Meet Kathy Dahlkemper

A year into a productive first congressional term, Congresswoman and lifelong Erie resident Kathy Dahlkemper continues to live and work in her hometown, where she resides with her husband Dan Dahlkemper. Dahlkemper entered the 111th Congress in January 2009, not as a career politician, but as an engaged citizen with a lifetime of valuable experience to share while working on the critical issues facing 3rd District residents.

Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania’s Third Congressional District in November 2008, Dahlkemper is the district’s first female representative and the second woman in Pennsylvania’s 19-member House delegation. Dahlkemper serves on the House Committee on Small Business, the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science and Technology.

The Congresswoman is also the Chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Regulations and Welfare, and a member of the Democratic Party’s centrist Blue Dog congressional coalition.

Following through on campaign promises to help 3rd District residents weather the severe economic downturn, Dahlkemper remains committed to searching and identifying creative ways to help businesses, and retain and create jobs in this difficult recession.

One critical economic objective Dahlkemper is working towards is the reduction of Americans health-care costs while guaranteeing accessibility regardless of pre-existing medical conditions. The Congresswoman cast key votes for the historic Affordable Healthcare for America Act that passed the House on Nov. 7, 2009 - the first conclusive step toward transforming the nation’s broken health-care system.

Included in this historic legislation are Dahlkemper’s own crucial amendments. These measures will:
- Allow young adults to remain covered by their parents' insurance plans from ages 19 through 26.
- Create grants for communities to work on childhood obesity that were initially proposed in the Congresswoman’s 2009 Obesity Treatment and Wellness Act. The measure will help Americans make crucial strides in combating and preventing obesity.
- Start innovative projects providing incentives for Americans to stop smoking, lose weight and pick healthy lifestyle choices.

Health-care reform and the subsequent costs savings represent a major economic stimulus and welcome relief to businesses. And defending 3rd District businesses will always rank highest among Dahlkemper’s priorities. Dahlkemper makes it a point to consult and engage with the region’s business community. As a small businesswoman herself, Dahlkemper recognizes the struggles facing business owners and employees. For 12 years, she and her husband Dan, have helped to grow Dahlkemper Landscape Architects & Contractors from a small family business into a thriving organization. With this hands-on knowledge on the benefits of small business, the Congresswoman is committed to creating an environment for job growth in our region.

For instance, Dahlkemper introduced the Small Business Financing and Investment Act of 2009 targeted to directly stimulate and assist small business. The Congresswoman also introduced the Locomotive Fleet Investment and Tax Credit Act, an innovative measure aimed at assisting companies like GE Transportation in efforts to invest and grow as the economy rebounds.

While the economy and other domestic concerns crowd the Congresswoman’s desk, Dahlkemper remains passionate in her deep concern for American troops serving in two ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Her frustration with the Bush administration’s stewardship over the Iraq war is an important reason Dahlkemper embraced the challenge to run for the 3rd District House seat against an entrenched seven-term Republican incumbent.

Dahlkemper supports President Obama’s plans to disengage from Iraq, including bringing all American combat troops home by 2011. She visited both Iraq – where she met with Pennsylvania National Guard troops – and Afghanistan to witness first hand the countless and dangerous challenges American troops face every day. These deadly conflicts continue to take a severe toll on our troops and the nation. The Congresswoman’s own nephew experienced four tours of duty in Iraq. Dahlkemper’s foster son returned from Iraq and suffers from post-traumatic stress.

The Congresswoman remains deeply and directly connected to 3rd District concerns and issues through her own wide-ranging life experiences. She understands the systemic roadblocks that exist in our society and, as a young mother, struggled to make ends meet. Helping children, families and individuals is a lifelong mission for Dahlkemper and drives her work in Congress.

Prior to serving as Congresswoman, Dahlkemper brought people together in public/private partnerships during 10 successful years as Director of the Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park (LEAF), Dahlkemper created a wonderful community asset in the heart of Erie. While honing important skills at programming, management and collaboration, Dahlkemper obtained $2 million in funding for the LEAF and created exciting recreational and learning opportunities to our region.

Dahlkemper and her husband Dan have raised five grown children: Aron, Gretchen, Linden, Tricia, and Nathan. And in 2009, the Dahlkempers happily welcomed two grandchildren into their growing family.

The Congresswoman, an Edinboro University of Pennsylvania graduate with a B.S. degree in Dietics, makes it back home most weeks, when she regularly meets with constituents while remaining engaged in the needs and rhythms of 3rd District life.