WEST CHESTER – This week, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) met with a broad cross-section of her constituents in an online Deliberative Town Hall to discuss their questions and concerns about the financial future of our community, Commonwealth, and country. The Deliberative Town Hall was organized by the non-partisan Connecting to Congress project, led by the Institute for Democratic Engagement & Accountability (IDEA) at The Ohio State University, and is intentionally designed to maximize the effectiveness of a town hall for both the hosts and participants.

“After a strong jobs report last week, we know our economy is resilient, but challenges remain for Pennsylvania families,” said Houlahan. “On Monday, I heard from community members about those challenges. It was a productive conversation about real issues facing real people who want to know what their federal government is doing to keep their paycheck from shrinking by addressing inflation. I was glad to be part of that dialogue and answer their questions.”

The town hall was part of IDEA’s “Connecting to Congress” initiative, which conducts Deliberative Town Halls to help Members of Congress find out more about the full range of opinions in their district, not just the loudest voices in the room. Over 80 constituents of Pennsylvania’s 6^th Congressional District participated, asking questions and commenting on policies ranging from how to protect Social Security to home ownership to the national debt. All constituents’ comments will be analyzed by the research team and synthesized into a report for the office discussing not only what constituents thought about various policies, but why.

“Here in Chester and Berks counties, we are thoughtful, pragmatic people who value policies over politics,” added Houlahan. “This town hall was yet another platform to share our office’s efforts, and Congress’ efforts, to tackle the rising cost of various goods and other financial concerns. Whether it’s the local effect of global supply chain issues, obstacles to home ownership, or student debt, I remain committed to addressing our community’s priorities.”

“The common perception is that Members of Congress don’t care about what anybody but their base thinks, but our research shows that’s not necessarily true,” says Dr. Michael Neblo, director of IDEA and the Connecting to Congress initiative. “Our research suggests that the problem is that the folks Members usually hear from—loudly and often—are just wildly unrepresentative of the district as a whole. Members have few tools to reach out and hear from the quieter, less-engaged folks, without it being extremely costly and time-consuming. But we’ve found overwhelmingly that when Members are offered a chance to learn what the full range of their constituents think about an issue, they take it… and act on it.”

Houlahan has held over 50 town halls since joining Congress in 2019.

“This conversation buoyed my spirits because it not only showed us that this type of civil, productive dialogue is possible but also that it is alive and well here in Chester and Berks counties,” concluded Houlahan. “I am grateful to every constituent who engages with our office and holds us accountable as public servants.”

Watch the town hall here.

Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator and a nonprofit leader. She represents Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Small Business Committee. She is the recipient of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Abraham Lincoln Leadership for America Award which “recognizes members who demonstrate the bipartisan leadership and constructive governing necessary to move our country forward.”

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