Houlahan, Chrissy RSS Articles

My Statement on H.R.8800, The 2027 National Defense Authorization Act

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Just a few years ago, the idea of voting against the National Defense Authorization Act would have been nearly unfathomable to me. For more than six decades, Congress understood that our national defense demanded serious, sober and bipartisan work. It still does. Even as Congress grew more divided, members of both parties tried to keep the NDAA focused on protecting our country and supporting our servicemembers. I have voted against the NDAA before, when partisan poison pills made a version of the bill impossible to support. But this year, my concerns go much deeper than any individual provision or poison pill amendment.

Congress is being asked to entrust more than a trillion dollars, the strength of our military, and the lives of our servicemembers to an administration that has shown reckless disregard for all three. We do not have to speculate about how President Trump and Secretary Hegseth will use that power. We are watching them use it right now and it is a terrible sight to behold. We are nearly five months into an unlawful war with Iran that Congress never authorized and most Americans never wanted. The Trump Administration entered this war without a clear strategy, defined objectives or a credible plan to end it. The consequences are being felt across our country, including in the higher prices Americans are paying for gas and other necessities.

But the cost is far greater for our military families. Hundreds of American servicemembers have been injured, and American lives have been lost. Sadly, I can’t tell you with any certainty if it’s 17, 19 or even more lives lost to date because the Pentagon is loathe to tell the American people the truth. While prosecuting this war poorly, Secretary Hegseth has also used his office to politicize the force, purge expertise, limit opportunities for qualified servicewomen and servicemembers of color, and substitute his own ideology for the professional military judgment our national security requires. Congress cannot claim to support our troops while giving their leaders money without limits, authority without oversight, and trust they have not earned.

That is why I spent months trying to make this bill one I could support. I offered eleven oversight amendments to impose accountability, protect the professionalism of our force, defend the people who serve, and prevent the further politicization of our military. My Republican colleagues blocked every single one. Every. Single. One. They rejected the guardrails, and now they are asking us to approve the money anyway.

To be clear, there are provisions in this bill that I support, including provisions I fought to secure. It makes investments our military needs and provides support our servicemembers deserve. I do not dismiss any of that, and I do not take this vote lightly. But the people entrusted to execute this bill have demonstrated that they are unworthy of unchecked trust, and Republicans have refused every opportunity to constrain them.

Supporting our military does not require Congress to surrender its judgment to the people currently leading it. Our constitutional responsibility is not to rubber-stamp the Pentagon or bow to the demands of an unchecked Executive Branch. It is to provide for the common defense, protect the people who serve, and hold their leaders accountable.

President Trump and Secretary Hegseth have not earned Congress’s confidence. I cannot and will not give them more money without accountability, more authority without restraint, or more opportunities to place American servicemembers at risk without a lawful mission and a coherent plan. Later today, with that responsibility in mind, I will vote no.

House Intelligence Democrats Call on Intelligence Leadership to Rebut Trump’s Election Lies

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, DC— Today, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) joined fellow Democratic Members of the House Intelligence Committee in a letter to Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency John Ratcliffe, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kash Patel, and Director of the National Security Agency Joshua Rudd, calling on them to protect the integrity of their agencies against Trump’s election conspiracies. The letter comes ahead of a speech by the President, in which he reportedly plans to reveal foreign plans to interfere in the 2020 election.

“It is concerning that at a time when the Intelligence Community is not complying with its legal responsibilities to protect our upcoming elections, it appears focused instead on discrediting past elections without evidence,” the Members wrote. “The facts of the 2020 election have long been settled. The Intelligence Community assessed in a declassified Intelligence Community Assessment from 2021 that, ‘We have no indications that any foreign actor attempted to interfere in the 2020 US elections by altering any technical aspect of the voting process.’ No intelligence to the contrary has ever been provided to the Committee, despite repeated requests for updates. This declassified finding is backed by detailed intelligence in a classified version of the same assessment, including a version that remains restricted to the Gang of 8. Notably, this Intelligence Community Assessment was prepared during President Trump’s first term in office and coordinated by then-Director of National Intelligence Ratcliffe.”

The Members continued: “The President is within his authority to declassify intelligence, but if he does so in a way that is intended to mislead Americans about the most basic foundation of our democracy and that may compromise sources and methods, it is incumbent on you to stand up for the agencies you lead. Before any intelligence is publicly disclosed, it should be coordinated with all relevant Intelligence Community elements, reviewed under applicable analytic tradecraft standards, and provided to the congressional intelligence committees.”

“We remind you that you are statutorily obligated to keep the Committee fully and currently informed, a requirement that should include notification of new intelligence related to election influence or interference as well as any significant declassification. A reckless effort to weaponize intelligence to support false claims about election security will have a lasting and destructive impact on the relationship between the Intelligence Community and its oversight committees, as well as on the trust of the American people. We sincerely hope you do not go down that road,” they concluded.

The full letter is available here.

Houlahan Paid Leave Bill Companion Introduced in Senate

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and John Boozman (R-AR) introduced a Senate version of Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06) and Stephanie Bice (R-OK-05)'s historic bipartisan legislation to expand Americans’ access to paid family and medical leave. The More Paid Leave for More Americans Act would establish a competitive grant program for states that provide a minimum of six weeks of parental, caregiving, or medical leave, and it would create an interstate agreement to coordinate and harmonize paid leave benefits across participating states.

“Four years ago, when I founded the House Bipartisan Paid Leave Working Group with Rep. Bice, I did so with a simple goal: to find durable, bipartisan policy solutions that help American workers, businesses, and families gain access to paid family and medical leave,” said Rep. Houlahan. “Today, I am proud that our bill, the More Paid Leave for More Americans Act, now has a Senate companion, and I applaud Senators Gillibrand and Boozman for their leadership and partnership in advancing this effort. For more than three decades, roughly three in four American workers have lacked access to paid leave. We have a real opportunity to help states build programs that change that reality. Today, we've charted a clear bipartisan, bicameral path forward, and I urge House and Senate leadership to seize this opportunity and finally deliver paid leave for more American families.”

“No American should have to choose between earning a paycheck and caring for a new baby, a sick parent, or their own health,” said Sen. Gillibrand. “The More Paid Leave for More Americans Act is a commonsense, bipartisan step toward solving a challenge facing millions of hardworking families. By empowering states to create robust paid parental, caregiving, and medical leave programs, this bill would help protect Americans’ financial security and allow them the flexibility to deal with life’s emergencies without sacrificing their income. I will fight to pass this bill through Congress and will continue working until every American has guaranteed access to paid family and medical leave.”

“As a former business owner, father of three daughters and Member of Congress, I have learned just how much there is to gain from expanding paid leave resources for working families,” said Sen. Boozman. “Our bipartisan, bicameral approach offers a flexible way for more states and employers to help fewer Americans face the dilemma between career progression and financial security or meeting theirs or a loved one’s needs. I am optimistic this model will spur wider adoption across the country and appreciated collaborating with my colleagues alongside passionate advocates to achieve meaningful progress that will support families and our economy.”

“After years of hard work and dedication, I am thrilled that my colleagues in the Senate have introduced companion legislation to my bipartisan bill, the More Paid Leave for More Americans Act,” said Rep. Bice. “As Co-Chair of the Bipartisan House Paid Family Leave Working Group alongside Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, I have been proud to work across the aisle to advance practical solutions that support both families and businesses. As a mother myself, I understand the challenges parents face and the importance of ensuring they do not have to choose between caring for a newborn and earning a paycheck. We must continue this momentum and advance policies that address the real needs of America’s families.”

Currently, nearly three-quarters of American workers do not have access to paid family leave. This means that millions of Americans are forced to make impossible choices between earning a living and caring for themselves or their loved ones in times of need, such as when they have a new baby, contract a serious illness, or have to care for an aging parent. A large body of research has shown that paid leave improves workers’ mental health, boosts employee retention and productivity, and spurs economic growth.

The More Paid Leave for More Americans Act encourages states to work together with private companies to adopt or expand scalable, sustainable access to paid leave benefits. It also creates an Interstate Paid Leave Action Network (I-PLAN) to build coordination and harmonization across the growing number of paid leave states.

The More Paid Leave for More Americans Act is endorsed by Engage: Promoting Women’s Economic Security, AARP, Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) Action, Third Way, Chamber of Mothers, the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality, and Patriot Voices.

The full text of the Senate bill can be found here. The full text of the original House bill can be found here.

A section-by-section summary of the Senate bill can be found here.

A one-pager on the Senate bill can be found here.

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Houlahan Demands Answers on the Death of Airman First Class Keon McDaniel of Grand Rapids

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, DC – This week, Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee's Military Personnel Subcommittee, joined congressional colleagues in a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth demanding answers on the June 16th death of Airman First Class Keon McDaniel. Airman McDaniel died during the influenza outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas following the Department of Defense’s April 2026 decision to make the annual influenza vaccine voluntary for servicemembers.

Congresswoman Houlahan was joined by Reps. Hillary Scholten (MI-03), who represents the district where Airman McDaniel was from, Joaquin Castro (TX-20), whose district includes Lackland Air Force Base, Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), and Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08).

“When tragedies like this occur, the American people and the Congress that represents them deserve immediate transparency and accountability,” the Representatives wrote in part. “We urge the Department to ensure that Airman McDaniel’s family receives timely and direct answers to any questions they may have about the circumstances of his death before any additional findings or information are made public. Keon’s family has already made the greatest sacrifice. They deserve to hear the truth directly from the Department, delivered with compassion and respect.”

Reps. Houlahan and Castro co-sponsored an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to require military servicemembers to be vaccinated for influenza. This amendment comes after the flu outbreak at Joint Base San Antonio in Rep. Castro’s district spread to nearly 300 servicemembers. House Republicans rejected the amendment. The Department of Defense has since reinstated the influenza vaccine requirement.

“While the DoD made the right decision to reinstate the influenza vaccine requirement for new recruits, this outbreak at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland underscores the importance of science- based decision-making guided by medical professionals when making public health decisions affecting our servicemembers. Politicizing the administration of lifesaving vaccines has led to the death of a servicemember, the hospitalization of numerous trainees, and an expensive race to retroactively provide our servicemembers the health care they need and deserve,” the Representatives continued.

The full copy of the letter with the Representatives’ questions can be found here.

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My Statement on Rep. Massie’s Amendment to H.R.8595

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

I voted YES on Rep. Massie's amendment to block U.S. military aid to Israel. This was a difficult vote, and there are no perfect options. The amendment as written is ill-defined and not likely to become law. But after years of devastating civilian suffering across the region and with no credible path to peace, I believe the status quo with Prime Minister Netanyahu is no longer tenable.

The United States should not provide military assistance as a blank check. Our security partnerships are strongest when they are grounded in accountability, American interests, and our shared values. This vote is not a rejection of Israel's right to exist or to defend itself. Israel remains one of America's closest allies, and I continue to support its ability to defend its people against Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and other terrorist organizations and hostile actors.

I voted YES because I believe efforts to change course at this time offer the best opportunity to achieve the only outcome that can ultimately succeed: a future of security, dignity, and peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

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Houlahan Leads PA Members of Congress Demanding Answers on Delayed Grant Funding for PA Research Universities

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) led a bipartisan group of Pennsylvania Members of Congress in demanding answers of Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Russell Vought and National Science Foundation (NSF) Chief of Staff Brian Stone about overdue grant funding for Pennsylvania research universities.

“With NSF funding, Pennsylvania research universities advance scientific discovery, sustain high-skilled jobs in our region, and drive innovation that keeps our country competitive and secure,” said Rep. Houlahan. “Our universities – and the students, faculty, and communities they serve – deserve clear communication and a transparent, merit-based, efficient funding process. NSF and OMB need to act now to resolve the current backlog, provide meaningful updates to applicants, and ensure a process that avoids unnecessary delays.”

The letter, signed by Representatives Houlahan, Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), and Summer Lee (PA-12) comes after university administrators in Pennsylvania outlined delays in grants being awarded and disbursed and a lack of communication from NSF. University officials raised concerns that NSF is issuing significantly fewer grants than it has in previous years, reflecting apparent administrative constraints as OMB has imposed additional review requirements and reductions in force.

Specifically, Houlahan and the co-signers want to know the number of grants currently pending, the operational factors causing delays, the role of OMB in reviewing grants, the steps taken by NSF and OMB to ensure an efficient grant process, and the guidance provided by NSF to applicant institutions.

The full letter can be read here.

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Houlahan in the middle

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Written by Sam Janesch

In the back of a classroom where she had just read to 20 attentive preschool kids, U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan was concerned about what the staff of the West Chester YMCA was telling her.

Nearly a third of the families who rely on the facility’s childcare programs — in the richest county in Pennsylvania, and one of the wealthiest in the country — receive financial assistance to cover the $1,900 monthly cost, the staffers said.

Houlahan, a Democrat who is soft-spoken when she is not grilling President Donald Trump’s cabinet secretaries or House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) on Capitol Hill, asked about the income qualifications for financial aid. At a certain point, the YMCA staff told her, some parents have a
disincentive to earn more, lest they become disqualified and then stuck with a higher bill.

“It’s terrible, no matter how you do the math,” Houlahan said a few hours later at a Malvern restaurant, relaying the story to her daughter, Molly Rosa Houlahan, and daughter-in-law, Kristen Rosa Houlahan.

The YMCA’s fee was about the same amount the couple were paying for their 18-month-old, Lucy. With another child due in September, it is also an amount they still are unsure how to afford twice over.

“We’re very fortunate in our jobs, and we’re both trying to get promotions in order to be able to afford a second daycare,” said Molly Rosa Houlahan, 33, a local theater director and producer. “But we are not in that position yet. I don’t totally know what will happen when this second child arrives.”

From childcare to healthcare, groceries to gas prices, affordability concerns have remained top of mind for Americans this year — dominating discussions on Capitol Hill ahead of the high-stakes midterm elections.

Republicans, who control Congress and the White House, say they have made real progress in raising wages and lowering costs. They marked the first anniversary of Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act — since rebranded by Republicans as the Working Families Tax Cut Act — this month by celebrating the law’s more generous tax refunds and other benefits, like new investment savings accounts for children under 18.

Democrats have pointed to the bill’s simultaneous cuts to Medicaid spending and food assistance for low-income families. They say Trump signaled he has no interest in lowering costs when he refused to sign a bipartisan housing bill and said he doesn’t “think about Americans’ financial situation” when handling the war in Iran.

In this 2019 file photo, U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D., Pa.) arrives for a House Armed Services Committee budget hearing for the Departments of the Army and Air Force on Capitol Hill in Washington.Andrew Harnik / AP File

Houlahan, who has represented most of Chester and Berks Counties since 2019, routinely highlights the broader scope of cost-of-living issues alongside her colleagues. She has taken a leading role among centrist House Democrats to help craft a detailed “affordability agenda.”

Whether her party can advance any of those policies in Washington, even if it wins control of one or both chambers of Congress in November, remains an open question as Trump remains in office and the International Monetary Fund warns of a worsening global economy.

But as the fight drags out, it has also become increasingly personal for Houlahan and her family.

In addition to occasionally helping fill the gaps in their granddaughter’s care, Houlahan and her husband’s own home in Devon, Chester County, has transformed into a version of a so-called sandwich generation household within the last year. The couple’s other adult daughter, her husband, and both of Houlahan’s parents, who are 80 and 84, have all moved in.

The underlying circumstances for the multigenerational home, as they would be for any family, are various and personal. And Houlahan emphasized across multiple interviews that she is fortunate to have the means to welcome her family under her roof. (Houlahan is an Air Force veteran and a former executive at the athletic apparel company AND1. Her husband, Bart, is a partner at an investment research firm.)

But the larger realities — like skyrocketing costs for childcare and senior living — have also now played a role in her own life. Her mother has a Parkinson’s diagnosis, and her parents were unable to find a one-floor living space that was affordable and fit their other needs as they looked to move closer to their family.

“We’re having these conversations, and you know people all over our community are having these conversations,” she said. “It’s an acute issue for families in our area: How do you balance all of this?”

‘A big balancing act’

Houlahan has shared parts of her family’s story as she has traveled her district this year — prioritizing events and meetings that aim for a deeper understanding of an affordability crisis that has not spared her home county, where the median household income is about $131,000, or 40% more than the statewide average.

On back-to-back days this spring, that meant a focus on the kinds of childcare and senior-care issues she has become familiar with.

“We call it ‘from zero to Edna,’” Laura Schoefield-Pierson, executive director of the YMCA of Greater Brandywine, said of the facility’s programs aimed at all ages, from infants to seniors.

Walking Houlahan through the pre-K classes and a gym with a dozen seniors playing table tennis, Schoefield-Pierson spoke about the organization’s exercise programs aimed at offsetting symptoms of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, and about the complexities of providing assistance for families with young children.

In addition to the “many children” whose care is subsidized through the state’s Child Care Works program — set for families earning 200% or less of the federal poverty level, or $66,000 for a family of four — others receive aid through the YMCA, Schoefield-Pierson said. The facility’s fundraising goal this year is $237,000, she said. On the day of Houlahan’s visit, Schoefield-Pierson said “the kiddos” were writing thank-you notes to donors.

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D., Pa.) interacts with teachers and children at a childcare center at the YMCA in West Chester.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

Though the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends childcare should not exceed 7% of household income, Houlahan said she was surprised to learn a family would have to earn $327,000 to meet that benchmark at the YMCA for one child.

Nationally, the average annual cost of childcare in 2024 was $13,128, an increase of 29% over the previous five years and far exceeding the national recommendation for the average household’s budget.

“It’s crazy how much healthcare and childcare plays into your family planning,” said Helena Cordoba, a 35-year-old mother of two who said at a roundtable hosted by Houlahan that she had been hoping to grow her family.

A Colombian immigrant who owns Café Com Leite in Phoenixville, Cordoba said she thought she had been living the American dream. But a recent miscarriage and the rising costs of both childcare and healthcare, which she does not currently have, have made her rethink her family’s plans.

“I never thought I was going to say, ‘Maybe the miscarriage is a blessing.’ That thought on its own is very saddening,” Cordoba said. “I don’t know if we were going to be able to afford another baby. Our life would have been completely turned upside down.”

Others voiced similar struggles while Houlahan sympathized and shared her daughter’s own experience with a $2,000 monthly daycare bill.

Karessa, Amelia, and Zack Hathaway, pictured here in 2023, at Sweet Amelia’s in Kennett Square.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

Zack Hathaway, who owns the restaurant Sweet Amelia’s in Kennett Square with his wife, Karessa, said their business “makes just enough” to cover the $700 to $800 weekly cost for their babysitter amid a demanding restaurant schedule. Thomas Smith, who works at the Cleveland-Cliffs steel plate production facility in Coatesville, said he makes too much to qualify for subsidies for his grandchildren but still struggles to cover the cost.

“It’s like a big balancing act to be able to put your kids in a place that you want to feel comfortable with them being and with being able to afford it,” said Amarte Grove, another Cleveland-Cliffs employee and a father of five daughters.

In another tour focused on the other end of the age spectrum, Houlahan peppered staffers at Brandywine Valley Active Aging in Downingtown about their work to offer free meals, housing services, and activities to about 120 seniors daily.

According to the organization, Chester County’s homeless population has decreased in recent years — from 916 in 2023 to 747 in 2025. But the percentage of that population that is over 60 has increased from 9% in 2023 to 14% in 2026. About 45 older adults in the county were homeless as of early May, according to the organization, which works alongside other independent and government groups to connect seniors with stable housing.

“It is really difficult to live in Chester County,” said Jen Manthey, BVAA’s director of information and assistance. “It takes a long time for them to get out of homelessness, partly because it takes a long time for us to build the trust with them and get that rapport — that they trust what we’re saying, and there aren’t $400 room rentals out there that we’re just hiding from you.”

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D. Pa.) visits with senior citizens at the YMCA in West Chester. She shares the burden of the “sandwich generation” caring for her elderly parents, opening her home to her adult daughter and son-in-law, and helping to care for her other daughter’s toddler. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

Nick Popov, BVAA’s chief operating officer, said demand remains high for the 5,000 free lunches the organization provides every month to individuals age 60 and older. The cost for those meals is reimbursed through the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, though the organization raises most of its funding in total, he said.

“The services are out there. We’re doing everything we can to provide them,” Popov said. “But it’s always a struggle to kind of balance the bottom line between our goals and what we can actually affordably accomplish.”

Houlahan’s parents said they had never expected to move in with their daughter. Even as they looked to move closer to their family and could not find a spot that fit their financial and physical needs, it took some convincing, mostly from their son-in-law, Bart Houlahan.

“It was an inspiration that permits us to enter old age — serious old age, not just the kid stuff right now — with greater confidence that our health will be sustained,” said Andy Jampoler, Houlahan’s father, a Holocaust survivor born in German-occupied Poland in 1942.

Turning experience into policy

In May, Houlahan introduced legislation that would require the federal government to collect data on the sandwich generation, a step she said is critical to creating better policies for an “undervalued role in the nation’s economy.”

It would require at least one federal survey to ask whether individuals provide unpaid care to both children and older adults. U.S. Sen. Andy Kim (D., N.J.), who has two young sons and cares for his father with Alzheimer’s, sponsored a companion bill in the Senate.

Sen. Andy Kim (D., N.J.) poses with his family and Vice President Kamala Harris after taking the ceremonial oath of office in the old Senate chamber on Jan. 3, 2025, in Washington. Steven M. Falk / Staff Photographer

Houlahan is also the chair of an “economic growth and cost of living” working group within the New Democrat Coalition, a group of self-described centrist Democrats that includes about half of the entire caucus. The group rolled out an “affordability agenda” earlier this year that is considered a framework for how Democrats would tackle housing, healthcare, energy, paid family leave, and much more if they win control of the House.

U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D., Ill.), chair of the New Democrat Coalition, credited Houlahan for her leadership with the agenda, describing her as having a “quiet wisdom that focuses on the core of a problem” while bringing her own life experience to the work.

“Everyone’s experience is unique, but her experience shares many of the aspects of what people across the country are facing,” Schneider said. “The sandwich generation, taking care of kids and parents, for whatever circumstance, while at the same time seeing the cost of just everyday living … is putting a burden on families.”

Houlahan said she has been aggravated by the pace of progress in Washington, including Trump’s decision to not sign the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act in an attempt to force a vote on stricter voter-ID laws.

The legislation aims to incentivize housing construction, restrict large investors from buying single-family homes, help families with home repairs, and more. The president reiterated Friday that he would not sign it, allowing the bill to become law without his signature.

In her Capitol Hill office about an hour after Trump canceled that bill signing late last month, Houlahan described the president as “so obtuse that he can’t see in front of him that this is something that the people want.” After spending much of the last year calling out Johnson, the House speaker, for not standing up to Trump, she said there should be “counterinsurgents” and an “uprising” in the Republican Party.

At the same time, she expressed some hope. The housing bill may have been a rare moment of bipartisanship, but it was also a sign that Congress can still act on affordability even before the end of the year, she said.

“We don’t have time, for all of this stuff, to wait until somebody else is in charge,” Houlahan said. “We can do this ourselves.”

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D., Pa.) sits between her father, Andy Jampoler, and her husband, Bart Houlahan, at Brick & Brew in Malvern. Houlahan's parents recently moved in with her. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

Castro says Air Force confirmed death from flu outbreak at Texas base

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Originally published in The Hill.
Written by Ellen Mitchell

The Air Force has confirmed a trainee died as a result of a flu outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, according to Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas).

Keon McDaniel was in his sixth week of basic military training when he experienced a “medical emergency” June 12. He was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center and died there on June 16, the Air Force said.

At the time, the service said his death was undergoing a medical review and did not name influenza as the cause. But Castro said Tuesday that McDaniel “died from the flu,” which also has sickened nearly 300 service members.

“This is a tragedy that could have been prevented were it not for the reckless actions of” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Castro told reporters during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol.

In scrapping the flu vaccine mandate for all service members this past April, Castro argued Hegseth has put troops in harm’s way and undermined the military’s readiness.

“We’re at war with Iran and face many threats throughout the globe. A soldier who is sick cannot fight effectively,” he said. “The flu vaccine is a simple way to make sure troops are healthy and prepared to carry out their mission.”

Castro added that the flu outbreak at Lackland “is getting worse,” with now 284 confirmed flu cases and four hospitalizations. That’s up from 160 cases in June.

Over the past month, the influenza outbreak has hammered the 37th Training Wing at Lackland, part of Joint Base San Antonio, through which more than 36,000 recruits flow annually.

The incident follows Hegseth’s decision this spring to end the military’s mandatory flu vaccines for service members, arguing the shift would give troops “medical autonomy” and “freedom to express their religious convictions.”

The flu shot requirement, around since 1945, was an “absurd” and “overreaching” mandate that weakened the country’s warfighting capabilities, Hegseth claimed.

But the outbreak at Lackland has prompted the Army, Navy and Air Force to once again require flu shots for basic trainees.

Castro says it took a month for the Pentagon to approve Lackland’s request to reinstate the mandate, calling for an investigation into McDaniel’s death in connection to the flu outbreak.

Castro, along with Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), last week co-sponsored an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to require service members to be vaccinated for influenza, but House Republicans voted down the provision.

“When our troops volunteer to risk their lives for our country, the least we can do is not ask them to risk their lives because their leaders abandoned decades of military medicine,” Houlahan said alongside Castro. “The House Rules Committee’s refusal to make our amendment in order was a missed opportunity to right Secretary Hegseth’s wrong and to put military readiness ahead of politics. We owe our service members better.”

Houlahan, who is a former Air Force officer, also called the situation at Lackland “deeply disturbing and troubling.”

And Rep. Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.), who also spoke at the press conference, echoed his colleagues that the influenza mandate should never have been rolled back in the first place.

“The outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base was entirely preventable as evidenced by the decades prior with no outbreaks,” he said. “Now there are almost 300 confirmed flu cases. That is almost 300 future airmen and women who will not be finishing their training at their expected dates. This has completely set back the Air Force’s expected recruitment class from entering the future squadrons on time.”

Who Is Jason Watson? Decorated Air Force Major Arrested After Trump Protest

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Originally published in Newsweek.
Written by Marni Rose McFall, Jordan King, Hannah Parry, Joshua Rhett Miller, and Khaleda Rahman

The U.S. Air Force is investigating a decorated major who was arrested on Wednesday for staging a protest calling for President Donald Trump's impeachment, military officials said.

The U.S. Air Force has announced an investigation after Major Jason Watson held a sign calling for Trump to be removed from office on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, where protests are prohibited unless participants are accompanied by a member of Congress.

Initially, Watson had been accompanied by the Texas Democratic Congressman Al Green, but when he left the area, police said he would need to stop his protest or be arrested.

In video footage shared widely on social media, Watson is seen in uniform, speaking at the protest.

"The president and vice president must be impeached, convicted and removed," Watson said.

A fundraiser, set up on the platform Spot Fund in support of Watson, has raised over $139,000; while another launched on GoFundMe has raised over $5,000, as of Friday morning. The Spot Fund fundraiser states that it is taking donations for “the defense fund of this patriotic hero.”

The footage then shows him being arrested while standing on the steps of the Capitol.

In a video shared to X, Green said: "I just left the Capitol grounds, and I was there to witness a major in the U.S. military…He stood for the impeachment of a president on the Capitol grounds and thereafter he walked up the steps where he was arrested."

"This is the kind of courage necessary to inspire others," Green said.

U.S. Capitol Police confirmed Watson’s arrest in a statement to Newsweek early Thursday.

“It is generally against the law for the public to demonstrate on the House steps unless they are with a member of Congress,” a Capitol Police spokesperson wrote in an email. “Yesterday afternoon, a man was escorted to the House steps by a member of Congress. When the member of Congress left the area, our officers gave the man lawful orders to stop the illegal demonstration or he would be arrested.”

Watson was arrested for crowding, obstructing and incommoding after refusing “lawful orders,” authorities said.

“It is important to note that there are plenty of other spots on Capitol grounds where demonstrating is allowed,” the spokesperson said.

John Bonifaz, the president and co-founder of Free Speech For People, praised Watson in a press release, writing: "His willingness to risk his own freedom stands in stark contrast to those who continue to look away as President Trump commits unprecedented abuses of power."

Newsweek contacted the White House for comment via email outside of normal working hours.

In video footage showing his arrest, Watson first calls for the impeachment of Trump and Vance and is then filmed walking up the steps of the Capitol, where he stood holding a placard that read "Impeach Convict Remove."

As he stands on the steps, voices can be heard out of the camera frame, cheering.

He then places the placard on the ground, puts his hands behind his back and is arrested. As he is being led away, the crowd cheers and chants: "Who do you serve?"

A press conference was held prior to the arrest and protest by Jessica Denson, founder of the Removal Coalition, which advocates for the constitutional removal of Trump and members of his administration. Video footage of this was livestreamed and shared to YouTube.

Denson introduced Watson and spoke about his military background.

“This man is a U.S. Air Force major. He is currently on leave from his commission post as a logistics readiness officer in Poland. He has spent much of 17 years in Europe, all over the globe, defending this country, working with NATO.”

Denson said that Watson had approached the Removal Coalition in February of this year and asked them to create the event for him.

Green did not speak at the conference but stood by Denson and Watson.

Watson addressed Green directly while speaking and said: “I’m not a Democrat and know next to nothing about his policies. I am here with him because Representative Green is the only member of Congress that has demonstrated the courage and conviction to invoke Rule 9 and force a vote on the articles of impeachment.”

In December of 2025, Green filed to impeach Trump, saying that he is “an abuser of presidential power who, if left in office, will continue to promote violence, engender invidious hate, undermine our democracy, and dissolve our Republic.”

The House voted to kill that impeachment resolution 237-140.

Prediction market Kalshi currently have odds of 64 percent that Trump will be impeached before January 2028.

The Removal Coalition states on its website that the movement is: “Explicit and united in our mission to constitutionally remove the illegal Trump administration from power, NOW.”

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, a Democrat and Air Force veteran, praised Watson for his bravery in standing up to the Trump administration, and spoke to Newsweek of her frustration with her Republican colleagues for failing to use their power to do the same.

“It says a great deal about the conviction of Major Watson that he is willing to make this statement while in uniform," she said.

"He is undoubtedly aware of the consequences of his actions and is willing to sacrifice likely his career and possibly his freedom for his beliefs about this now twice-impeached President. I know he is not alone in his efforts to shine a light on this President and his administration’s unlawful behavior. I am enormously frustrated that my Republican House colleagues and the Speaker and Senate remain unwilling to recognize their authority to call for their resignations or removal. Indeed, they remain unwilling even to come to work at all.

"I am hopeful that in November the people of the United States will deliver the votes necessary to flip the House and the Senate to allow us the votes to again impeach this reckless and lawless President and his supporting cast, including Secretary Hegseth.”

Watson Speaks Out

In a pre-recorded interview with Denson conducted before his arrest, Watson explained his decision to take a stand was based on his belief that the Trump administration has violated the U.S. Constitution and Supreme Court rulings.

“You could look at everything that this administration's doing and there is some kind of tie-in to it being unconstitutional or illegal or corrupt or violent against American people or people living in our country,” Watson said later in the 43-minute interview, which was posted on YouTube on Wednesday.

Watson, a father of two, is just three years away from retirement, Denson noted.

Earlier in the interview, he said while it is "dangerous" for any member of the military to "do something like he is doing" he "can afford to" because he's "just not important enough."

Later he said active duty members who "don't feel comfortable continuing to serve because of the nature of this administration" should "leave loudly… express your dissent on the way out the door."

U.S. Air Force Responds

Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Dr. Troy E. Meink, responded to the arrest of Watson in a Thursday evening post on X.

"I am aware of recent reports involving an Air Force officer protesting at the United States Capitol," he said in the statement. "Let me be clear: I expect every Airman and Guardian to comply with all laws and policies governing personal conduct, political participation, and the wear of the uniform. Americans place their trust in us. We cannot, and will not, compromise the trust of the Nation.

"Good order and discipline are critical to the DAF’s mission, and rigorously maintaining the highest standards of conduct on & off duty are an absolute must for all Airmen and Guardians. The Department takes allegations of misconduct seriously, including any that might undermine the nonpartisan nature of our military.

"Pursuant to a thorough investigation - which will proceed unimpeded - commanders will ensure appropriate disposition when holding service members accountable in accordance with military law and due process," he continued.

Watson's Decorated Military Career

An Air Force spokesperson told Newsweek that Major Watson that received more than a dozen medals or decorations during his 17-year career in the military.

Watson, who entered the Air Force on May 27, 2009, is currently on leave from his commission post as a logistics readiness officer in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

The majority of his military career has been spent in Europe and internationally, working with NATO to protect his country.

Awards:

National Defense Service Medal
Air Force Training Ribbon
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Boarder
Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with device)
Korean Defense Service Medal
Air Forse Overseas Long Tour Ribbon (two awards)
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award (five awards)
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon (three awards)

Decorations:

Air Force Commendation Medal (three awards)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (two awards)
Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Could Watson Be Removed From The Air Force After Arrest?

An arrest alone does not automatically result in a service member's removal from the Air Force. However, officers can face administrative separation or other disciplinary action if military authorities determine they violated service regulations or the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Any decision would depend on the facts of the case, the outcome of the civilian criminal proceedings, whether Air Force rules governing political activities were violated, and the officer's overall service record.

What Other Consequences Could He Face?

Administrative counseling or reprimand. If the Air Force determines Major Watson violated service standards but the conduct does not warrant more severe action, he could receive a formal counseling, letter of reprimand, or other administrative measures.
Administrative separation. The Air Force could initiate proceedings to involuntarily separate Watson from service if it concludes his conduct violated military regulations or demonstrated that he should no longer serve as a commissioned officer. This is the most likely mechanism by which an officer would be removed absent a court-martial.
Action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). If military authorities determine his conduct violated the UCMJ, he could face nonjudicial punishment or, in more serious cases, a court-martial.
Dismissal following a court-martial. If Watson were convicted by a court-martial of an offense warranting the punishment, he could receive a dismissal—the officer equivalent of a dishonorable discharge. This is distinct from administrative separation and is not imposed simply because someone is arrested.

Factors the Air Force Would Consider

The outcome of the civilian case. An arrest alone does not automatically result in removal from the Air Force. The service would consider whether charges are dismissed, whether Watson is convicted, and the nature of any offense.
Whether military regulations were violated. The Air Force would examine whether Watson's conduct violated Department of Defense or Air Force rules governing political activities by active-duty service members.
The circumstances of the protest. Officials would likely consider whether Watson was on duty or off duty, the fact he was in uniform, whether he identified himself as an Air Force officer, and whether his actions could reasonably be interpreted as representing the military.
The seriousness of the conduct. The Air Force would assess the nature of the alleged misconduct, including the offense for which he was arrested and whether it affected good order, discipline, or public confidence in the service.
His service record. Watson's prior performance evaluations, disciplinary history, years of service, and overall record would typically be considered when determining an appropriate response.
The administrative review process. Because Watson is a commissioned officer, any involuntary separation would ordinarily follow established legal and administrative procedures, which may include review by a Board of Inquiry, rather than occurring automatically after an arrest.

Democrats push to restore flu vaccine mandate for troops amid Air Force base outbreak

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Originally published in ABC News.
Written by Steven Beynon

Three Democratic lawmakers introduced an amendment to a must-pass annual defense funding and policy bill that would require the Pentagon to restore mandatory flu vaccinations for service members.

The proposal on Tuesday, from Reps. Joaquin Castro of Texas, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, and Gil Cisneros of California would reverse Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's April decision to make the annual flu shot voluntary, ending a policy in place since 1945.

The effort comes after ABC News first reported on a flu outbreak that has sickened a total of at least 275 Air Force recruits undergoing basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland since the outbreak started in early June.

Four recruits have been hospitalized, according to Castro and a source with knowledge of the situation who was not authorized to talk to the press. One airman has died, though it remains unclear whether the death was directly related to the outbreak, with the specifics still under investigation, according to the Air Force.

Basic trainees live, eat and train in close quarters, while the physical demands of training and chronic sleep deprivation can weaken the immune system.

"A [service member] who is sick cannot fight effectively," Castro, whose district includes Lackland, said at a press conference Tuesday. "The flu vaccine is a simple way to make sure troops are healthy and prepared to carry out their mission."

New recruits are typically not vaccinated until they arrive at basic training, which is their initial introduction to the military.

Less than two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ended the military-wide flu vaccine requirement, the services were granted exemptions allowing them to again mandate the shot for large portions of the force, according to an internal document reviewed by ABC News and officials familiar with the situation.

Those exemptions cover basic trainees across the military branches, service members deploying overseas or participating in major training exercises; personnel working in military prisons, healthcare and childcare; and crews responsible for transporting the president aboard Air Force One -- effectively restoring the requirement for a substantial portion of the military.

Until the new mandate requiring the flu vaccine again, 60% of Lackland Air Force trainees were not vaccinated for the flu, according to the two sources.

But with the new exemption, the Air Force has the goal of vaccinating all of the recruits in this recruit class and will vaccinate all new recruits arriving at the base according to one of the sources.

Vaccines have played a significant role in the history of the U.S. military. In a 1776 letter to his wife, John Adams wrote that smallpox was "ten times more terrible" than the British and indigenous forces, arguing that the disease posed a greater threat to the Continental Army than the enemy itself.

He blamed a devastating smallpox outbreak for forcing American troops to abandon their campaign in what is now modern-day Canada. George Washington ordered all of his formations to be vaccinated against smallpox the following year.

That precedent continued to the aftermath of World War I. About 45,000 American service members died from influenza and related pneumonia amid the Spanish flu pandemic during the war -- nearly as many as the roughly 53,000 U.S. combat deaths, according to Pentagon figures. The Army supported the development of a vaccine, which was refined and began to be used widely in 1945.

"For decades, the military required influenza vaccines for new recruits because military doctors understood a very simple fact: when thousands of young Americans live, train, eat, and sleep in close quarters, infectious disease spreads very quickly," Houlahan, an Air Force veteran, told reporters Tuesday.

Keon McDaniel, the Air Force recruit who died, was in his sixth week of basic training when he experienced a medical emergency on June 12, according to the Air Force. Recruits undergo a medical screening before they can enlist, but that process relies largely on medical history and a relatively limited clinical review.

He was transported to Brooke Army Medical Center, where he subsequently passed away. The cause of the medical emergency is currently under investigation, and a comprehensive medical review is being conducted to determine the facts, according to the Air Force.

Join me for my annual State of the Sixth Address

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 23:00:00 GMT

I delivered my seventh annual State of the Sixth address on February 9, 2026. If you were not able to attend, you can watch it here. And you can view the presentation slides here for more context and information.

Join my 104th Town Hall

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 23:30:00 GMT

Here are the details of the event:

What: My 104th Town Hall: Questions for Chrissy

Who: Chrissy Houlahan, PA-06 Congresswoman

When: Wednesday, November 19 at 6:30pm

To listen to the town hall, click here.

Rep. Houlahan's Third Annual Medicare Town Hall

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 14:30:00 GMT

Here are the details of the event:

What: My 103rd Town Hall: Third Annual Medicare/Healthcare Town Hall

Who: Chrissy Houlahan, PA-06 Congresswoman

Guests: Sarah Milam, PA MEDI Local Coordinator at Chester County Department of Aging Services

and Jeanne Franklin, County Public Health Director, Chester County Health Department

When: Monday, October 27, 2025 at 10:30am

Click here to listen to the full town hall discussion.

Here is some useful information shared by our guests during the town hall:

To reach PA MEDI, go to www.chesco.org/477/PA-MEDI

To reach PA MEDI by phone, call (610) 344-5004 and press #2
To schedule an open enrollment appointment with PA MEDI, call (610) 344-5234

To compare Medicare plans, go to medicare.gov

Rep. Houlahan's 102nd Town Hall

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 22:00:00 GMT

Here are the details of the event:

What: My 10 Town Hall: The Republican Budget

Who: Chrissy Houlahan, PA-06 Congresswoman

When: Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 6:00pm

Where: CCIU, 455 Boot Road, Downingtown PA

Watch and listen to the Town Hall here.

Rep. Houlahan's 100th Town Hall

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 22:30:00 GMT

Here are the details of the event:

What: Rep. Houlahan's 100th Town Hall: A Conversation with National Constitution Center CEO Jeffrey Rosen

Who: Chrissy Houlahan, PA-06 Congresswoman

When: Wednesday, July 30 from 6:30-7:30pm

Click here to watch the Town Hall.

Rep. Houlahan's 101st Town Hall

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 22:30:00 GMT

Here are the details of the event:

What: My 101st Town Hall: Questions for Chrissy

Who: Chrissy Houlahan, PA-06 Congresswoman

When: Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 6:30pm

Where: Telephone Town Hall--Dial in or watch/listen online

Rep. Houlahan's 99th Town Hall

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 22:30:00 GMT

Here are the details of the event:

What: Telephone Town Hall: A Conversation About Social Security with Martin O'Malley

Who: Chrissy Houlahan, PA-06 Congresswoman

Mary Gay Scanlon, PA-05 Congresswoman

Madeleine Dean, PA-04 Congresswoman

Martin O'Malley, former Maryland Governor and Commission of the Social Security Administration

When: Thursday, June 12 from 6:30-7:30pm

HOW: Dial 855-274-3980

Click here to listen to the Town Hall.

98th Town Hall: Questions for Chrissy

Tue, 20 May 2025 22:15:00 GMT

Here are the details of the event:

What: Telephone Town Hall--Questions for Chrissy

Who: Chrissy Houlahan, PA-06 Congresswoman

When: Tuesday, May 20 from 6:15 to 7:00 p.m.

HOW: Dial 855-731-4616 or listen on houlahan.house.gov/live

LISTEN: Click here to listen to the town hall recording

Telephone Town Hall: Tariffs, Trade and the Economy

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 22:00:00 GMT

Here are the details of the event:

What: Telephone Town Hall: Tariffs, Trade and the Economy

Who: Chrissy Houlahan, PA-06 Congresswoman

Cristian deRitis, Moody's Analytics

Lucine Sihelnik, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance

When: Thursday, April 24 from 6 to 7 p.m.

HOW: Dial 855-731-4616 or listen on houlahan.house.gov/live

Click here to listen to a recording of the event.

Telephone Town Hall: Litigation and the Trump Administration

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Here are the details of the event:

What: Telephone Town Hall: Litigation and the Trump Administration

Who: Chrissy Houlahan, PA-06 Congresswoman

Mary Gay Scanlon, PA-05 Congresswoman

Madeleine Dean, PA-04 Congresswoman

Joe Neguse, CO-02 Congressman

David Vladeck, Georgetown Law Professer

When: Wednesday, March 5 from 6 to 7 p.m.

HOW: Dial 855-731-4616 or listen on houlahan.house.gov/live

Click here to listen to a recording of the event.