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.
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.