WEST CHESTER, PA — Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) announced her office recently crossed a major milestone: $50 million returned directly to community members and small businesses through her office’s constituent services — also known as casework — since the beginning of her tenure in Congress.
“Addressing the needs of my constituents is one of the most important responsibilities I have,” said Houlahan. “Returning over $50 million directly to our community members and small businesses through our office’s casework services has been a privilege and a testament to our commitment to serving the people of Pennsylvania.”
The exact amount returned since Congresswoman Houlahan began her time in Congress stands at $50,967,240. The largest sum of federal dollars returned to constituents came from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at $25,720,836.
The second and third largest sums of federal dollars returned to constituents came from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Small Business Administration (SBA) at $11,074,610 and $5,518,949 respectively. Other federal agencies include the Social Security Administration, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), among others.
Casework returned $17,892,082 and $33,075,159 in federal money to Berks and Chester County residents respectively.
“In addition to cases with a definitive dollar amount associated with them, we also handle cases without specific monetary data, such as passport delays,” said Houlahan. “Our office experienced a sky-high volume of passport requests this summer. While Pennsylvanians don’t get a ‘check’ for successful passport cases, we know that the saved weddings, funerals, vacations, and memories are invaluable.”
Earlier this year, in an overwhelmingly bipartisan manner, Houlahan and hundreds of House colleagues sent a letter to the State Department requesting additional information on the status of and factors contributing to the passport backlog, and how passport offices can proactively prevent delays in the future.
Below are testimonies from constituents who granted permission to share their success stories, covering a range of federal matters with monetary and non-monetary outcomes:
“I tried for nine months to obtain medals due to me for service during the Cuban Missile Crisis but couldn’t do it myself. That’s why I called your office. Job well done (One happy veteran)! Thanks for helping veterans!” – William Corkadel, Sr., West Grove
“Three days before our flight, we discovered that our children’s passports were expired. Chrissy’s staff not only immediately jumped in to help, but they also helped ease our family’s anxiety.” – Joy and Peter Mooiweer, West Chester
“When the IRS sent me a bill for over $5,000 when I was owed a refund, Chrissy’s staff advocated for me tooth and nail. She cares, and that shows.” – Elizabeth Scheivert, Malvern<
“From the very first day that I contacted Rep. Houlahan’s office, I was taken care of. I received an immediate phone call from the office and help throughout the entire process of obtaining benefits for my father is a WWII Battle of the Bulge soldier. My father and I appreciate Rep. Houlahan’s office tremendously and the work they do to help veterans.” – Donald Burns, Wyomissing
“Houlahan’s staff kept me updated every step of the way for my refund on my prior year’s taxes. She explained the process and how we were going to fix it. Houlahan’s staff were exceptional – they understood the problem and were professional and easy to talk to.” – Victoria Foti, Malvern
“Casework is at the heart of our mission, and I’m proud to say we have returned over $17 million to Berks County residents and over $33 million to Chester County residents,” said Houlahan. “These numbers reflect the dedication and hard work of my team and serve as a reminder that we are here to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those we so proudly represent.”
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