WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), who has served Pennsylvania’s 6th congressional district since 2019, is stepping into the national spotlight as a co-founder of the newly announced bipartisan BIOTech Caucus. The initiative aims to build greater awareness and understanding of biotechnology among lawmakers and support transformative advances in health care.
The BIOTech Caucus, co-chaired by Houlahan and Representative Stephanie Bice (R-OK), was praised this week by Dr. Brett P. Giroir, former Assistant Secretary of Health and Acting FDA Commissioner in the Trump administration. Giroir commended the effort as a vital step toward promoting innovation and fostering an environment where small biotech companies can challenge entrenched pharmaceutical practices.

“I applaud Reps. Chrissy Houlahan and Stephanie Bice for seizing the initiative to form the BIOTech Caucus,” Giroir stated. “With new FDA reform initiatives and focused efforts in Congress, innovative biotech companies will be better able to shatter treatment paradigms that have become too comfortable and too profitable for Big Pharma to change.”
Houlahan, representing nearly all of Chester County and parts of Berks County including Reading, has consistently emphasized bipartisan cooperation and support for science and technology. Her leadership on this caucus underscores her commitment to empowering new health care solutions and supporting the biotech sector’s growth, both regionally and nationally.

Dr. Giroir highlighted the importance of advancing “upstream” treatment approaches, using Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) as a case study. He pointed to the need for early intervention tools like wearable technology, at-home diagnostics, and AI-driven solutions to reduce costly hospitalizations and improve patient outcomes
“Diagnostics coupled with effective oral medicines have transformed our treatment of flu, COVID, Hepatitis C, and HIV,” Giroir noted. “If we can identify respiratory viruses early and treat them early on, there is a good chance we can markedly and cost-effectively reduce exacerbations of COPD, asthma, and other lung conditions.”

He further emphasized that innovative strategies—such as AI-assisted wearables and upstream preventive care—should be evaluated by programs like Medicare and Medicaid to determine their potential for cost savings and improved patient care.

Giroir’s remarks underscore the high stakes of Houlahan’s new role. By advancing this bipartisan effort, she is helping to elevate critical conversations around preventive care and health innovation in Congress—issues that resonate deeply in Chester County and across the nation.

As Houlahan continues to shape the policy landscape, her focus on bridging divides and championing practical, science-backed solutions positions her as a key figure in the push to modernize American health care and support the biotech industry’s next generation of breakthroughs.