Dear John,
Whether you’ve struggled to keep up with rising costs or are concerned about protecting our democracy, 2025 was a challenging year for many of us. But I have returned to Washington, committed as ever to fighting for you and for common sense legislation to address the most pressing issues we face. As we take on 2026, let me provide you a summary of some what we were able to accomplish last year. |
Throughout 2025, I had the privilege of speaking with constituents across our district in 11 town halls. I hosted local experts and answered your questions, with discussions focused on healthcare, Social Security, farmers and agriculture, Trump’s tariffs, good governance and the Constitution, and so much more. Since first being elected to Congress in 2018, I’ve made it a priority to hear from you frequently, and I was proud to mark an exciting milestone: my 100th town hall in July. |
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Speaking of town halls: I hope you’ll join me on Tuesday, January 27 for my annual State of the Sixth address at the Colonial Theater in Phoenixville. Doors will open at 5:00 pm for our 6:00 pm program and seating is first come, first seated. I look forward to seeing you there.
If you want to listen to previous town halls, you can always visit our archives online.
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I am always grateful to spend time at home, especially when I get to visit the organizations and businesses that sustain Chester and Berks Counties. From hospitals and local farms to community colleges and biotech start-ups, my 173 visits in 2025 gave me direct insight into how our community is faring under the Trump Administration’s policies and how we in Congress can help.
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Another important way I hear from our community is through phone calls and letters from you. This past year, thousands of you reached out to my office to share your perspectives, and I responded with more than 50,000 letters. Every single email is read and voicemail listened to by my team, and every week I get a report of the most common issues our community is calling about. The issues you reached out about most include cuts to Medicare and SNAP, public land conservation, the expiration of Affordable Care Act tax credits, and protecting the Department of Education (more on that below). No call, email, or letter goes unnoticed in our offices, and I look forward to hearing from you again in 2026. Sharing what’s on your mind helps my team and I prioritize our work for you and your neighbors. |
My office is always here to help constituents with federal agencies, including securing VA benefits, receiving Social Security payments, and resolving IRS issues. In 2025, we resolved 174 constituent cases, recovering a total of $10,938,200.05 from federal agencies for them. If we can help you resolve an issue with a federal agency, please reach out to us.
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In July 2025, the Trump Administration announced that it was suspending $7 billion in education funding, including more than $51 million that was designated by Congress specifically for schools in Chester and Berks Counties. With many of my Democratic colleagues in Congress and governors across the country, I spent weeks working to get these funds released – and we did it! Because of these efforts, our schools received the more than $51 million they were entitled to, and they can continue to serve the thousands of students in our community.
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Because of gridlock in Congress, very few bills actually made it all the way through both the House and the Senate to become law in 2025. But the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), passed every year since 1965, remains an opportunity to get some of our priorities accomplished. This year, I helped pass an NDAA that invests in manufacturing jobs in our district, expands childcare support for military families, protects women in the military, and so much more. Forty of my bills, amendments, and initiatives were included in the final bill, making me one of the most effective legislators in the House. You can read more about it here.
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Throughout this past year, my commitment as your Representative has remained as strong as ever: I will always work to support you, to support legislation that maintains and improves the lives of Pennsylvanians, to uphold our Constitution, and to speak the truth for all of us, even when it’s inconvenient.
This new year has already brought its own struggles and challenges, but what we were able to accomplish last year gives me energy to tackle 2026.
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Let me briefly update you on the United States’ recent military actions. On January 3, the U.S. conducted a strike on Venezuela and removed President Maduro from the country. This strike was conducted without Congressional approval, and I believe it was illegal and reckless. Despite the challenges we are facing here at home, the Administration is now also planning to “run” Venezuela – without defined goals or exit strategy. This is a move that threatens to continue the cycle of forever wars, puts American lives at risk, and enriches wealthy oil companies while distracting us from rising costs and a stalled labor market, the failure to release the full Epstein files, and the rapid depletion of trust from our allies. Sending our men and women in uniform to fight for this nation is a serious and solemn decision to be made by Congress. Just last week, I joined my fellow Democratic veterans in leading a War Powers Resolution to block the Trump Administration from engaging in hostilities within or against Venezuela. I will update you when our resolution comes up for a vote at the end of this month.
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In addition to our annual State of the Sixth, I also want to make you aware of an upcoming Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) public hearing in Coatesville. The hearing will be Thursday, January 22 at 6:00 pm at Wagontown Fire Company. If you’re concerned about poor water quality and contaminants from the Old Wilmington Road Superfund Site, this is a great opportunity to learn about the EPA’s plan to provide clean water in the area.
Finally, if you’re looking for a simple way to uplift our community, my offices are collecting Valentines for Veterans now through Wednesday, February 4. Help us thank our local veterans by dropping off your valentine cards at my offices in West Chester or Reading.
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Serving as our community’s representative in Congress is the honor and privilege of my lifetime and I hope you will reach out about the issues you care about. As always, please contact my office if you need assistance.
Sincerely, |
Chrissy Houlahan U.S. Member of Congress
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