Dear [firstname],
Last week, my colleagues in Congress and I returned to Washington amid the ongoing war in Iran, a Department of Homeland Security that still isn’t funded, a flurry of bizarre and concerning social media posts from our leaders, and economic conditions that just keep getting worse.
I’m sharing updates about our legislative work in Washington—including, and especially, the work that doesn’t get done—because your government is meant to represent you and to deliver results. And you deserve to know when Congress falls short. |
Seven weeks into President Trump’s war with Iran, it’s still unauthorized, unpopular, and enormously costly. The Constitution gives Congress (and only Congress), not this or any other President, the power to authorize war. And when a President puts our servicemembers and our economic stability at risk for a war with no articulated objectives or strategy, no timelines, and no end goals, it shows us exactly why this Congressional oversight is necessary. But the Republican majority has refused to take action to question the current or prevent further military efforts in Iran. |
After President Trump posted a deeply disturbing threat to eliminate the entire civilization of Iran, I told my Republican colleagues: let this be the tipping point. I urged them, publicly and privately, to rein in this Administration’s reckless action in Iran. I am beyond frustrated that, on Thursday, the Republican majority refused again. A vote for a War Powers Resolution blocking military action in Iran failed in the House by a margin of just one vote. |
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As disheartening as this result is, I’m not letting up. My message to my Republican colleagues is louder and clearer than ever: find the courage—somehow, somewhere—to hold President Trump accountable. Prioritize the safety of our servicemembers and the stability of our economy over his irresponsible and ill-conceived war. Do the right thing. Right now, this choice is the Republican majority’s to make. I’ll continue urging them to choose accountability. |
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is still not funded. A few weeks ago, the Senate reached a deal to fund nearly all of DHS, with the exceptions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). I was eager to vote on this same deal in the House so that we could finally secure permanent funding for TSA, the Coast Guard, FEMA, and other essential agencies. But Speaker Johnson blocked the House from voting on that bill. Two weeks later, you might expect this funding deal to be our first priority after returning to Congress. But we didn’t vote on this bill – or any other legislation related to DHS – even once. It’s one thing to be stuck on a policy disagreement, but it’s another thing entirely to shut down any and all votes trying to resolve the issue. Ignoring this funding lapse will not make it go away. The issues of DHS funding and commonsense ICE reforms deserve our immediate attention. Unfortunately, Speaker Johnson doesn’t appear to agree. |
Healthcare, housing, groceries, childcare, gas – just about all of our daily needs are getting too expensive. Congress can and should be taking meaningful, tangible action to bring down costs on the essentials. But instead, we voted last week on a resolution “expressing support for tax policies that support working families.”
There is nothing substantive in this resolution. It’s not a bill, it’s just a statement. It doesn’t extend Affordable Care Act tax credits so more families can pay for healthcare. It doesn’t expand tax credits for parents in need of childcare, for farmers growing the crops we eat, or for homeowners facing expensive utility bills. It doesn’t deliver for us at all.
When it comes to the cost-of-living crisis, all the Republican majority has delivered are empty gestures and meaningless votes (and a bag of McDonald’s hamburgers to the Oval Office). We need real solutions: building more homes, raising the minimum wage, expanding affordable childcare options, and investing in our food and energy supply. As your representative in Congress, I am pushing for these priorities until we make them a reality. |
As challenging as it is to be blocked from legitimate legislative work in D.C., there is always important work to do back home in Chester and Berks Counties. Before returning to Washington, I was happy to spend time with many organizations and communities across our district, learning about how they serve PA-06 and how I can better advocate for all of us in Congress. |
One highlight from my time at home was visiting Allegheny Evangelical Lutheran Church in Berks County. Last summer, the church was able to install solar panels thanks to federal clean energy tax credits that made installation affordable. Since then, their electric bills have been dramatically reduced – in some months, just a quarter of what they paid before solar. This is the real-world impact of investing in clean energy. Seeing it in person at AELC emphasizes how important it is to restore these tax credits, so more communities and households can protect the environment while cutting costs. |
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I was also in West Fallowfield Township to learn more about its water line expansion project. This is one of 14 local projects for which I secured federal grant funding this past year, and I am so glad to see the work getting under way. West Fallowfield will construct a water line connecting unserved areas of the township to public water service – a meaningful investment in our community, and one I am proud to support. |
My time in the Commonwealth included many more visits and conversations with constituents, from senior living centers to environmental management to community counseling services. Every visit and every conversation help me better represent our community when I’m back in D.C. Thank you, as always, for staying engaged in the conversation with me. |
Chrissy Houlahan U.S. Member of Congress
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