Busy in Our Community

Dear John,

The past few weeks were jam-packed with events across Chester and Berks Counties and meetings with community organizations, small businesses, and local leaders. Here's a look at some highlights:

Celebrating Centro Hispano
Talking jobs and national security with Action Manufacturing
Promoting women’s entrepreneurship at WCU
Helping to solve the infant formula shortage
Getting my Malnutrition Prevention Bill signed into law
Helping a veteran get his medical records

Serving as our Representative is the honor of my lifetime, and I hope to hear from you soon about your priorities. As always, please contact my office if you need assistance.

Celebrating Milestones with Centro Hispano in Reading

I was thrilled to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Centro Hispano’s Casa de la Amistad Senior Center! This event celebrated their long-time goal of finding a permanent location in the City of Reading. Their new facility was a necessary expansion to meet the needs of seniors in Reading and to provide additional space for the services the Center provides to the Hispanic community.

The Center’s expansion would not have been possible without funding from the American Rescue Plan (ARP). It is exactly the kind of critical community investment I hoped for when I voted for the ARP. I’m so grateful to Centro Hispano for all the work that they are doing for our community.

Boosting Manufacturing in Chester County

I also had the opportunity to visit Action Manufacturing, a leading producer of precise military and defense equipment, and one of many businesses that proudly call our community home. During my visit, I talked with more than 100 staff members who take great pride in their work, particularly their most recent project, a shoulder-launched weapon system to replenish our inventories after more than 6,000 of these weapons were delivered to support the people of Ukraine.

Sean Gibbons, President of Action Manufacturing, said it well: "Knowing that vital equipment making a difference in Ukraine and securing democracy is built here in Pennsylvania is an honor.” Thank you so much for all your work on behalf of PA and the nation!

Speaking to Women Entrepreneurs at West Chester University

It's always a pleasure to visit West Chester University, but my visit last week was special. At the WCU Women's Entrepreneurship Conference, I had the opportunity to talk to a group of female entrepreneurs. As an entrepreneur, I thoroughly enjoyed speaking with these young women about how to tackle problems, take chances, find support, and create a business.

After coming to Chester County with my family, I grew several businesses and nonprofits, including an international sporting apparel company and an early childhood reading non-profit. This effort was never easy, but it was rewarding. When I spoke to this group of aspiring business owners on Friday, I advised them to appreciate their journey, including the ups and downs. They will be stronger because of it.

Addressing the Infant Formula Crisis Through Expanded Access to Donor Milk

Back in the spring, I visited the maternity wing of Paoli Hospital and met with healthcare professionals and a lactation consultant. They raised concerns about access to and awareness of donor breast milk, and the issue stuck with me.

Science shows that breast milk leads to healthier babies, preventing long- and short-term illnesses. Additionally, according to the Surgeon General, the United States would save 13 billion dollars if babies were exclusively breastfed for up to six months, as recommended by leading healthcare experts. That being said, we know that not all moms can breastfeed. That’s okay, but it should not mean that those most at risk get left behind. That’s where donor milk comes in.

With the infant formula shortage still looming, we need more education, awareness, and access to safe donor milk nationwide. That’s why I got to work looking into federal solutions and eventually wrote the Access to Donor Milk Act (ADMA).

This bipartisan bill will:

allow states more freedom to fund donor milk programs
create an emergency grant for rapid response in the event of another baby formula crisis
support public education on donor milk and nonprofit milk banks
require the FDA to address regulatory burdens

I am proud to be leading this charge in Congress and look forward to the Senate introducing its version of this bill in the coming weeks.

Preview the full text of my bill here.

My Bill Signed Into Law!

Last week, President Biden signed into law my bipartisan bill, the Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021. This bill directs the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to dedicate resources to preventing the further rise of malnutrition rates around the world.

Investing in global nutrition translates to lives saved, economic gains, and a more stable civil society. For every $1 we invest in nutrition, we see $35 in economic returns. But even more importantly, our strategic support for USAID will help save millions of lives. In 2019 alone, USAID reached 27.2 million children, providing lifesaving nutrition interventions. That’s why I couldn’t be prouder to have played a part in passing the Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act.

Read the full text and summary of the bill here.

Continuing to Serve You Through Constituents Services

I know that navigating federal agencies can be frustrating—that’s why my team and I put such an emphasis on helping you. Here, we were so glad to help Lewis in Downingtown access his military medical records!

Since taking office in 2019, we’ve helped solve many other problems while also returning nearly $30 million in backlogged benefits to folks in our community. Lewis is just one example. We’re glad he called and gave us the opportunity to help.

If you need help with a federal agency, please call or contact us through our website and we will assist you in any way we can.

As always, I look forward to hearing from you - send us a message here

Be well and take care of one another,