More than three thousand of you joined our town hall this week! For those of you who could not attend, the main takeaway was this: do NOT give your personal or financial information on an unsolicited call. Unfortunately, scammers are working overtime to take advantage of vulnerable populations. Read coverage of our conversation and listen to the full audio recording here. 

Tackling This Tax Season with Confidence

We are taking action to make sure our community is prepared and confident to file our taxes this year. Join us next Friday, March 12 at 11:15AM for a Taxes Telephone Town Hall with special guest Kate Hunyady, Congressional Liaison for the IRS. As always, this event is open to the public and we encourage you to dial in at (855) 731-4616. Not able to attend? Don't worry - we will send a follow-up message with every resource you, your family, and your neighbors need to tackle this tax season.

Rep. Houlahan joins MSNBC to highlight her committment to small businesses.

Last weekend, I joined over 70% of Americans who believe we need to take additional action to get this virus under control and helped pass the American Rescue Plan. This legislation is comprehensive – stimulus checks for Pennsylvanians, increased support for small businesses, aid for state and local governments to accelerate vaccine distribution, funds for our schools to reopen safely and quickly, enhanced unemployment for Pennsylvanians who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, and more. We cannot afford to wait. I urge the Senate to move expediently so we can get Pennsylvanians the relief they need and deserve.

Earlier this week, I was humbled and honored by the opportunity to sit down with Pennsylvania National Guard members stationed down in DC. It’s always a treat to hear directly from those serving, so I decided to bring a hometown treat of our own - Wawa!

In recognition of Women's History Month, we tailored our conversation around issues facing servicewomen. It was both inspiring and a reminder that we as a country have work to do to make our military truly equal across gender lines. We discussed the struggles women face while maintaining both their Guard duties and their civilian job, returning to the Guard after childbirth, and more. These are the kind of conversations that spark federal action – legislative and otherwise – and I am already at work with my team to see how we can best address the needs of our servicewomen and their families.

For too long, business in Washington has been held behind closed doors. And I think it's safe to say that's not healthy for our democracy. I learned a lot during my first term in Congress, and in turn, I'd like to share those insights with you. To do that, we are launching a 'Civics With Chrissy' series where I'll cover different topics. First up - congressional committees! Check out our video and let us know what you'd like us to cover in future videos. 


Updated Vaccine Distribution FAQs

As I mentioned in my opening, I know vaccine distribution is top of mind for all of us. While most of our FAQs (found below) are similar to what we shared earlier this month, I do want to highlight two key updates. 

Governor Wolf recently announced the state’s plan to vaccinate educators throughout Pennsylvania using our initial allocation of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. This will be managed at the state level, through the 28 Intermediate Units across Pennsylvania and with support from PEMA. In Chester County, the Chester County Intermediate Unit will take the lead in vaccinating educators with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. In Berks County, their Intermediate Unit is doing the same. The Intermediate Units are coordinating directly with all public, non-public, and charter schools in this effort.

We also just learned that the Pennsylvania National Guard is now authorized to assist with vaccination efforts. This is a step I voiced my support for earlier this week, and I'm glad to see my call for action was answered. 
 

Berks County residents can visit the Berks vaccine webpage to locate local vaccine providers. Tower Health, Berks Community Health Center, and PennState Health are currently vaccinating Berks residents. 

Chester County residents can register to be contacted when a COVID-19 vaccine appointment is available through the Chester County Health Department. After you complete the form you will receive updates from the health department on vaccine availability and open appointments. If you have additional questions, you can contact their vaccine call center at (610) 344-6225. You can also visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health COVID-19 Vaccine page to see a map of other vaccine providers in our area and contact information for them.

Pennsylvanians can also visit Vaccine Finder to find the nearest vaccine site. 

PA’s Department of Aging can help seniors schedule appointments through local hospital systems. The department can also help folks arrange transportation if needed.

Chester County Department of Aging: (610) 344-6350

Berks County Department of Aging: (610) 478-6500

Residents can also contact the PA Dept. of Health at 1-877-724-3258 for more information on scheduling a vaccine appointment. Only folks who fit under the 1A group are being vaccinated at this time, therefore they are the only ones who can schedule vaccination appointments.

Berks County residents without access to technology can contact:

Tower Health: (484) 659-3000, Mon-Fri, 7:30AM to 5:30PM

When will educators have the opportunity to  be vaccinated?

Governor Wolf recently announced the state’s plan to vaccinate educators throughout Pennsylvania using their initial allocation of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. This will be managed at the STATE level, through the 28 Intermediate Units across Pennsylvania and with support from PEMA. In Chester County, the Chester County Intermediate Unit will take the lead in vaccinating educators with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.  
 
The Chester County health department will continue using the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine to vaccinate individuals in Phase 1A who live and work in Chester County. Chester County Health continues to request maximum doses of vaccines from the State Department of Health, and are ready to open appointments and administer the vaccine for those in Phase 1A as quickly as they receive those doses.

The state’s department of health is working on a plan to begin mass vaccination clinics throughout the state. Once the supply of vaccines improves throughout the country, mass vaccination clinics will be possible. Currently, PA’s bipartisan legislative vaccine task force will be meeting on a regular basis to develop a better distribution plan. Officials and lawmakers will be working with consultants and some in the private sector on the effort.

Yes, individuals under phase 1A can schedule a vaccine appointment at either CVS or Walgreens. Folks will be receiving either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at these sites. To schedule an appointment, please visit the CVS or Walgreens vaccine website.

Yes, Pennsylvania is participating in the Retail Pharmacy Partnership. The retail pharmacy partners are Rite Aid and Topco (supermarket pharmacies such as Shoprite, Acme, Wegmans, and others). Folks can register online for an appointment on the Rite Aid site. Currently, Rite Aid is not scheduling vaccine appointments over the phone. Please visit your local grocery store website to schedule an appointment online or contact their vaccine customer service line accessible through their website. Only folks in the current group phase will qualify for an appointment. Currently, PA is vaccinating those in the 1A group.

Data related to vaccine allocation in Pennsylvania can be found on the CDC website. Additionally, folks can visit PA’s vaccine data webpage to access information related to specific counties and cities.