"From the floor of Congress, to the farm fields of Indiana, I have heard from everyday Americans and they are with us...they think this Congress should go back to work."

Contact: Matt Lloyd, U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, press office, 202-226-4379

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 /Standard Newswire/ -- After hosting two days of energy town hall meetings in Indiana, U.S. Congressman Mike Pence returned to Washington today to continue the floor protest he helped begin one week ago to urge Speaker Nancy Pelosi to call a special session of Congress to vote on an energy bill that allows more drilling.  Pence's statement follows:

"One week ago, 50 House Republicans took this Hill on behalf of the right of every American to enjoy energy independence. Thanks to the leadership of John Boehner and Roy Blunt and thanks to the sacrifice being made by dozens of members of Congress and their families, we have held this Hill for one week. But still, there is no sign of Speaker Nancy Pelosi or any House Democrats in the People's House.

"Republicans in Congress have taken this stand on Capitol Hill and across the nation in town halls and coffee shops to protest the fact that Congress took a five-week paid vacation without ever taking a vote on giving the American people more access to American oil. From the floor of Congress, to the farm fields of Indiana, I have heard from everyday Americans and they are with us…they think this Congress should go back to work immediately and pass energy legislation that allows more drilling into our domestic resources.

"We will stand our ground. We will take our case to the American people and we will not relent until the Speaker of the House calls Congress back into session and allows a vote on a comprehensive energy bill that includes more drilling."