News from Chrissy
Dear John, 

There's no easy way to talk about this—we are living through difficult times that have reshaped the way we connect as a community. As neighbors, Pennsylvanians, and Americans, we are rooted in community. We look out for one another, support each other's businesses, and think of those less fortunate.

Especially as we reflect on Memorial Day this weekend, let us remember all those who gave their life in service to our country. As we have throughout our history, we always come together and rise to the challenges before us. During this crisis, as always, it is an honor and privilege to serve as our representative. 

In This E-Newsletter You Will Find:

Important Announcements and Resources
 — Including the latest number of COVID-19 cases in our Commonwealth and links to listen to our recent town halls

What We're Working On — Including new features on our website to track our office's COVID-19 response, the roll out of our National Public Health Corps legislation, the Heroes Act, and more

Need Help?  — Including updates about pandemic unemployment compensation, direct payments for agriculture producers, the PPP loan forgiveness application, and more
 .  .  .

Important Announcements and Resources 

PA COVID-19 Cases Update as of May 21st at 12:00PM

  • Total positives: 65,392
  • Total negatives: 293,244
  • Total fatalities: 4,869
  • Chester County - positives/fatalities: 2,267 / 238
  • Berks County - positives/fatalities: 3,784 / 279
Under Pennsylvania's reopening guidelines, 49 counties will be in "yellow" phase by the end of this month. Neither Chester nor Berks counties are yet included in that group. To see the governor's full reopening plan, click here

As we plan for the reopening of our counties here in Southeastern PA, we know that testing will be crucial to restart our local economy. Find a full list of testing locations here

Visit the PA Department of Health's website for the most up-to-date information, including a comprehensive data spreadsheet.

ICYMI: Connecting with Constituents and Our Students


Last week, I hosted my 8th Coronavirus Virtual Town Hall, this time focused on mental health. If you were not able to participate, you can find a full audio recording here.

It's crucial that during this pandemic we are taking care of ourselves, physically and mentally. I convened local experts from the Berks Counseling Center and the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Chester County to discuss and share resources on all aspects of mental health. For a full list of counseling hotlines, please click here
                                 
Rep. Houlahan answers coronavirus-related questions submitted by Downingtown middle schoolers. 

This week, I also hosted two student town halls, one with Avon Grove High School and another with Downingtown Middle School. I got to hear from students in our community about their questions regarding COVID-19 and the legislative process. I was inspired by their thoughtful questions—a testament to their hardworking teachers even amidst this crisis. 

What We're Working On

Launched: Comprehensive List of Our Office's COVID-19 Response


There is a lot of information to process these days, which is why we wanted to make it easier to see how our office is working on behalf of our community. We just launched a webpage that outlines a comprehensive list of our efforts—take a look!

Introduced: Strategic National Public Health Corps Legislation and Debt Relief for Our Frontline Health Care Workers


As a former AmeriCorps member, I was so proud to lead a bipartisan coalition of service-minded Congressional members to establish a new branch of national service – a National Public Health Corps. This Corps will help fill the personnel gaps in our health care sector right now and allow us to adequately test, track and trace, and perhaps even to vaccinate our citizenry. In order to get to the other side of this pandemic and return to some semblance of normalcy, we need many, many more people who will be the boots on the ground to carry out these duties. As many people enter a turbulent and uncertain economy, this new national service branch has the potential to help put them on an impactful career path and give back to their communities. The National Public Health Corps will mobilize service-minded individuals to do this sort of work in response to this pandemic and beyond.

This week, I also joined Representatives Shalala and Scanlon in introducing the Pandemic Responder Service Award Act. This legislation seeks to thank the millions of frontline health care workers for their service in keeping America safe throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. There is also a Senate version of this bill being led by our Senator, Bob Casey. 

Specifically, the legislation proposes an award for front line health care workers who responded to the COVID-19 pandemic that can be used to pay off existing student loans, to obtain further education or to establish a savings account to help health care workers purchase housing, start a business, save for retirement or establish a children’s savings account for their dependents.

During this COVID-19 pandemic, our frontline health care workers have resoundingly and bravely answered the call to serve. This is personal to me as my brother is a nurse. I’ve been inspired by their bravery in our community and across the country. The Pandemic Responder Service Award Act is meant to begin the process of stepping up for our health care workers as they have so selflessly stepped up for all of us.

Passed: The Heroes Act, Supporting Our Small Businesses


Last week, I returned to Washington to help pass the Heroes Act.

This bill includes a wide range of priorities important to my community and several bills that I was proud to help lead:

  • I led the effort to ensure that the 50,000 seniors on Medicare Advantage in Chester and Berks counties won’t see higher costs due to COVID-19.
  • I helped craft amendments to the Defense Production Act after hearing from members of our community that had shipments of PPE diverted by the Federal government at the last minute. I ensured this bill includes a requirement for the Federal government to notify and work with state and local governments to replace any shipment of critical medical supplies that is diverted. 
  • The bill includes $500 billion for state and $375 billion for local governments, helping to replace lost revenue and make them whole for money spent on COVID-19 response. This has been a major priority for Governor Wolf and the leadership of Chester and Berks counties.
  • The small business section includes many items that I advocated for after hearing from small business owners in my community: a carve out for micro-businesses, greater flexibility for PPP forgiveness and better transparency and reporting. The Heroes Act adds flexibility in the PPP covered period for borrowers by extending the 8-week period to 24 weeks and extends the covered period from June 30 to December 31.
  • The bill requires the CDC to develop a comprehensive, national strategy to provide diagnostic and serologic testing, contact tracing, and recovery. This will better enable our communities to safely reopen and get back to work without risking another wave of infections.
While there is a lot of good in this bill, I cast my vote knowing that it is imperfect. For example, it authorizes another round of economic stimulus payments knowing full well that the IRS rollout of the first round has been rocky and frustrating for millions of Americans still wondering when their first payment will arrive. I am disappointed that the bill does not include any role for national service volunteers, like AmeriCorps, to play a greater role in the recovery.

The bill also includes worthy priorities that are not necessarily relevant to the crisis at hand. Finally, I am concerned about the cost. As a former business leader, I know that sometimes you have to invest on the front end to achieve a necessary outcome later. We will likely need much, much more relief as this crisis continues and even when we begin to recover, but we must also be mindful of the long-term costs.

For my full statement, click here

A Personal Message Supporting Our Local Leaders


I continue to be inspired by our local leaders, both Democrat and Republican. They are on the frontlines of protecting our communities. They are our Generals on the ground who best know how and where to allocate resources. That's why I penned an op-ed outlining the need for federal funds to states and municipalities. Read my full thoughts here

Need Help?

Guidance for our community continues to change, so we want to be sure you have the most up-to-date information. We asked our response teams to share new updates since our last e-newsletter. Here's what they said:

Protecting Small Businesses

"I received a PPP loan to support my small business. How do I apply for loan forgiveness?"


"I am an agricultural producer affected by COVID-19, and I'm looking to access the direct payments program authorized in the CARES Act. How do I apply?"
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture just implemented their direct payments initiative, which distributes payments to crop, dairy, and livestock producers who have been impacted by this pandemic.

  • Mark your calendars for May 26th, the day applications for this assistance officially open. In the meantime, we urge you to prepare appropriate documents. For a detailed breakdown of eligible specialty crops (and forms to request your crop be included if it’s not) and the application process, click here

I am here to help. Please reach out to [email protected] and a member of my rapid response team will answer your questions or connect you with someone who can.

Navigating Unemployment Compensation

"I have used all of my unemployment compensation benefits, but am still unemployed. What resources do I have?"

  • The CARES Act authorized a temporary program that allows workers who have exhausted their benefits to receive an additional 13 weeks of assistance under the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program. The PA Department of Labor and Industry launched this new program last weekend and is processing claims. You can find more information, including the application and frequently asked questions, click here
  • Please know that these benefits are available for backpay to the week ending on April 4th. All recipients of PEUC will be eligible for the additional $600 per week in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation.

I am here to help. Please reach out to [email protected] and a member of my team will answer your questions or connect you with someone who can.

Receiving Taxes and Rebates

"Should I be concerned that I haven't received my stimulus payment yet?"
  • The IRS is still working on getting stimulus payments out to all eligible Americans. It is not clear right now how long this will take, so be sure to keep an eye out on your bank account or your mailbox. The Treasury Department has told us that all social security beneficiaries should be receiving their payments soon. To track where your payment is, please go to "Get My Payment" which can be found on www.irs.gov.
  • If you filed your 2018 taxes, your 2019 taxes and/or you receive social security, disability, or veterans benefits, then you will be getting your stimulus payment automatically. There is nothing more you need to do at this time. To see a FAQ page regarding Economic Impact Payments, click here
I am here to help. Please reach out to [email protected] and a member of my team will answer your questions or connect you with someone who can.

Our website is always a resource for you and your family. Whether you are looking for ways to help others, information on filing your taxes, or ideas to keep your children engaged in academics, you'll find what you're looking for at houlahan.house.gov. Or, if you'd rather talk with our staff, give us a call at (202) 225-4315.

Recently, we've archived all of our coronavirus e-newsletters on our website. To view all of our weekly updates, click here

.  .  .

We want to hear from you. Please stay in touch and let us know what you thought of this e-newsletter. You can call one of our offices or fill out our contact form. As always, please subscribe to this e-newsletter to keep up with what is happening regarding coronavirus, our many events, and the work we're doing for Pennsylvanians. Feel free to pass this link along to friends of our community as well so they can keep in touch too. We're all in this together. 

Respectfully,
WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE
1218 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4315
M-F 9:00am-6:00pm
WEST CHESTER OFFICE
709 E. Gay Street
Suite 4
West Chester, PA 19380
Phone: (610) 883-5050
M, W, F 9:00am-5:00pm
T, Th 9:00am-7:00pm

READING OFFICE
815 Washington Street
Suite 2-48
Reading, PA 19601
Phone: (610) 295-0815
M, W, F 9:00am-5:00pm
T, Th 9:00am-7:00pm

 
   
 
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