PALMER TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA — Affordable Pennsylvania joined Lehigh Valley residents, advocates, and community partners Tuesday evening for “The People’s Raft-Up,” an SOS!-themed affordability town hall that put constituents at the center of the region’s affordability crisis and called on Congressman Ryan Mackenzie to provide a lifeline for working families.

See more photos and video from the event here.

The immersive event brought residents together in makeshift rafts to share stories about the rising cost of groceries, health care, housing, gas and other necessities. Participants sent a collective SOS to Congressman Ryan Mackenzie, demanding that he listen to the families struggling to stay afloat and prioritize lowering costs for his constituents over tax breaks for billionaires.

“Families across the Lehigh Valley are drowning, and they’re looking for a lifeline,” said Sara, a nurse from Center Valley. “People came together tonight because they’re tired of being told that the economy is working when they’re struggling to afford groceries, health care and the basic necessities their families need. Congressman Mackenzie needs to hear these stories and start fighting for the people who sent him to Washington.”

Families continue to face higher prices for groceries, health care, housing and other necessities, due to Rep. Mackenzie’s vote for the Republican Tax Law, which made the largest cuts to SNAP and Medicaid in history, while giving tax breaks to billionaires. Combined with his support for cost-raising tariffs, allowing health care tax credits to expire, and supporting continued military action in Iran, Ryan Mackenzie has cost his constituents $3,900 more with his reckless votes.

“Lehigh Valley families shouldn’t have to build a literal raft just to get Ryan Mackenzie’s attention and ask for his help to stay afloat,” said Rachele Fortier, Executive Director of Affordable Pennsylvania. “Tonight, people made it impossible to ignore what this affordability crisis looks like in their communities. They are asking for a lifeline — lower costs, affordable health care and food security — and they deserve leaders who will fight for them instead of making life more expensive.”

Affordable Pennsylvania and its partners are calling on Congressman Mackenzie to listen to the constituents who are struggling with rising costs and support policies that lower the cost of living, protect health care and food assistance, and require wealthy corporations and billionaires to pay their fair share.

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