SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA — Affordable Pennsylvania joined Northeast Pennsylvania families, advocates, and elected officials Monday evening in Scranton for an SOS! Affordability Crisis Community Conversation, where residents shared firsthand stories about struggling with rising costs and called on Congressman Rob Bresnahan to answer for his support of policies that are making it harder for working families to get by.

See more photos and video from the event here.

The conversation, hosted by Affordable Pennsylvania, Action Together NEPA, Families Over Billionaires, For Our Future Pennsylvania Action, Oxfam America Action Fund, Pennsylvanians Together in Action, and other advocates, gave NEPA residents an opportunity to put a human face on the affordability crisis and demand accountability from the elected officials who represent them. Community members shared personal stories about the choices they are being forced to make as the cost of health care, groceries, utilities and other necessities continues to rise.

“Congressman Bresnahan cannot tell people in Northeast Pennsylvania that he is fighting for them while voting for policies that make their lives more expensive,” said Amber, resident of Scranton. “Families are paying the price, and they have every right to ask why. Tonight, people came together to make sure their voices are heard — and to make clear that their elected representatives will be held accountable for the choices they make in Washington.”

Pennsylvania Representative Jim Haddock, Pennsylvania Representative Kyle Donahue, Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan, Lackawanna County Controller Gary DiBileo, and Families Over Billionaires Executive Director Kristen Crowell joined community members for the discussion.

“Affordability is about more than cutting one bill or offering a temporary subsidy; it’s about lowering the cost of living while increasing what working families can realistically earn,” said State Rep. Kyle Donahue. “Unfortunately, Republicans in Washington and Harrisburg have too often made these challenges worse by prioritizing tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy while working families are left paying more for housing, child care, health care, energy and everyday necessities. We need a different approach: one that invests in good-paying jobs, affordable housing and child care, lower energy costs and pathways to opportunity so families can do more than just get by; they can get ahead.”

Congressman Bresnahan voted for the Republican Tax Law, which included historic cuts to Medicaid and SNAP to pay for tax breaks to wealthy Americans and corporations, tariffs and the war in Iran, policies that organizers say are contributing to higher costs for Pennsylvania families. Working Pennsylvanians have paid more than $3,900 more per year because of rising costs associated with these policies supported by Bresnahan.

“NEPA families are hurting, and they deserve answers,” said Rachele Fortier, Executive Director of Affordable Pennsylvania. “People are making impossible choices just to afford the basics, while Congressman Bresnahan voted for a law that makes health care and food assistance harder to afford. He needs to answer to the families who are paying the price for his vote.”

“Folks in NEPA are struggling and working families need a lifeline,” said Action Together NEPA Executive Director Alisha Hoffman-Mirilovich. “We’re grateful to our local elected officials who showed up, listened to their constituents, and shared how the impact of federal policies like the One Big Beautiful Bill Act have made it harder to serve their communities. Monday night’s event made it clearer than ever — Congressman Rob Bresnahan’s votes make it harder for NEPA families to stay afloat."

Affordable Pennsylvania is calling on Bresnahan to hear the calls for a lifeline from the people of Northeast Pennsylvania and support policies that lower costs, protect health care and food assistance, and require wealthy corporations and billionaires to pay their fair share.

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