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Dear John,
It was great to see so many of you back home in Pennsylvania! From welcoming our U.S. Secretary of Agriculture at Penn State Berks and announcing infant formula legislation in Reading, to hearing from healthcare providers in Malvern, and touring low-cost housing supported by the American Rescue Plan in Phoenixville, I was able to connect with community members like you about a wide variety of issues. Not to mention, I held my 88th town hall! Thank you to everyone who was able to dial in. If you weren’t able to join, listen to our conversation here.
There’s a lot of news to keep up with these days, so for this newsletter I’m highlighting some of the many events I held while I was home. Take a look below and, as always, reach out if you need assistance.
Short on time? Watch my behind-the-scenes Week in Review video that summarizes the events in just 90 seconds. |
Welcoming the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to Penn State Berks
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I had the opportunity to welcome Secretary Tom Vilsack to talk about climate initiatives in southeastern Pennsylvania. We were also joined by White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi and PA Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding at Penn State Berks. We discussed how the Biden-Harris Administration's climate-smart agriculture initiatives are creating new opportunities for farmers to develop sustainable practices. These efforts will help small and medium size family farms so they can keep their operating costs under control and continue to provide the food that feeds our country. Earning a living has become too hard for so many farmers across America and we’ve lost too many farms to development – we are making great strides to change the tide!
While here, Secretary Vilsack also announced a $90 million investment by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Conservation Innovation Grants projects which will focus on solutions to reduce livestock emissions – one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas. |
Visiting ByHeart infant formula manufacturer in Reading to discuss my supply chain legislation
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I had a fantastic visit to ByHeart in Reading, where I toured their baby formula production facility, which is undergoing exciting renovations to expand capacity and increase production safety. During the visit, I discussed my bipartisan INFANT Tax Credit Act with their team. This bill increases support for small, domestic infant formula manufacturers (like ByHeart) and strengthens supply chains. You probably remember that there was a severe infant formula shortage two years ago when a major infant formula production facility temporarily closed.
Right around when that shortage hit our shelves, ByHeart became the fourth fully integrated, FDA-registered infant nutrition brand in the country, and I couldn't be more thankful to have them in our community. Together, we're working to ensure families have access to safe, reliable infant formula made from our domestic dairy supply. |
Touring Chester County Voters Services
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I toured Chester County Voter Services' Central Scan office, where they process all physical ballots — like absentee, mail-in, and provisional ballots. Their state-of-the-art processes, housed in downtown West Chester, ensure the integrity of our elections by securing the chain of custody of authorized ballot handlers.
Workers there wear body cameras, wall-mounted cameras monitor each room 24/7, and staff are trained for their specific roles long before election day. This attention to detail helps to ensure a smooth and secure operation. It was reassuring to see this operation up close. Thank you to everyone who is doing this important work! |
Volunteering at Two Gander Farm in Downingtown for America250PA
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Our Commonwealth is the birthplace of our democracy, and I’m so excited to celebrate our rich history as we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding! Community service is one of the pillars of America250PA, so we went to Two Gander Farm in Downingtown. On a beautiful morning, we harvested roughly 1,000 pounds of potatoes that will go to our local food banks and out to families in need!
Service is what gives us purpose and unites us with those Americans who served hundreds of years ago to create the union we cherish today. If you are interested in getting involved, please visit America250PA.org |
Receiving an update on federally funded renovations at Liberty House in Phoenixville
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Liberty House in Phoenixville is a former military hospital that was renovated in 1996 to provide housing for homeless individuals. Recently, I saw the construction of their revitalization project, which is funded in part by the American Rescue Plan Act that I helped pass into law. These renovations will help Liberty House continue to provide affordable housing to individuals with mental health, intellectual, and developmental disabilities, and those who were formerly homeless. I am grateful for the discussions with Pennrose Company and Human Services Inc., who are working on the project, and I look forward to seeing it completed!
Affordable housing is essential, which is why I cosponsorede bipartisan Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act. This bill would strengthen the low-income housing tax credit and encourage private investment in developing and protecting affordable housing. |
Convening my annual Black Leaders roundtable in Chester County
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Each year, I host a Black leaders roundtable where I meet with advocates in health care, education, faith-based institutions, nonprofits, public safety, and more! I am so thankful to everyone who was able to attend and for our productive conversation.
We dove into a range of topics, from student loan forgiveness and job opportunities to affordable housing and gun violence prevention. I also provided updates on my work in Congress, including my support for lowering the cost of health care and increasing funding for HUD programs. This work is important all year long, and I look forward to continuing our collaboration. |
Co-hosting a town hall with the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry
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In Malvern, I met with Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry's executive board and hosted a fireside chat with their members! We discussed my support for small businesses, ongoing economic development opportunities, and crucial infrastructure projects in Chester County and beyond. I know that economic pressures remain on many working families and businesses, and I appreciate the opportunity to discuss the many pieces of legislation that were signed into law to spur investment and continue to alleviate inflation.
In Congress, I am leading efforts to advance paid leave and permitting reform, which I was happy to provide updates on as well. If you weren’t able to attend, you can find my handout here and read more in the chamber’s weekly newsletter here. |
Hosting my 88th town hall
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I’m truly grateful to the hundreds of people who joined my 88th town hall since joining Congress! We had a great conversation on various topics, such as safeguarding social security, the importance of national service, securing our southern border, and multiple other topics. If you couldn't make it, listen to a recording of it here. |
That’s not all! I shared a statement on President Joe Biden’s historic legacy, toured Johnson Matthey, a global leader in sustainable technologies, visited Community Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM), met with employees at JA Moody, and more. In all, it was a busy, busy time, and I’m so grateful I was able to meet and hear from so many Pennsylvanians. |
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
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