Phil served seven distinguished terms in the United States House of Representatives, representing Western Pennsylvania’s 3rd District from 1995 to 2009. Phil served on the Ways and Means Committee and was the first Republican freshman appointed to that committee since George H. W. Bush in 1967. In the 110th Congress, he served as the Ranking Member on the Subcommittee of Select Revenue Measures.

As a member of Congress, Phil became a strong advocate in the areas of health care, energy, tax, and trade policy. He was a long-time member of the Joint Economic Committee, and co-chair of the Congressional Economic Leadership Institute.

While serving on the Trade Subcommittee, Phil was a co-chair of the Congressional Service Industries Caucus and a member of the President’s Export Council. He was a Congressional Representative to the World Trade Organization Ministerial Meetings and Advisor to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Congressional Leadership Group.

On the Health Subcommittee, Phil was a proponent of Medicare policy reform, reimbursement changes for hospitals, cancer screening, therapeutic procedures, and prescription drugs. His involvement with tax policy included cost recovery (bonus depreciation), international taxes (repatriation), repealing the alternative minimum tax, and expanding savings instruments (Auto-IRA). Phil was co-chair and co-founder of the Congressional Real Estate Caucus.

Phil is an advocate of public diplomacy and America’s role in world affairs. He served as co-chair of the House European Union Caucus, the House Brazil Caucus, the House Morocco Caucus, the House Swiss Caucus, and the House World Bank Caucus.

After leaving office, Phil was appointed to the United States National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, which advises the State Department on educational, scientific, cultural, and communications issues.

Phil also serves on the board of the Institute for Representative Government (IRG), which collaborates with the State Department and other nonprofits to support interparliamentary exchanges with emerging democracies.

In 2006, Phil received the Award for Advocacy for Independence Higher Education from the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. He is also a past recipient of the Gannon University Distinguished Pennsylvanian Award and Rotary International’s Paul Harris Award.

Phil is a history and archeology buff and a collector of Roman coins.

He also serves on the Congressional Advisory Council of the International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF).