Dear John,

As we prepare to celebrate a New Year and the swearing in of a new Congress, I wanted to give you a report on the results I've delivered for Northeastern Pennsylvania's working families, seniors and veterans. 

In 2022, during one of the most productive Congresses in American history, I introduced and helped pass key bipartisan legislation, delivered critical project funding for the region, and directly helped almost 20,000 constituents with cases involving federal issues.

Some of this year’s major legislative highlights include passing the historic Inflation Reduction Act to lower prescription drug prices, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to reduce gun violence, the CHIPs and Science Act, to boost American manufacturing, and the PACT Act, to allow veterans exposed to toxins to get the care they need. 

As we reflect back on 2022, I’ve continued my track record of delivering top-notch constituent services and building relationships with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get things done for Northeast Pennsylvanians.

It’s an honor to serve you, and I look forward to continuing to fight for hardworking families in our district in the next Congress and beyond.

For a list of my personal highlights in 2022, read on. 

In August, I was honored to attend the bill signing ceremony at the White House for the PACT Act, which included my Camp Lejeune Justice Act. 

The service members who signed up to defend their country and the people who supported them at Camp Lejeune were let down by their government in a big way. Over a 30-year period, thousands of Marines, their families, civilian workers and personnel used government provided tap water that was contaminated with harmful chemicals. It's estimated that more than a million people were exposed, and more than 500,000 people may have suffered devastating health effects.

Having the Camp Lejeune Justice Act signed into law provides an important step forward to ensure military families, civil servants and contractors can now receive the benefits and health care they deserve.

At the Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority's new headquarters this past October, I introduced the Prepare Act in order to improve government readiness for extreme weather disasters.

The PREPARE Act also served as a major milestone in my service as a U.S. Congressman, marking the 150^th bipartisan bill I introduced, the most of any Democratic member of Congress during my tenure.

When it comes to the 118th Congress, my approach will remain the same. I’m committed to promoting bipartisanship and making connections with my colleagues across the aisle to uplift Northeast Pennsylvania, move our country forward, and put people over politics.

This year, we moved yet another step closer to reestablishing passenger rail service from Scranton to New York City. 

In June, I officially submitted an “Expression of Interest” letter to the Federal Railroad Administration, calling for a once-in-a-generation investment to bring back rail service to Northeastern Pennsylvania. 

So far, more than 25 Representatives and Senators from Pennsylvania and New Jersey, along with local government officials and business and tourism leaders, have all signed on with my office as a coalition of “Lackawanna Cut-Off Interested Parties.”

In October, the state also committed close to $4 million in support of the project.

We have a critical year ahead of us when it comes to the proposed Amtrak line, and I’ll be spending a lot of time bird-dogging this project. Restoring rail service from Scranton to New York City is going to create incredible economic opportunity for the entire region and I'm committed to doing whatever I can to make it happen.

As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, I’m committed to bringing our share of federal tax dollars home to Northeastern Pennsylvania, especially for our police, firefighters and first responders. 

In Fiscal Year 2023, I brought home close to $53 million to the district. In Fiscal Year 2022, I brought home $19.6 million. For my efforts, I was ranked Number One in Pennsylvania two years in a row and am now in the Top Ten in the country for securing Community Project Funding dollars for our district. 

To read the full list of projects, click here. 

This upcoming Congress, I’m more committed than ever to bringing federal dollars home to drive regional economic growth, create jobs, fight crime, and provide much-needed public works projects.

This funding directly responds to some of the most pressing needs in Northeast Pennsylvania by creating jobs with better pay, making us safer, and strengthening our communities.

 Since being first sworn into Congress, my focus has remained consistent. In the upcoming 118^th Congress, I’ll continue my efforts to strengthen working families, create good-paying jobs, ensure affordable health care, protect our seniors, and support our veterans and military families.

I'm looking forward to being sworn-in again this Tuesday and consider it a privilege to continue representing you. Thank you for your confidence in me.  

Happy New Year!