2025 Year-in-Review

In January 2026, U.S. Representative Mike Kelly released his annual "Year-in-Review" recapping the 2025 legislative year. You can read Kelly's email to constituents below. You can also sign up for his email newsletter here.

Dear Neighbor,

I hope your 2026 is off to a great start. I returned to Washington this week and we're already excited to share some big news -- nearly $4 million in federal funding will be returning back to our local communities for major infrastructure projects in Butler, Crawford, and Mercer counties!

These are your tax dollars at work in your community!

The projects are:

Meadville Area Sewer Authority - Amount: $750,000
Hermitage Municipal Authority - Amount: $913,600
Cranberry Township - Amount: $1,000,000
Chicora Borough - Amount: $1,250,000

You can find more information about the projects on my website.

As we begin the new year, I also want to take a moment to provide you with our annual year-in-review to highlight just some of the ways my team and I served you in 2025. In Washington, as Chairman of the Ways & Means Subcommittee on Tax, my team and I were heavily involved in the negotiations that created the Working Families Tax Cuts that will bring tax cuts for local small businesses and put more money in your pocket. This means an average additional $1,228 tax cut for a family of four here in Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional District.

Our dedicated staff in Butler, Erie, and Hermitage have also been hard at work for you by completing more than 2,500 constituent cases. It is our privilege to serve our neighbors.

Now, let's take a look at some of the highlights of our work for you in 2025.

How my staff & I served you in 2025

Casework is one of the most-requested services our office provides each year. Whether you need help receiving your late IRS refund check or receiving a delayed Social Security payment, we are just a call or email away. Once again in 2025, our team remained hard at work serving you. In fact, the Congressional Management Foundation previously named our office as finalists for the Constituent Service Award for three years in a row.

By The Numbers:

120125-year-end-constituent-service-graphic

We responded to more than 90,000 formal constituent correspondences, such as letters, emails, and your phone calls.
Our team completed 2,500+ cases on behalf of constituents, serving as your liaison to the federal government;
We attended or hosted more than 1,000 constituent meetings with different individuals, groups, and organizations such as schools and hospitals;
We prepared 321 Congressional commendations to officially recognize constituents for various outstanding public achievements;
Our team provided 133 letters of support for local applicants seeking federal grants and/or additional funding;
We held three telephone town halls to cover the tax filing season, preventing scams & fraud, and Medicare, respectively. These events reached nearly 30,000 constituents and allowed many of you to ask questions of qualified experts from federal agencies. 30,000 constituents is enough folks to fill the Erie Insurance Arena for a hockey game more than 4 times!

2025 Legislative Achievements

Passed the Working Families Tax Cuts (One Big Beautiful Bill), which extends and expands the 2017 Trump tax cuts to deliver savings for hardworking Pennsylvania families and small businesses.
The Working Families Tax Cuts includes no tax on overtime, no tax on tips, and provides tax relief for seniors on Social Security by raising the standard deduction.
The Working Families Tax Cuts expands Child Tax Credit, allowing parents to save more money. Without the legislation, that credit would have been cut in half.
Voted for and passed the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act.
Introduced the STEEL Act, which strengthens U.S. trade laws and cracks down on foreign nations who "dump" their products into our country.
Voted in favor of the Laken Riley Act, which President Trump signed into law in January 2025.
Voted in favor of the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act, which includes a 3.8% pay raise for military service members.
Led bipartisan reformto address underfunding of pediatric cancer research.
Introduced the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act to combat obesity epidemic, improve Americans' health.
Co-sponsored legislation to defund the Biden administration's green energy mandates
Introduced the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act to build and preserve more than 500,000 affordable, single-family homes for homeownership.
Hosted border czar Tom Homan for a Northern Border Security Caucus roundtable in Washington.

Serving Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional District in 2025

Secured $2.5 million in funding for volunteer fire departments in North East, Meadville, and Zelienople.
The Working Families Tax Cuts includes, made permanent, and extends my Opportunity Zones legislation, which encourages private investment in low-income communities and builds upon billions of dollars already invested in communities nationwide, including projects in downtown Erie.
Hosted HUD Secretary Scott Turner in Erie in May to tour the city's Opportunity Zones and other housing initiatives.
Led bipartisan legislation to squash the invasive Spotted Lanternfly to protect local farms and agricultural businesses.
Hosted our annual Congressional Art Competition in Sharon, where we presented awards to winners from Mercer, Franklin, and Hickory High Schools
Worked with the Trump administration to secure the release of Butler native Marc Fogel, who was imprisoned in Russia.
Led a panel during The Drake Forum with Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson in Venango County. The panels brought energy leaders from the U.S. and around the world to the Oil Region.
Honored Community Champions throughout the 16th Congressional District.
Hosted constituents in Washington during the annual March for Life
My team and I made more than 100 visits across the district, including stops in every PA-16 county, during the August District Work Period.

Here's how I am working for you in 2026

As we begin 2026, I am optimistic and hopeful our best year is yet to come. With President Trump in the White House, and Republican majorities in both the House and Senate, I look forward to working with the Trump administration to continue making America safer, wealthier, and more prosperous for every American.

I will continue serving as the Ways & Means Tax Subcommittee Chairman, and I remain committed to making Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional District the best place to live, work, and play. From the shores of Lake Erie to the vibrant growth in Cranberry Township and throughout Route 228 Corridor, we are blessed to call our area home.

As a father and grandfather, I remain committed to making America stronger, safer, and more prosperous not only for us, but for future generations.

I hope you found this report to be both insightful and helpful as we begin the new year together. It is my honor to serve as your voice in the U.S. House of Representatives. If you have any questions regarding a federal issue that requires our assistance, please reach out to one of our three district offices or to our Washington, D.C. office.

I look forward to seeing you in the community!