Originally published in the Daily Local

Written by MediaNews Group

WEST CHESTER — U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan has publicly invited President Donald Trump to help her work to save jobs lost by the closing of the Sikorsky helicopter facility near Coatesville.

The facility’s 465 employees were notified last week that the plant would close by year's end and they were being laid off.

“As soon as Sikorsky announced its decision to close the Coatesville facility, I immediately began using all the tools at my disposal to fight for the people in my community — workers who had consistently delivered these helicopters on-time and on-budget,” said Houlahan. “I spoke with and wrote to Dan Schultz, the president of Sikorsky, urging him to reconsider what I believe to be an ill-advised decision."

Democrat Houlahan said that after receiving what she felt was an incomplete and less than adequate response, she introduced an amendment to the NDAA that would withhold 25 percent of Sikorsky's funding for this program until a full explanation and report on how such a closure would affect our national security was delivered to Congress.

"Early Thursday morning, this amendment was unanimously agreed to by the House Armed Services Committee," she said. "Later that afternoon, I spoke on the phone with Lockheed Martin CEO Marillyn Hewson, reiterating my concerns and my commitment to saving these jobs in my community. I am glad that President Trump joined our fight late yesterday and, despite our many disagreements, stand ready for him to work with us on protecting Pennsylvanian jobs.”

President Trump appears to be aware of the potential loss of jobs in southeast Pennsylvania.

In a tweet Friday, President Trump said "While Pennsylvania is BOOMING, I don't want there to be even a little glitch in Coatesville - every job counts. I want Lockhead (sic) to BOOM along with it!"

Rep. Houlahan has secured a meeting with Sikorsky’s Vice President of Commercial Systems and Services Audrey Brady in Coatesville on July 1. This will be followed by a roundtable with Houlahan, Brady, and local/state leadership and stakeholders.
Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator, and a nonprofit leader.

She’s in her first term representing Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County, including the City of Reading. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Small Business Committee.