Dear John,
In this newsletter you’ll find...
Information on Piasecki’s grand opening of its new Coatesville facility
An overview of some of my visits in our community
A celebration of our service academy nominees
Bipartisan good news from Washington
The story of a satisfied constituent who worked with my team
Piasecki Aircraft Corporation opens a new facility in Coatesville
I was thrilled to welcome Piasecki Aircraft Corporation to its new location in Coatesville on May 31, 2023, a facility that was once home to Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky. In 2019, LM/Sikorsky announced it would close this location, but I, along with President Donald Trump, urged them to keep it open and protect hundreds of jobs in our community. They agreed to temporarily keep the facility open, but it eventually closed in March of 2022.
The closure was a devastating hit to our community. In October of 2021, I held a job fair specifically aimed at assisting those employed at that facility to secure new jobs. Piasecki’s purchase and renovation of the Coatesville facility will allow it to once again be a hub for jobs and innovation in Chester County.
Meeting with Community Members
One of the most important parts of my job is meeting with people in Berks and Chester Counties to understand how I can best serve our community. During my time in the district last week, I met with Reading Pride, a nonprofit that celebrates diversity in the LGBTQ+ community of Greater Reading. We had a conversation on LGBTQ+ rights and how to protect them, and I also had the opportunity to learn more about their new Berks LGBTQ+ Business Alliance. I look forward to seeing our businesses benefit from this resource.
I also met with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers’ Local Union 743, which is based in Reading and represents electricians in Berks, Schuylkill, Lancaster, Chester and Montgomery Counties. We had a roundtable conversation with members of the union — they voiced their concerns on aspects of their jobs and how Congress can help. It’s important to hear from our local workers on their experiences so I know how to be an even better advocate for them in Washington.
Did you know we have a company in Chesterbrook dedicated to helping companies and governments combat cyber threats? (I know, pretty neat!) I met with that company — Red Vector — last week and it was fascinating to see how they’re working to protect our cyber networks and keep employees safe from threats. Cybersecurity is one of my passions in Congress, so it’s awesome to see our community is working to keep our networks safe.
I also got to celebrate Avon Grove High School’s new building by delivering an American flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol building. If you would like a U.S. flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol, please go to the flag requests page on my website here.
Celebrating our district’s service academy nominees
Every year, I have the honor of nominating a number of deserving candidates in Berks and Chester Counties to our U.S. Service Academies – an opportunity that includes a commitment to serve in our military for at least five years upon graduating. Last week, we celebrated this year’s appointees and nominees. I’m wishing this cohort the best of luck as they embark on their military journeys this fall. I cannot wait to see how these students go on to serve our county.
Bipartisan good news from Washington
In March, the Senate passed the Veteran’s Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2023 (S. 777), and a few weeks ago, the House took up this legislation and we passed it unanimously. This commonsense bill will ensure that veterans’ disability payments are adjusted for inflation, so that our veterans continue to receive the appropriate levels of support. This bipartisan and bicameral bill now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.
Constituent Success Story
Charles, a West Chester resident, contacted our office regarding his father’s military documentation that was lost in a fire.
“My father was a WWII war hero (Purple Heart) and wanted to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery. However, we could not find his Army discharge papers in the National Archive. The documents were lost in a fire in 1973, and this documentation is required by Arlington so his military qualifications can be verified. We found his original discharge papers and wanted them to be restored to the National Archive. After several weeks to trying to this this on our own, with little to no results, I contacted Chrissy Houlahan's office, and the matter was resolved in a matter of days,” -Charles, West Chester
As always, please contact my office if you need assistance.
Be well and be kind to one another.
