WEST CHESTER, PA — U.S. Rep Chrissy Houlahan called on the U.S. Senate Thursday to reduce the country's national debt of more than $30 trillion as part of the Reconciliation package.

Houlahan said that as the country was confronted with health and economic shocks caused by the pandemic, spending federal funds to protect families and small businesses from further collapse was the right thing to do.

"With vaccines widely available, and schools and businesses open, we need to revisit our nation's balance sheet and not be so ready to take on additional debt," Houlahan, a Democrat who represents all of Chester County and portions of southeastern Berks County, said in a prepared statement.

"As negotiations continue on a possible Reconciliation package, I urge my colleagues to include provisions that reduce our national debt."

In February, Houlahan and her colleagues sent a letter to Congressional leadership insisting on deficit reduction in a Reconciliation package.

The Inflation Action Plan she co-authored and released last month includes recommendations to "substantially reduce the deficit."

The 10-member New Democratic Inflation Working Group sent a letter to President Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urging roll back costly tariffs, address the workforce shortage, and work to lower costs on everyday necessities, including housing, energy, and health care.

The 24-page plan provides a summary of what had to be accomplished as the economy recovers from COVID-19.

Earlier this year, as negotiations continued on a fiscal 2022 spending bill, Houlahan joined colleagues on both sides of the aisle in calling for responsible budget provisions and the creation of a Debt Commission. The commission would consist of a bi-partisan group to address fiscal challenges.