July 31, 2012

"Hi, I'm Robert Hurt. "Thank you for tuning in to our monthly video address as I provide an update from Washington on our work this past month. "If you would like to get more frequent updates, I encourage you to stay connected to our office by signing up for our e-newsletter at hurt.house.gov. "As our nation came together this past month to celebrate Independence Day, we were once again reminded of the importance of our founding principles of limited government, free enterprise, and individual liberty. "At the same time, we were also reminded that today, our national unemployment average remains above 8% now for the 41st consecutive month. Many Virginians are out of work and the policies of the past three years have failed to move us in the right direction. "And as I talk with Central and Southside Virginians, they share their concerns about our stalled economy at a time when the federal government continues to expand. Listening to the concerns of those that we represent, the House continues to act. "In July, we voted to repeal the government takeover of health care. We voted to ensure that the federal government would not have the ability to limit our family farmers' children from working on their farms. We voted to repeal the President's five-year energy leasing plan, which will not create jobs in Virginia, and replace it with a plan that will. And just this past week, we voted on a package of bills that collectively will help remove the federal government as a barrier to job creation. This legislation ensures that we have a more responsible regulatory structure by guaranteeing that the economic impact of federal regulations are accounted for as they are developed. "Unlike some in Washington, we in the House believe that those who own their small businesses do build them. We understand that these small business owners are the ones who make the sacrifices and create the jobs in our local communities. We in the House remain committed to making it easier for them to succeed, not harder. ... "Finally, while I remain committed to working in Washington to create jobs in Central and Southside Virginia, I also am committed to doing what we can at home to help reduce unemployment and spur economic growth. "That is why, on Monday, August 6th, along with Congressman Bob Goodlatte of Virginia's 6th District, I will be hosting a job fair at the Liberty Mountain Conference Center in Lynchburg. The job fair will last from 9AM- 2PM and employers and job seekers in Central and Southside Virginia are welcome to attend. You may find more information on our website at hurt.house.gov. "Along with the monthly video address, we also send exclusive updates to those who subscribe on our website. You may also check our social media pages to get the latest news from Washington and the 5th District. Hearing from you allows me to serve you better and your feedback is very important to us. You can contact our Danville, Farmville, Charlottesville, and Washington offices by contacting us, again, at hurt.house.gov. "I look forward to seeing many of you in August as we continue our work in the District. Thank you."