U.S. President Barack Obama is urging the House of Representatives to pass a transportation bill he says will put more Americans back to work and prevent a setback to the economic recovery.

The Senate has already passed a bi-partisan version of the bill to repair roads, bridges and support construction jobs.

During his weekly address Saturday, Obama also defended his energy policy, saying domestic oil production is at an 8-year high.

Still, he is urging Congress to support the production of more clean energy industries, such as wind and solar power.

In the Republican Party address, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky used the the second anniversary of Obama's health care reform legislation nest week to criticize the law.

He says his party is more determined than ever to get what he called "Obamacare" repealed, claiming it is unconstitutional and too costly.