BETHLEHEM, Pa. — As might be expected at a Lehigh University town hall meeting where many attendees were students, U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-Lehigh Valley, spent time addressing the high cost of higher education.
But Wild also addressed what she called a "mental health care crisis" in the United States, climate change, the debt ceiling and more Tuesday night in front of about 75 constituents.
- Dozens of Lehigh Valley residents attended U.S. Rep. Susan Wild’s town hall Tuesday at Lehigh University
- The representative spoke about a wide range of topics at the event, including tuition, mental health and climate change
- Wild is set to be targeted next week by a new billboard from the National Republican Congressional Committee
The three-term Democrat, whose 7th District includes the Lehigh Valley, spoke for about 15 minutes in the school’s brand new Business Innovation Building before turning over the floor for Lehigh Valley residents to raise concerns and ask questions.
Responding to a student’s question about Lehigh raising its tuition rates, Wild said “the cost of higher education in this country has to be stabilized; has to be lower.”
She cautioned that Congress can do more to rein in tuition at public universities than it can at private institutions such as Lehigh, but said lawmakers should increase the amount students receive through federal Pell grants.
Wild also called for her colleagues to address student-loan interest rates, which she said are “way too high.”
“I really worry about all of you who have student-loan interest rates that are higher than what I'm paying for my car loan or my mortgage rate,” she said.
'Such a crisis with mental health care'
Wild also suggested federal lawmakers could provide some relief from high tuition costs — and address labor shortages — by offering free schooling to those who want to become teachers, nurses and mental health care providers.
The United States is “in such a crisis with mental health care” options that a drastic proposal like that is needed, she said.
Wild commended U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania, for speaking publicly about his recent struggles with depression.
Fetterman, who suffered a stroke in May 2022, announced in mid-February that he checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. His office said he was being treated after his depression became severe.
During her town hall, Wild echoed a statement from Fetterman that she called “profound.”
“The message I want people to hear is that depression is treatable. It’s not a permanent condition,” Wild said, paraphrasing what Fetterman said in a recent interview.
Wild told constituents that “mental health issues are very, very high on my list of priorities [and] have been since I got to Congress.”
Debt ceiling, climate change
The town hall covered a wide range of other topics, including climate change, reproductive rights, the debt ceiling, relations between China and Taiwan, affordable housing, TikTok and bipartisanship.
“We’ve got to stop relying on fossil fuel. We’ve got to get to the point where people understand that this is an existential crisis."U.S. Rep. Susan Wild
Wild said Congress will have no choice but to work across the aisle to raise the debt ceiling, a measure she called “incredibly important.”
“If we don’t, the global economy will literally go into a freefall,” she said.
Wild called for lawmakers to incentivize the development of renewable energy sources, including nuclear power, and warned “we’re about 30 years late in doing anything real” to address climate change.
“We’ve got to stop relying on fossil fuel. We’ve got to get to the point where people understand that this is an existential crisis. And it’s particularly a crisis for you and you and you,” she said, pointing to students in the room.
Wild also said she believes social media platforms should have more regulation and oversight, but she is one of few members of the U.S. House who do not believe the federal government should ban TikTok.
Though some Republicans in Congress are working to pass a federal abortion ban in the wake of Roe v. Wade's overturning, Pennsylvania will not adopt an abortion ban under Gov. Josh Shapiro, Wild promised constituents.
However, she warned there could be "devastating consequences" in Pennsylvania if a federal judge restricts access to mifepristone, an abortion medication. The judge is expected to issue his ruling soon.
Republicans to unveil attack billboard
Wild is set to be targeted by a new billboard from the National Republican Congressional Committee. The political organization will unveil the billboard Monday near Wild’s Allentown office to criticize her vote on a Washington D.C. crime bill.
Wild joined most of her fellow House Democrats in March to vote against a resolution that would overturn a D.C. law reducing sentences for some crimes in the city.
Wild said her vote was based on her support for the separation of powers.
"I voted 'no' on the bill because I don't believe we should be telling states and local municipalities what they should do," Wild said in a statement.
The billboard is set to show Wild’s face next to a message that reads: “Susan Wild voted for reduced sentences for violent crimes. Meanwhile, Allentown's burglary and assault skyrocketed."
Wild’s district again is expected to be at the center of one of the most competitive congressional races in the country in 2024. In addition to all of Lehigh and Northampton counties, the 7th District includes all of Carbon County and a small piece of Monroe County.
No Republicans have yet announced a challenge to her.
Wild won the district by 2 percentage points in 2022, but many political pundits believe the district slightly favors Republicans.
