strong, growing economy that creates jobs and opportunities. Unfortunately, roughly 22 million of our fellow citizens are struggling to find a good-paying full-time job in President Obama’s economy. Higher prices on everything from gas to groceries has added to the strain on families and small businesses. “Americans are clamoring for optimistic leadership and a positive agenda to help get people back to work, which is what Republicans’ Plan for America’s Job Creators provides. The Republican jobs plan is built around small businesses, not big government, and instead of short-term ‘stimulus,’ our plan emphasizes long-term growth. “This week, as part our jobs plan, my Republican colleagues and I spread out across the country to highlight the economic potential of our domestic energy resources. As part of this American Energy & Jobs Tour, I visited an oil well in Girard, Kansas – a small town whose proud energy workers make a big contribution to our region’s economy. Ours is a state that would be part of the Keystone XL pipeline, a job-creating project the president has repeatedly blocked. An overwhelming majority of the American people and a bipartisan coalition in Congress supports Keystone, but right now it is stuck in a House-Senate conference committee due to opposition from the president and his allies in the Senate Democratic leadership. Republicans are holding strong for Keystone by insisting it should be included in any transportation legislation Congress sends to President Obama. “Because while the President demonizes home grown energy and pursues tax policies that advantage foreign energy over domestic, Republicans are working to make the United States the largest energy producing nation in the world, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs right here at home. “Our energy workers are the best around – they can do this, if we remove government barriers to all forms of domestic energy production. “Our small businesses can thrive – if we rein in the red tape and costly regulations that bog them down and keep them from investing and hiring new workers. “Our college graduates can enter the workforce with confidence – if we repeal the health c