U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, engineer, entrepreneur, and educator who is continuing her career of service as the first woman ever to represent Pennsylvania's 6th District in Congress.
Chrissy is the daughter and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors who came to America with nothing. She grew up in a military family; her parents met when her father and grandfather flew P3s in the same Navy squadron. She earned her engineering degree from Stanford with an ROTC scholarship that launched her service in the U.S. Air Force and Air Force Reserves, and later earned her M.S. in Technology and Policy from MIT.
The agriculture industry employs over 5,000 of our community members and is a key part of our economy. In fact, our community is home to the “Mushroom Capital of the World” – Kennett Square! And even as the national number of farms decreases, our district has seen increases. That’s why we welcomed Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to Chester County for a tour of a fifth-generation mushroom farm and led a panel discussion with farmers and local stakeholders.
To be sure, there are many challenges facing our agriculture industry. I have prioritized finding solutions for our community so our farmers and our workforce can thrive.
I will continue to listen to producers and engage with businesses owners and workers to address trade policy concerns, labor needs, licensing delays, and more. If you’d like to see coverage of my agriculture advocacy around our district, check out the links below.
As a former Chemistry teacher with Teach for America, I firmly believe access to quality, affordable education is critical to our democracy. The ability to succeed in our country often hinges on one’s ability to secure a quality education.
I am working to initiate a national dialogue around what it means to obtain an “education.” There are many avenues to a quality education, especially through public schools and career and technical training programs. However, a student’s only option to obtain these opportunities should not destine them to a lifetime of debilitating debt. Instead, our young people should graduate with the knowledge necessary to provide access to careers of the 21st century.
As an engineer, I am passionate about STEM and STEAM training. In my engineering major at my alma mater, there were only 10 women. Nearly 30 years later my daughter graduated with the same major, from that same school, and there were still only 10 women. Increasing the number of women and people of color in STEM and STEAM educational settings is fundamental to innovation.
In May, I had the privilege of visiting the 4th grade class from Wyomissing Hills Elementary Center to join in on a hands-on science workshop hosted by the S.P.A.R.K.S Foundation. I am proud to support educational programs like these that are actively engaging and preparing the next-generation of thinkers. It is vitally important to instill a passion for lifelong, collaborative learning in our community.
In Congress, I am championing policies that promote educational opportunities – from early learning programs to adult literacy programs – for all Americans. I am focusing on increasing access, paying our public-school teachers living wages, and investing in America’s future.
As an engineer and a scientist, I understand the grave threat that climate change poses to America and the world at large. Let’s be clear: climate change is real, and humans are the cause. The adverse effects will impact not only the natural environment but also our national security and our economic vitality.
I am committed to fighting for binding legislation with actionable measures to mitigate these negative impacts and stop climate change in its tracks.
Just this May, for example, I offered an amendment to the Climate Action Now Act that requires the President to explain how the U.S. will use diplomatic tools to help our global partners meet their own goals to combat climate change. I introduced this amendment because the threat is too grave for us, as a country, to be doing the bare minimum as laid out in the Paris Agreement. We must also work aggressively with each country to combat climate change at every turn. Inaction is not an option.
Science is not a partisan issue, and as our community’s Representative in Congress, I will continue to advance legislation that is based in scientific evidence and years of data in an effort to tackle one of the most pressing issues of our time.
Too many lives have been lost to gun violence. In just the past six years, firearms have claimed the lives of 3,930 people in our region of Pennsylvania. I have spoken with many members of the Pennsylvania Sixth who have survived and/or lost loved ones to gun violence. These conversations are a sobering reminder of the work ahead. I will work with my colleagues to pass common sense gun laws that reduce gun violence and protect our citizenry.
I convened a roundtable on gun violence prevention on March 4th with my good friend Michelle Roberson from Chester County. Michelle’s daughter, Bianca, was fatally shot in a senseless road rage incident in 2017 just a few weeks after graduating high school. Hearing her traumatic story was a sobering reminder of the work we still have to do. Families like the Robersons continue to inspire me to fight for common sense gun laws.
In my first four months in office, I co-sponsored and voted for H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, and H.R. 1112, the Enhanced Background Checks Act, both of which passed the House. Congress must continue to act to curb gun violence.
As your Representative in Congress, it is my duty to ensure the health and safety of our community and of Americans across the country. I will continue to speak up for the victims and survivors of gun violence and to advocate for common sense reforms.
Healthcare is a deeply important issue to me. As a mother, I understand the importance of access to quality, affordable healthcare in Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District and across the United States.
I recently held a roundtable with PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro in Reading to discuss one of the greatest public health threats our country is facing: the opioid crisis. I spoke with healthcare providers and community leaders on how this issue has impacted the 6th District. I share their concerns over lack of funding for opioid treatment and prevention programs in Chester County and Berks County. That is why I cosponsored H.R. 2466, the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act, which provides $5 billion over five years in federal grants to states for response to the opioid epidemic.
The fight for more accessible and affordable care in this country is far from over. The Affordable Care Act was an important step towards coverage for all Americans and I will continue to work to protect and stabilize the ACA. I will also continue my advocacy to lower the escalating costs of prescription drugs. I was a cosponsor of several pieces of legislation that passed the House that would just this, including H.R. 1884, Protecting Pre-Existing Conditions & Making Health Care More Affordable Act of 2019, H.R. 748, Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019, and H.R. 987, Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs.
Every member of our community has a right to affordable care – that right is under siege and I pledge to defend it.
As the daughter of a Holocaust survivor and third generation veteran, I know firsthand that we are a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. We need an immigration system that reflects our values and keeps us safe.
The United States is a melting pot—people from around the world come to the U.S to seek a better life and to integrate their expertise into our nation’s workforce. It’s simple--immigrants make our nation stronger and more competitive. For that reason, I am proud to cosponsor of H.R. 6, the Dream and Promise Act. This legislation aims to secure permanent residency for immigrants protected under the Deferred Action for Children Arrivals, Temporary Protected Status, and Deferred Enforced humanitarian programs.
I believe in American values - in our potential to be a beacon of hope and opportunity in this world. This country opened its arms to my father, who went on to serve as a career officer in the United States Navy, and I believe families seeking refuge in the U.S. today should have the same opportunity to pursue the American Dream.
When Americans succeed, America succeeds. Every working American has the right to earn a living wage. As the COO of AND1 and a leader of B Lab, the organization that launched the B Corporation movement of social corporate responsibility, I am bringing my business expertise to Congress .
The vast majority-99%-of businesses in the Pennsylvania Sixth are small businesses. As a new member of Congress, I requested a third committee assignment, the Small Business Committee, to channel my many experiences in the for- and non-profit small business sectors towards enacting legislation that protects and advances small businesses in PA and across the country. Small businesses represent the foundation of our national economy - when they succeed, the country succeeds.
An efficient, reliable infrastructure that safely moves people, goods, and information is the bedrock of our society. As an engineer and entrepreneur, I know firsthand that jobs are created and improvements are made to our communities when we invest in our infrastructure. Regrettably, far too many of our roads, bridges, tunnels, and pipes have fallen into a state of disrepair.
I recently announced my infrastructure priorities for PA-06 alongside state and industry stakeholders at Reading’s Penn Street Bridge, a “poor-rated” bridge that carries traffic over the Schuylkill River. This local landmark is currently undergoing a rehabilitation project, 80% of which is federally funded. I urged Congress to take swift action to repair our staggering inventory of structurally-deficient bridges, improve the accessibility of our public transportation options, restore the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund, and fully fund federal-state partnerships like the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.
The time to act is now. It has been far too long since Congress has advanced something as essential as the infrastructure that binds us together as a nation. I see the tremendous economic potential in repairing, upgrading, and greening our aging infrastructure. As your Representative in Congress, you can count on me to advocate strongly for our infrastructure.
As a third-generation veteran, the responsibility our country has to those who have so bravely served it is something I take very seriously. That responsibility includes ensuring veterans have access to quality health care, good paying jobs, and educational opportunities to help them adjust to civilian life.
As the number of women veterans increases, it is imperative that Congress and the VA address the unique challenges our servicewomen face when they separate from the military. By founding the Servicewomen and Women Veterans Congressional Caucus, I am tackling these issues women face head on and urging Congress to consider and enact policy that protects and elevates these brave women and honors what they have given to this country. For this valued portion of our community and their families, I championed legislation accepted into the National Defense Authorization Act that expanded the Women’s Health Transition Program pilot and supported expanding access to child care.
As the way we fight wars changes, so must the way we care for our veterans and the injuries they come home with. I proudly cosponsored H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, which has been signed into law. This law will ensure servicemembers who served on naval vessels off the coast of Vietnam and were exposed to Agent Orange have access to VA health services and benefits. I also cosponsored H.R. 663, the Burn Pits Accountability Act, which will support health assessments and care for veterans who have been exposed to burn pits or toxic chemicals.
As your representative in Congress, I will continue to work in a bipartisan manner to ensure veterans receive the benefits and care they deserve. If you or someone you know is struggling to receive their VA benefits or is having another issue with the VA, my team and I want to help. Please contact my Reading office at (610) 295-0815 or West Chester Office at (610) 883-5050, the Valley Creek Crisis Center at (610) 918-2100, or the Veterans Crisis Line at 1(800) 273-8255 and press 1.
Without access to the ballot box, democracy will come to a halt. Every eligible American should be able to cast their vote and make their voices heard through participating in our most fundamental American right.
In Pennsylvania, I saw just how rampant voter suppression was. In response, I offered an amendment to H.R. 1 that would require states to offer ten hours per day of early voting for the fifteen days prior to Election Day. This enables people who can’t easily take time off during the day to vote. I am pleased this amendment was adopted because it will help move our country in the right direction by expanding early voting.
We cannot pretend to have a democracy without fighting for the right to vote for every and all eligible Americans. I intend to uphold my promise to my community: put the power of democracy back in the hands of the people who sent me to Washington.