Representative Chrissy Houlahan

Dear [firstname],

It was so refreshing to be back in our community for Veterans Day weekend! As I’ve shared with many of you, I haven’t been home in Pennsylvania very much this fall because Congress has been in session for ten straight weeks. This wasn’t how the schedule for the 2023 legislative calendar was originally crafted – but changes were necessary due to difficult circumstances including passing a budget to fund the government, identifying the new Speaker of the House, and other legislative priorities. These votes are important, and I will always be ready to represent our Pennsylvania values on the House floor. But, these last-minute schedule changes mean that I've had to cancel meetings with small business owners, postpone tours of new community centers, change in-person town halls to virtual, and more.

If you’re frustrated by what’s happening in Congress, you’re not alone. I, too, want to get back to what matters to our community – lowering the cost of groceries, rent, health care, and other expenses squeezing the budgets of Pennsylvanians. In case you missed my last newsletter, I’m hosting a telephone town hall this Friday to answer your questions about where we stand in Congress and what the road ahead looks like.

Below you’ll find more on:

Friday’s telephone town hall
Honoring a Reading constituent with a Purple Heart
Bipartisan progress on paid family leave, domestic energy supply, and more
Helping constituents with Medicare coverage

Answering Your Questions During my 80th Town Hall

Since changes to the congressional calendar have kept me in D.C. for the past two months, I’m hosting another virtual event this Friday! To join the conversation, dial (855) 731-4616 at 9:30 a.m. this Friday, November 17. Please RSVP so my team can send you an email reminder ahead of time.

As you might have seen, the House passed a continuing resolution last night. I am glad we were able to avert a government shutdown and do so in a bipartisan manner, but this process has been extremely frustrating.

For the third time in the past three months, my Democratic colleagues and I have demonstrated our willingness to work across the aisle, each time by delivering more votes than the Republican majority to keep our government open. We must stop playing games and wasting time with hyper-partisan, poison-pill laden appropriations bills, and instead pass bipartisan bills across the board - not just when we are threatened with a government shutdown. Read my full thoughts here.

Awarding a Purple Heart to a Deserving Vietnam Veteran from Reading

Rep Houlahan with Purple Heart Recipient

Rep. Houlahan awards Purple Heart to Mr. Fields while members of the Valley Forge Chapter 1777, Military Order of the Purple Heart look on at Owen J. Roberts High School.

Over 50 years ago, Robert "Bob" Fields was injured not once, but twice in Vietnam. He sustained two gunshots wounds to the head. The second gunshot wound was so severe — the bullet entered his helmet and carved a furrow along his skull before exiting — that Mr. Fields spent six weeks in a military hospital in Japan recovering. Despite this serious injury, he never received the Purple Heart he earned when he was just 18 years old. At the time, he was a light weapons infantryman in the U.S. Army.

Fast forward to a few months ago when his devoted wife, Elizabeth, reached out to our office (without telling her husband!) to make sure history knew the sacrifices he made for our great nation. Our veterans caseworker, Andrew, was able to help submit the appropriate paperwork, and we surprised the Fields family with the news just a couple of weeks ago. It was my honor and privilege to publicly recognize Bob’s service to our country during a Veterans Day ceremony at Owen J. Roberts High School. Read more in the Pottstown Mercury.

Bipartisan Progress Amidst Trying Times

Most of the headlines coming out of Washington focus on what Congress disagrees on, so I want to take a moment to talk about the consensus building you probably aren’t seeing on your timelines or in your inboxes!

Bipartisan Paid Family Leave Working Group

Rep. Houlahan stands alongside other Paid Family Leave Working Group co-chair, Rep. Bice, during their January launch.

Recently, I announced that the bipartisan Paid Family Leave Working Group I founded is advancing to the next stage of our progress! All along, our group, evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, has been committed to putting forward realistic policy recommendations that will have an enduring, positive impact on American families and businesses alike. I look forward to sharing those policy proposals with you when they are unveiled in the coming months.

Read what they’re saying about the bipartisan Paid Family Leave Working Group in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, CNN, and Forbes.

Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus

Rep. Houlahan meets with bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus co-chair, Rep. Garbarino, in her D.C. office.

Last week, I led the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus in sending a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) urging them to prioritize commonsense climate policies this Congress. Specifically, the letter outlined permitting reform to bolster domestic energy supply. As the Democratic co-chair, I will continue to seek solutions that will benefit Pennsylvanians and all Americans.

Helping Pennsylvania’s Like Carol Secure Medicare Part B

Health care is deeply personal to all of us, and it can be stressful not knowing the status of your coverage. When Carol from Downingtown needed answers about her Medicare Part B application, our office was able to assist!

ICYMI: Listen to the recording of our Medicare Town Hall here.

. . .

Serving as our community's representative is the honor of my lifetime, and I hope to hear from you soon about any issue that concerns you.

As always, please contact my office if you need assistance.

Be well and see you soon!

Chrissy Houlahan

U.S. Member of Congress