Dear John,

I am happy to report that after years of planning and hard work, Exeter is finally getting major upgrades to its aging stormwater and sewage system.

Earlier this month, I joined with Exeter Mayor Denise Adams, members of local council and officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to announce an $8.7 million loan that was approved by the USDA for upgrading the outdated sewer system in Exeter.

This funding from the USDA’s Rural Development Program will help Exeter create a 21st century storm and wastewater system that will support the surrounding community for decades to come.

Specifically, this investment will repair and replace pipes that have deteriorated over the years, and provide separation of the storm and sanitary sewer systems along Schooley and Wyoming Avenues in the Borough.

Making infrastructure investments like these not only provides for improved water distribution and treatment, but it also puts people to work now, and it lays the foundation for improved sustainable growth in the future.

Learn more here.

Last week, I spoke on the House floor in support of the Social Security 2100 Act, a bill that I helped to introduce alongside Congressman John Larson and nearly 200 of my colleagues, to enhance benefits and protect Social Security for years to come.

This commonsense legislation will ensure the continuation of Social Security, increase benefits by 2% across the board for all beneficiaries for the first time in 52 years, improve the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) so it reflects the inflation actually experienced by seniors, and more.

The Social Security 2100 Act pays for these benefits without adding a penny to the national deficit by applying FICA to earnings above $400,000 and by closing the loophole of avoiding FICA taxes and receiving a lower rate on investment income for taxpayers making over $400,000.

For 88 years, the Federal Government has kept the promise to all Americans: if they contribute to Social Security with each and every paycheck, they would be able to retire with dignity.

Since my first day in office I have been a strong advocate for Social Security - as an original cosponsor of the Social Security 2100 Act in 2014, to my recent remarks on the House floor in defense of Social Security - I remain committed to protecting our promise and keeping our seniors from retiring in poverty.

To the 176,000 beneficiaries of Social Security in NEPA, the 30% of beneficiaries nationwide with no other visible source of financial support, and everyone who has spent their careers paying into Social Security, I want you to know that I will continue to fight on your behalf to ensure that this program not only remains, but it's benefits also adjust to meet changes in cost of living.

Financial issues should not distract our brave men and women in uniform from their mission, and they deserve to fully utilize the benefits that they have earned.

That's why I introduced the Improving SCRA Benefit Utilization Act this month, a bill supported by both Democrats and Republicans, to improve awareness and modernize an interest rate reduction benefit that recent research has shown is significantly underutilized by servicemembers.

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) provides critical protections to military personnel, including National Guard and Reserve members, and their families, in the event that legal or financial transactions adversely affect their rights during military or uniformed service.

These protections include the ability to reduce the interest rate to a maximum of six percent on any pre-service obligations or liabilities during the period of active-duty service, including for personal, auto and student loans, as well as mortgages and credit cards.

The SCRA interest rate reduction represents a substantial financial benefit and one that increases in value in a higher interest rate environment, where the servicemember has taken out a larger loan or is on active duty for a longer period of time.

That's why it is is unacceptable that members of our nation’s military aren’t able to utilize SCRA interest rate reductions – a benefit they earned – due to lack of awareness and barriers to usage.

My bipartisan legislation identifies commonsense opportunities to improve benefit awareness and utility, increase the likelihood of substantial financial savings, and enhance the overall readiness of our armed forces.

Learn more here.

 Pennie, Pennsylvania’s health insurance marketplace, has extended its open enrollment period until Friday, January 19.

Through The American Rescue Plan and The Inflation Reduction Act, I voted to expand important tax credits to reduce monthly premiums for thousands in our district.

Today, nearly 30% of Pennie customers are paying less than $1 a day for reliable, affordable health insurance, and 15% are paying less than $1 a month.

Shop for plans, find financial assistance options and get the coverage you and your family need at Pennie.com or call 1-844-844-8040.

Be safe and well,