Dear [firstname],
In my conversations with constituents, the cost of living is one of the most frequent concerns that comes up. Good leadership requires good listening, which is why I am always looking for opportunities to hear and learn from our community. But as your representative in Congress, I want you to know that I’m not just listening. I’m also working to develop real, tangible policy solutions that address the concerns you share. Bringing down the cost of housing, food, education, energy, and more is at the forefront of this work. |
For many in our community, energy is a major factor in this cost-of-living crisis. On Wednesday, I hosted an Energy Town Hall in Pottstown, where I heard from constituents whose energy bills are as high as $1,000 a month. This is stunning, and simply not sustainable for most of us. |
As I shared at our town hall, there are a few reasons why costs are increasing so drastically. Last year, President Trump signed the Republican Budget (“One Big Beautiful Bill”) into law, which scrapped about $543 billion in clean energy investments. This budget also eliminated tax credits that lowered families’ energy costs, including credits for residential clean energy, home energy efficiency, and electric vehicles (EVs) for consumers. When we throw out tools that help families save, we should not be surprised that costs become harder to manage.
Additionally, since President Trump first began his unauthorized, unwise, and unpopular war in Iran, gas prices have skyrocketed. Now, we’re paying more than four dollars a gallon at the pump. |
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These price hikes are not inevitable, and they’re not accidental. Better policy can and should make energy more affordable for you and your family. So, from gas prices to energy bills, here are the four pillars of energy policy that I’m proposing to ease the burden on your bank account. |
The current Administration has slashed clean energy investments in favor of oil and gas – but fewer options for energy mean fewer opportunities to bring down costs. My approach is different. I believe in an all-of-the-above energy strategy, investing in every tool available to keep energy reliable and affordable for you. If we bring back and build on clean energy investments, we can cut down on energy bills and keep more money in your wallet. |
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The problem here is simple: it takes too long to build energy projects in the U.S. In the past year, more than 650 major infrastructure projects across the country were in limbo, waiting for federal approval to begin construction. It typically takes about 10 years to complete projects like this, and in Pennsylvania, we even have ready-to-go projects that sit for years just waiting to connect to the grid. Reforming the permit process can make these projects easier, faster, and cheaper to complete – creating a larger energy supply and lower energy costs. |
Large data centers continue to pop up across the country, including more than 100 in Pennsylvania. Our energy grids are having to expand their capacity to meet data centers’ immense needs and, right now, that cost is being passed on to consumers. Families’ energy bills are skyrocketing, in large part because data centers drove up energy capacity costs by roughly $9.3 billion in the past year. Consumers need relief from these |
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exorbitant energy bills. That’s why I'm working to require large data centers to pay the full cost of grid upgrades they need, ensuring consumers aren’t forced to foot the bill. |
Finally, one of the best ways to bring down residential energy costs is to invest in energy efficiency. This means everything from restoring tax credits for EVs to strengthening and expanding programs like LIHEAP, which keeps the heat and air conditioning on for more than 300,000 Pennsylvanians each year. Yet just this week, the President released his 2027 budget, which proposes cutting the entirety of the LIHEAP program. This is an astonishing and detrimental proposal that would devastate struggling families across our Commonwealth. For some in our community, these energy investments are the difference between getting to stay in their homes or not.
We know how to solve this affordability crisis, and we know how important it is to put these solutions into action. As your representative in Congress, I’m continuing to work to do exactly that. |
Like most people, I was relieved to see a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. But on Tuesday, before this ceasefire deal was struck, the world watched as President Trump threatened to eliminate the entire civilization of Iran. Here in America, we do not threaten civilians, not to accelerate a peace deal or for any reason at all. We are better than that. And we are safer, stronger, and more powerful because of these standards.
Since the beginning of this reckless and dangerous war in Iran, President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have failed to provide answers about our strategic objectives or end goals. As U.S. soldiers lose their lives and more are put |
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in harm’s way, this lack of answers is even more reprehensible. It’s clear that neither President Trump nor Secretary Hegseth accurately assessed Iran’s capabilities or how this war would go. I am hopeful that this two-week ceasefire will become permanent and, at long last, Secretary Hegseth will be fired for incompetence. I will certainly continue pushing for it. |
Let me leave you with some good news: Reading High School just recently unveiled its new Innovation Academy, a satellite campus where students will be immersed in a STEM-focused curriculum. The new building allows for smaller group instruction and dramatically eases overcrowding issues, offering every Reading high schooler more opportunities to thrive. |
I was thrilled to tour the new facility, not just to celebrate this great STEM education opportunity, but also because it’s been quite the journey to complete this project. A little over a year ago, the Department of Education suddenly cancelled already-approved federal funding for the Innovation Academy. Alongside the Reading School District and other state officials, I spent months advocating to restore these funds. In May 2025, our efforts paid off – we successfully secured funding for the Innovation Academy. Eleven months later, it’s a joy to congratulate Reading students and staff on the official ribbon cutting of this exciting project. |
From Pottstown and Reading to the halls of Congress, I am honored to serve our community. Thank you for the privilege of representing you. |
Chrissy Houlahan U.S. Member of Congress
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