WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, Representative Chrissy Houlahan, Chair of the New Democrat Coalition’s Task Force on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development, was honored as a Fiscal Hero for the 118th Congress by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. The Committee is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization focused on educating the public about policies that will impact our country’s fiscal future. The Fiscal Hero award is given to policymakers working to improve the nation's fiscal situation, fix the budget process, and push party leaders to prioritize debt, among many other fiscal responsibility efforts. In total, 40 members of the House were given this distinction – 14 Democrats and 26 Republicans.

"I'm enormously honored to be recognized as a Fiscal Hero for the 118th Congress and grateful that the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget recognizes good stewards of our taxpayers’ dollars," said Houlahan. "As I consider bills to support and initiatives to lead on, I am always doing so through the lens of fiscal responsibility. I was raised to believe that responsible spending, meant to deliver for the common good, is an essential function of government. Now as a member of Congress, that same belief drives the work I do in all facets of public service. That’s why my work on the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum has been one of my most important efforts this Congress."

“Leading on fiscal responsibility isn’t easy, especially when compared to the reckless but politically expedient choice to pass on more debt to the next generation. We applaud the Fiscal Heroes for their hard work and encourage more members of Congress to follow in their footsteps,” said Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

Houlahan serves on the Steering Committee of the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum (BFF), founded in 2023 as a group of bipartisan House members working together to improve the United States' fiscal future. Alongside BFF members, Houlahan is a cosponsor of the Fiscal Commission Act of 2023, which establishes a bipartisan and bicameral commission to tackle the U.S.' long-term debt.  

Houlahan was also one of the few Democrats to vote for the Protecting Taxpayers and Victims of Unemployment Fraud Act, which would repeal $2 billion in covid-era spending. Some of the savings would be used to crack down on criminals who defrauded the public during the pandemic, returning even more money to taxpayers. 

She also voted in favor of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which increased the federal debt limit to prevent a default on the U.S. debt, established new discretionary spending limits, expanded work requirements for federal programs, and more. The Center for a Responsible Federal Budget cited the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the work of the fiscal forum, and efforts to establish a bipartisan fiscal commission as pillars of progress in the 118th Congress. 

Further showing fiscal responsibility is a top priority for her, Houlahan has hosted town halls focused on tax preparation and the state of the U.S.' economy.  

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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