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Dear [firstname], Like so many of you, I have been frustrated with Republicans’ refusal to negotiate a deal on behalf of the American people. As your voice in Washington, I will continue to amplify what I’m hearing back home: the people of Pennsylvania need relief and need it now. I have called on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to put partisanship aside and pass a bill that will provide the relief our Commonwealth needs to weather this crisis.
Currently, I am working hard to get my bipartisan small business relief legislation to the President’s desk. This bill has 81 Republican and 45 Democratic cosponsors and will be a huge boon to small business owners in Chester and Berks counties.
Even in these turbulent times, my days at home here in PA reignite my faith in our community, Commonwealth, and country. We will get through this, together, and I will continue to be a fierce advocate for each and every one of you. As always, thank you for the honor of serving our great district. In This E-Newsletter You Will Find:
Upcoming and Recent Online Events Our Successful "Voting Safely in 2020" Town Hall Series
Voting is underway all across our country, and Chester and Berks counties are no exception! Despite the challenges this pandemic presents, I'm proud of how our community has stepped up to ensure all eligible voters can cast their ballot safely this election. Our poll workers, voter services' staff, and community volunteers are meeting this moment with a determined spirit, and we thank you! If you haven't been able to join us, there are two more opportunities to ask questions about voting safely this year: Thursday, 10/22 at 4:00pm (ft. James Logan, City Manager for Coatesville) Monday 10/26 at 5:00pm To join any of these town halls, please dial 855-731-4616. We know schedules are busy these days, so remember you can always find information on our website specifically for voters. ICYMI: Student Voting Town HallOur students are so resilient, this year especially. Given everything going on, I wanted to make sure our community's college students had the most up-to-date and accurate information about making their voices heard at the ballot box. So, I invited student representatives from Lincoln University and West Chester University to join me for a virtual town hall to answer their and their fellow students' questions. We answered submitted questions about mail-in ballots, polling locations, voter registration, and more. If you weren't able to watch live, check out the full recording here.
What We're Working On Standing Up for Our Small Businesses
These past few weeks, I've been able to stop by local small businesses and talk directly to workers about how the pandemic has affected them. From the beginning, I have been hard at work to help deliver relief and support to small businesses so that they can weather this crisis. We cannot have a successful economy without a thriving small business scene here in our community and across the country. They represent the very core and backbone of the economy. That's why I've been pushing my bipartisan legislation to help small businesses more rapidly recover - the Paycheck Protection Small Business Forgiveness Act.
My bipartisan Paycheck Protection Small Business Forgiveness Act would expedite forgiveness for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $150,000 or less. This legislation would streamline the process for small business owners to certify compliance with PPP requirements and expedite the loan forgiveness process for about 86% of PPP borrowers. In our office, we have worked alongside our small business community to help secure loans, increase access to capital for minority- and women-owned businesses, and improve transparency into the Paycheck Protection Program. In many ways, this legislation was borne out of my conversations with small business owners and workers across Chester and Berks counties. I’m proud to partner with Representative Upton (R-MI) to help the more than 15,000 small businesses in my community who have received loans of $150,000 or less quickly and effectively navigate the forgiveness process. I will continue to reach across the aisle to support our small businesses in our community, Commonwealth and country during these uncertain times.
Advocating for Infrastructure Investments with Local Workers
My mom is a cartographer, so growing up we talked about natural resources more than your average family. It gave me an appreciation for the hardworking people who provide the materials for our roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. Recently, I toured the Downingtown Quarry and, yes, even witnessed one of their planned rock explosions! Very cool.
Even though their business has mostly regained its footing since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, they are concerned that construction projects will dry up once townships and municipalities run out of funding, and so am I. There is bipartisan support for both an infrastructure package and additional aid to struggling townships and municipalities who are responsible for the maintenance of many of our roads and bridges in PA. Businesses like these are (literally) the bedrock of our community, and I will continue to support them. Speaking Out for Bipartisan COVID-19 Relief Legislation
Just like you, I have been frustrated at the Senate’s and Administration’s inaction on COVID relief. We in the House have now passed multiple bills to answer the needs of the American people and continue to push for negotiations. Personally, I am working with colleagues from both sides of the aisle to get a deal that can sufficiently address the health, economic, and social crisis the handling of this pandemic has caused.
Last week, I spoke at the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance alongside Representatives Madeline Dean (D-PA) and Dan Meuser (R-PA) about the need for a relief package, specifically for our small businesses. I will continue advocating for a deal to deliver relief to Pennsylvanians. Working Across the Aisle to Ensure Secure, Fair Vaccine Distribution
As our country’s scientists race to find a safe and effective vaccine, it is paramount that we work with our global partners. Given the nature of this pandemic, as long as it exists somewhere, it remains a threat to us all. That’s why, this week, I led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in urging the head of the Coronavirus Task Force, Vice President Pence, to present a plan for a coordinated, global strategy that would increase access and efficacy of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Strong international coordination is necessary to accelerate and manage the development of medical countermeasures globally and, by extension, to prevent future loss of life and overcome the destruction this virus has already caused. Therefore, we are encouraging the Administration to continue to work with international allies and partners and provide essential American leadership, ingenuity, and expertise during this time of global crisis. Delivering for Our Community: Constituent Services Receiving Historic, Nationally-Recognized Award for Our Record
Believe it or not, I first heard about this award during my orientation to Congress. (Yes, we have those too!) When I first set our goal to earn this recognition, I kept hearing the same thing: no freshman member gets this award. Well, good thing we applied anyway. Since being sworn into office, my team and I have worked hard to build an office that answers directly to the people of my community in Pennsylvania. During this time in our nation’s history, transparency is more important than ever – Pennsylvanians deserve public servants who rise above politics and place service to community as their number one priority. I am grateful for this recognition and even more grateful for the honor and privilege to serve the people of Pennsylvania’s Sixth Congressional District. Hitting Major Milestone: $4 Million Returned to PA-06
As I reflect on my first term in Congress, one of the things I'm most proud of is our constituent services – to date, we’ve returned over $4 million into the hands of people in our community. For me though, it’s about more than the number. It's about veterans who have served our nation securing the Veterans' benefits they've earned. It's about single parents receiving their tax return on time. It's about our seniors getting the Social Security benefits they deserve. Whatever your issue may be, we are here to help. If you are having an issue with a Federal Agency, fill out our form and our team will contact you! We also invite you to read more success stories here.
We want to hear from you. Please stay in touch and let us know what you thought of this e-newsletter. As always, we invite you to call one of our offices or fill out our contact form. Feel free to pass this update along to friends of our community so they can keep in touch too. We're all in this together. Respectfully,
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