Patch, 5/27/2022- U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan: Closing of VA Hospital Is On Hold
By Holly Herman
CHESTER COUNTY — U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan Thursday allayed fears of veterans and their families that the Coatesville Veteran Affairs Medical Center will close during a town hall with constituents.
Houlahan hosted the U.S. Secretary of Veteran Affairs Denis McDonough on a tour of the hospital the in the wake of a March 14 following a report proposing the closure of the inpatient facility.
"This is being put on hold for a long time," Houlahan said. "The recommendation to close the hospital does not sit well with the community or me."
Houlahan noted two hospitals, Jennersville and Brandywine, closed this year and a third may also close, crippling the Chester County hospital services in the rural areas of the county.
Houlahan delivered the news during her 60th Town Hall throughout the district, which covers all of Chester County and southeastern Berks County.
She represents 700,000 residents. She was elected to office in 2018 and began serving in 2019. She is running for reelection against Republican Guy Ciarrocchi.
State of the nation
An overflowing crowd of more than 300 people packed a large meeting room in the Chester County Library Main Branch in Exton.
Houlahan provided an overview of her accomplishments for the district and the state of the country, ending with a question and answer session.
She noted that there are an abundance of jobs in Chester County, including on mushroom farms and at QVC, a shopping television show in West Chester.
Houlahan described her district as purple, noting there are 40% Republicans, 40% Democrats and 20% Independents.
She welcomes diversity and advocates bipartisan relations in Congress, noting she participates on committees where Republicans and Democrats are working together. She started a working group from both sides to study and come up with solutions to inflation.
"We spend a lot of time talking with the experts on what we can do to improve inflation," Houlahan said.
Crumbling Infrastructure
One of the primary issues being addressed is a need to update Pennsylvania crumbling infrastructure.
She said Pennsylvania received the third most infrastructure funding from the build back better allocation.
The allocation includes $1.4 billion for water, $1.6 billion for roads and bridges, $100 million for broadband and $355 million to upgrade airports
Houlahan said she was able to secure grants for the community, including $750 for railroad restoration, $645,609 for electric charging stations, $175,000 for Lincoln University, $100,000 for the United Way of Chester County and $271,169 for West Grove Borough Sewers.
At the close of the session Houlahan said: "It's a privilege of my life to serve the community. We will need to protect our Democracy."
As the residents left the library, they shared thoughts about the program. They thanked Houlahan for coming to their community and sharing the state of the nation.