{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://houlahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3815", "U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan tours Habitat for Humanity home sites in Reading", "2023-12-20", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Chrissy Houlahan", "H001085", "houlahan.house.gov", "houlahan", "https://houlahan.house.gov/press/documentquery.aspx", "page_html", "Originally posted by Reading Eagle.\n\nAs she stood inside what will soon be a newly remodeled dining room of a row home in the 900 block of Douglass Street Wednesday afternoon, U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan took a moment to vent.\n\nEvery time Reading is brought up in the halls of Congress, the Chester County Democrat said, her colleagues from around the country mispronounce it. Typically, they say it the way you\u2019d say \u201creading a book.\u201d\n\nHoulahan has to correct them, in the process reminding them of the iconic Reading Railroad that\u2019s featured in the game Monopoly. She also reminds them of the critical role the city played in the growth of the nation.\n\n\u201cThey don\u2019t remember the history of the city and the industry that\u2019s famous for being from here,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd it\u2019s something that\u2019s a point of pride to be able to talk about.\u201d\n\nReading\u2019s days of national prominence may be well past, but Houlahan said that doesn\u2019t have to be the case.\n\nShe said she sees a bright future for the city, she sees the potential for a rebuilding and rebirth. And projects like the one she was checking out on Douglass Street will play a big role in that.\n\nThe home at 924 Douglass St. is currently receiving a complete makeover, thanks to the joint efforts of Habitat for Humanity of Berks County and the Reading-Muhlenberg Career and Technology Center.\n\nHabitat owns the building and is providing the material to renovate it, while students from the center are getting a chance to hone their skills by providing the labor.\n\n\u201cThis is such a cool example of public-private partnerships,\u201d Houlahan said. \u201cEveryone is sort of working together on a shared vision. And this is the kind of thing that I love to see happening in Reading.\u201d\n\nThe Douglass Street property was one of several that Houlahan visited in Reading Wednesday as part of a tour of properties currently being revitalized by Habitat.\n\nThe nonprofit organization has been busy in Reading, including an ongoing project that will see 11 homes built or renovated in the Buttonwood Gateway section of the city.\n\n\u201cWe take blighted properties and we make them first-time homeownership opportunities\u201d Timothy Daley, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Berks County, said. \u201cAnd when we are done with them they are affordable.\u201d\n\nThe idea in Reading, Daley said, is to revitalize neighborhoods that have fallen into disrepair. Houlahan said the federal government can lend a hand in those types of efforts.\n\nThe federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act can provide funding for things like sidewalks, common pathways and bike lanes, she said. And there\u2019s still a bit of money from the American Rescue Plan Act available, too.\n\n\u201cI would encourage us to poke at every place that still has money,\u201d Houlahan said. \u201cI\u2019ve got to be honest, this past year of Congress has been disappointing in its ability to get new legislation passed. But that doesn\u2019t mean that the stuff we passed two years ago isn\u2019t still making its way to us.\u201d\n\nAnd that funding can help support and bolster innovative projects like the one on Douglass Street.\n\nThere, students have been coming up with plans on how to restore a blighted property so it\u2019s ready for a new homeowner. Work on the site is set to begin soon.\n\n\u201cI think the students are excited to come out and get started,\u201d Eric Kahler, administrative director at RMCTC, said.\n\nIn all, Kahler said, students from seven different programs at the center will have a hand in the project. And each will gain invaluable, real-life experience from taking part.\n\n\u201cTo see the students solve problems about where things should go and what the potential issues might be, those are the skills we need to make sure we are teaching these kids,\u201d he said. \u201cNot everything is going to be perfect.\u201d\n\nDan Nemes, a teacher in the center\u2019s plumbing and heating program, said his students will learn things through the project that will greatly aid in getting them ready for their future careers.\n\n\u201cWe can\u2019t replicate this in the shop,\u201d he said. \u201cYou can\u2019t replicate a 100 year old home but that\u2019s what they\u2019ll be doing when they leave the program. They wouldn\u2019t get that experience if we wouldn\u2019t be doing this.\u201d\n\nPlacido Soriano, a senior at Muhlenberg High School enrolled in the plumbing and heating program, said he\u2019s keenly aware of and thankful for the benefits of being able to work on the project.\n\n\u201cThis is such a good opportunity for us,\u201d he said. \u201cIt gives us real-world experience, which is really different from being in the shop working with new things.\n\n\u201cKnowing that I will have a part in renovating this house is such a rewarding feeling,\u201d he added. \u201cThis is such an amazing opportunity that I have been given.\u201d", 1, "2026-04-08T14:14:11Z", "2026-04-08T14:23:06Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://houlahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3815"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.478546008002013, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}