Congressman Ryan Mackenzie, who represents Pennsylvania’s 7th District including the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos, voted with a bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives to end the federal government shutdown. Mackenzie previously supported a clean continuing resolution in September aimed at keeping the government open. The recent funding bill had been delayed after it failed to clear a 60-vote threshold in the Senate.
During the shutdown, Mackenzie and his staff provided support across his district. He delivered food to TSA agents and air traffic controllers, met with local food bank officials, assisted WIC providers in obtaining necessary funding, and visited families affected by Head Start closures.
“After seven weeks of pain and frustration for the American people, the government shutdown is thankfully coming to an end,” said Congressman Mackenzie. “Throughout this process, my staff and I have worked throughout the district to provide the support we could and meet with those who were impacted. This unnecessary shutdown that was driven by Senate Democrats has caused severe hardship for the people of the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos — robbing workers of paychecks, freezing essential benefits, and creating major disruptions. That’s why I voted for a clean, bipartisan government funding bill in September, and it’s why I voted for another bipartisan package on Wednesday. Congress must now continue to work in a bipartisan way to ensure that this does not happen again.”
The appropriations package passed includes funding for several departments and initiatives. Among these are allocations for agriculture programs, military construction projects, legislative branch operations, as well as specific local projects that Mackenzie advocated for within his district.
Key provisions include $1.65 million toward building a new firehouse for Lower Macungie Fire Department; $33,742 allocated for an ADA-compliant ramp at Portland Borough Municipal Building; over $8 billion directed to WIC—a significant increase from last year; additional funds for childhood nutrition programs; increased support for low-income seniors through nutrition assistance; enhanced oversight on foreign ownership of U.S. farmland; full annual funding secured for veterans’ care; more than $4 billion designated for housing improvements on military bases; and resources allocated toward establishing a National Center for Warrior Independence focused on veteran homelessness.
“I’m proud to support these critical investments in local communities, nutritional assistance, American farming, and our nation’s veterans,” said Congressman Mackenzie. “When Congress puts politics aside, we can still deliver results for the communities we serve. I’m also grateful that we were able to secure $1.65 million in funding for a new firehouse that will cover Alburtis and Lower Macungie, which will provide an efficient, modern base of operations for firefighters in the area. Congratulations also to the people of Portland, PA, on the assistance to make their municipal building more accessible.”
