Dear [firstname],
Tonight, President Trump will deliver his State of the Union. Traditionally, this speech reflects on the past year and outlines goals for the year ahead. Before we hear tonight’s remarks, I want to reflect on some of last year’s promises and share what I believe is a better path forward for families here in PA-06. |
Last March, the president promised to “defeat inflation, bring down mortgage rates, lower car payments and grocery prices, protect our seniors, and put more money in the pockets of American families.”
Nearly a year later, the results are mixed. Mortgage rates have come down somewhat, but they remain high enough that many families are still priced out of the housing market. Home prices remain |
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elevated and supply is limited. For many first-time buyers, homeownership still feels out of reach. Car payments have not meaningfully declined. Vehicle prices remain high, and borrowing costs continue to strain household budgets. Grocery prices have not broadly fallen. While individual items fluctuate, overall food costs remain higher than they were a year ago. |
Housing, transportation, and groceries are all higher on the Consumer Price Index, meaning they take up a larger share of family income than they did last year. CPI data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics continues to show the pressure families feel every day.
Inflation has cooled somewhat, but many essentials still cost more than they did before. For working families, what matters is not a headline number, but whether their paycheck stretches to the end of the month. That is the real test. And for too many households, life does not feel more affordable. |
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While some indicators have improved modestly, the long-term fiscal picture remains troubling. The Congressional Budget Office projects a federal budget deficit of about $1.9 trillion in fiscal year 2026, well above historical averages as a share of the |
economy. Persistent deficits add to the national debt and affect long-term stability. Treasury data shows the national debt grew by more than $2 trillion between 2024 and 2026, surpassing $38 trillion in early 2026. Independent reporting notes this is one of the fastest increases outside of the pandemic era. |
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We cannot claim long-term economic success while passing mounting debt to future generations. Fiscal responsibility must be part of any serious plan for America’s future. Americans deserve clear and timely economic data so we can evaluate progress for ourselves. |
It is not enough to promise lower costs. We need specific, realistic plans. That is why I am advancing the New Democrats Affordability Agenda, focused on lowering five core costs: groceries and household goods, health care, housing, energy, and family care.
On groceries, we strengthen supply chains, invest in small farmers, promote competition, and raise the minimum wage to allow families to make ends meet.
On health care, we lower prescription drug costs, protect families from medical debt, ban surprise billing, and strengthen Medicare, Medicaid, and Affordable Care Act tax credits. |
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On housing, we cut red tape to build four million homes over the next decade, increasing supply and lowering costs.
On energy, we modernize the grid, support responsible domestic production, and invest in reliable energy that keeps prices stable.
On family care, we support a national paid family and medical leave program and provide assistance for families caring for aging parents, children, or loved ones with disabilities. |
Last year in his speech, President Trump said, “We have ended weaponized government… I have stopped all government censorship and brought back free speech in America.”
Free speech is not protected only when it is popular or politically convenient. It is protected precisely when it challenges those in power. In recent months, federal enforcement actions and public investigations involving political opponents have raised serious concerns about how executive authority is being exercised. When agencies responsible for homeland security or federal law enforcement are drawn into highly public political disputes, confidence in their independence is strained. |
My own experience is one example. The Department of Justice sought an indictment against me and five colleagues over a video that restated existing law. A grand jury reviewed the facts and declined to move forward because no law had been broken. Reporting later confirmed prosecutors could not identify any criminal violation.
This is not about one member of Congress. It is about precedent. When federal power is directed toward elected officials, journalists, advocates, or private citizens for engaging in protected speech, it raises serious constitutional concerns. |
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The First Amendment exists to prevent government retaliation for political expression. No president of either party should use executive authority in ways that appear designed to intimidate or silence dissent. Justice must be blind, and enforcement decisions must be grounded in law and evidence, not politics. Public trust depends on that distinction. |
There is a difference between rhetoric and results. There is a difference between promises and performance. Tonight, as you watch the State of the Union, ask yourself a simple question: Are you better off today?
Leadership is not measured by applause lines, but by outcomes. It is measured by whether our families can build stability, whether our freedoms are protected, and whether our fiscal house is in order. Real accountability comes when we measure progress honestly, acknowledge what is working, and confront what is not. And when we understand that no speech can substitute for results.
My focus remains on practical policies that lower costs, strengthen our economy, protect constitutional freedoms, and restore trust in government. If you work hard, you should be able to build a stable and secure life for yourself and your family. That is the promise of America. |
Tonight, you will hear strong claims about progress and success. It is wise to measure those claims against independent data and your own lived experience. If life feels more affordable, safer, and more secure, that is what matters. If it does not, speeches alone cannot change that. Real leadership requires honesty about both strengths and challenges, and it requires transparency.
Tonight, you will hear many words about the state of our union. Tomorrow and every day after, I will continue working to ensure that those words are matched by action, because accountability does not end when the speech does.
Thank you for the honor of serving you. |
Chrissy Houlahan U.S. Member of Congress
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