PHOENIXVILLE, PA – On Tuesday evening, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) held her fifth-annual State of the Sixth Town Hall. This signature event provides a legislative review from the previous year and looks ahead to upcoming local, national, and international issues. This year’s presentation provided updates on landmark legislation from the 117th session of Congress that impacts infrastructure, veterans, manufacturing, energy production, and more. Houlahan also gave her perspective on current foreign affairs challenges and needed progress in Washington D.C. Despite the frigid temperatures, over 100 constituents from Berks and Chester Counties came to The Colonial Theatre to hear from Houlahan and ask questions.  

"Thank you to so many members of our community for coming to my State of the Sixth Town Hall last night, many for the first time," said Houlahan. "Our nation and world are facing significant challenges right now, and I’m continuously inspired by the spirit of our community – a spirit that embraces unity over division, and compassion over indifference. As I return to Washington, I will continue to bring our pragmatic approach to the House floor and deliver on behalf of Pennsylvanians and all Americans. I also value having the opportunity to connect with so many residents during our Q&A portion. I want people to know that if they have a question about my work on behalf of PA-06, they should not hesitate to contact my office. We will do everything we can to address their concerns — every question is important to me." 

Phoenixville Mayor Peter Urscheler moderated the event. 

"I've had the privilege of moderating Congresswoman Houlahan's signature town hall for the past five years, and it has been a remarkable journey,” said Phoenixville Mayor Peter Urscheler. “I've seen firsthand how dedicated she is to finding real and authentic bipartisan solutions to our most challenging issues. Over the years, I've noticed a shift in the questions asked by our community, moving from purely domestic concerns to a more international focus. 

One of the most impressive aspects of Congresswoman Houlahan's work is her unwavering commitment to promoting job growth and manufacturing in our region. Her advocacy has not only created employment opportunities but has also boosted our local economy. Additionally, she's been instrumental in securing the essential infrastructure and resources needed for our community to maintain its high quality of life. 

I am deeply grateful for Congresswoman Houlahan's dedication to our district and her tireless efforts in Washington, D.C. Her leadership and bipartisan approach are a source of inspiration, and I look forward to continuing our collaborative work for the betterment of our community.” 

Background: 

Houlahan’s team hit a historic milestone last year by returning over $50 million to constituents since she joined Congress, and Houlahan highlighted that work at last night’s event. She shared that the office’s current total is $56,363,682 returned directly to constituents through casework, such as with the IRS, Social Security, Veterans’ Affairs, and other federal agencies. In addition, 8,289 cases have been closed, 96 student internships have been completed, and 122 military academy nominations have been made since Houlahan joined Congress in 2019. 

During the town hall, Houlahan discussed the incredible work of the 117th Congress on getting monumental bills signed into law such as the PACT Act, Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and more. Related, Houlahan shared her frustration with the nature of the House during the current 118th Congress. She informed community members of the striking differences between 2022, where the House held 549 votes and passed 248 bills that were signed into law, and 2023 with a new majority party, where the House held 724 votes but only moved 27 bills successfully into law. 

Houlahan added: "While it can be difficult to remain optimistic, I am as committed as ever to bipartisan progress for our community during the remainder of the 118th Congress. That’s why I’ve been leading efforts to provide more paid family leave to more people, improve our military personnel’s quality of life, and protecting our environment while growing our economy."

The presentation slides, a handout from the event, and the full audio recording can be found 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 and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. 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” and the Congressional Management Foundation’s 2022 Democracy Award for best Constituent Services in Congress. 

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