Dear Neighbor,
It was a shorter week here in central Chester County following the Memorial Day holiday, but it was a busy one. We held our monthly Mobile Office at the Downingtown Library, I toured Bartram’s Garden with the Southeast Delegation in Philadelphia, and I hosted legislative town halls in East Brandywine Township and at Freedom Village in West Brandywine Township. We’re back in Harrisburg next week as budget season ramps up, and there is a committee vote scheduled for Monday on my PRESS legislation.
Tour of Bartram’s Garden with Southeast Delegation
On Wednesday, I joined my colleagues in the Philadelphia and Southeast Delegations for a tour of Bartram’s Garden in Philadelphia, hosted by Representative Regina Young. Located just a few hundred feet from the streets of Philadelphia on the banks of the Schuylkill River, Bartram’s Garden is truly a hidden gem. Founded in 1728 by John Bartram, it is the oldest surviving botanical garden in North America. Not only does serve as a space to appreciate a wide variety of native and exotic species of plants, but it’s a space for young adults to learn more about the possibilities of urban agriculture through their high school internship program. I was happy to be there as my colleague Rep. Regina Young presented a check for $399,532.92 from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry to Bartram's Garden to create a pilot program to equip and prepare local young adults for careers in urban agriculture.
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Legislative Town Halls
On Thursday morning, my team and I visited West Brandywine Township for a town hall and mobile office at Freedom Village retirement community. And that evening, we held a public town hall at East Brandywine Fire Company’s Witmer Conference Center. It was great seeing so many familiar faces and meeting some more of our neighbors here in the 155th Legislative District. We had a really robust and productive conversation on what the legislature is working on, my legislative priorities in Harrisburg, what we’re doing to address some local concerns, and what to expect in this year’s state budget. Thank you to Freedom Village and the East Brandywine Fire Company crew for hosting us and for all your help and hospitality!
If you couldn’t join us last night, no worries! With budget season ramping up, I want to know what’s important to you. If you have an issue that you’re concerned about in this year’s upcoming budget, please reach out to our office. My team and I are happy to listen to your thoughts and answer any of your questions.
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Coatesville Area Senior High School Earns Governor’s Civic Engagement Award
On Thursday, the Shapiro Administration announced 33 statewide winners of the Governor’s Civic Engagement Awards (GCEA) for their student-led efforts to register their eligible peers to vote during the 2024-25 school year, and among those recognized was our very own Coatesville Area Senior High School. CASH was awarded the Silver Level honor for registering 65 to 84 percent of their eligible students. In total, 555 students in schools across 16 counties helped register about 5,000 voting-eligible peers to win these awards, which are presented by the departments of State and Education.
The right to vote is foundational to a functioning democracy, and it’s critical that every eligible voter makes their voice heard through their vote. I am so inspired by these students at CASH for encouraging their peers to register to vote and become active members of our democracy. Our teachers do an excellent job at engaging students in the classroom and ensuring they understand the structure and function of government, but it’s up to each of us to make sure we are actively participating in our democracy and being the voice of change.
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Next week, we’re headed back to Harrisburg, where we will be in session every week until the budget is complete.
On Monday, June 2, the House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee will hold a voting meeting on my Lightning Plan: PRESS legislation, which would help to diversify and grow our energy supply, incentivize reliable energy and battery storage, reduce emissions, build resiliency into our grid, and lower electricity costs for ratepayers, while creating workforce opportunities and securing Pennsylvania's position as a leader in clean, reliable, and affordable energy.
Read more about PRESS in last week's newsletter, and tune in to the livestream of Monday's voting meeting here.
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If you have questions or would like to provide feedback on any legislative or state-related issue, please contact our district office at repotten@pahouse.net.
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Unclaimed Property Office Hours
Each year, the Pennsylvania Treasury receives hundreds of millions of dollars in unclaimed property. Unclaimed property may include checks from employers, insurers, or utility companies; dividends and interest from savings accounts and stocks; and credit balances on forgotten accounts. These items and funds go missing, often for things as simple as a misspelled name or an out-of-date address.?
My office has a list of constituents in the district with property yet to be claimed, and we are working to get your rightful property back to you! The process to search & claim is simple & free and my office is here to help!?
Join us on?Wednesday, June 4?at our district office where my staff will help you search & claim your unclaimed property.?
If you are unable to join us, you can search at home by clicking here.
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2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period OPEN
The 2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period is open and accepting applications for rebates on property taxes or rent paid in 2024.
Thanks to changes passed in 2023, more people are eligible, with income limits adjusted to keep pace with Social Security cost-of-living adjustments. The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program has made it easier for seniors in Chester County to stay in their homes and afford groceries, medicine, and so much more.
The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians ages 65 and older, widows and widowers ages 50 and older, and people with disabilities age 18 and older.
Please call or stop by my office to find out if you’re eligible and get assistance applying for your rebate. We’d be glad to answer any questions and set up an appointment to help you complete your application online!
For those who prefer to file by mail, paper applications will be available in my office soon, and we will update here when they come in.
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SEPTA Senior Key Cards and Card Renewals
If you have a SEPTA Senior Key Card that has expired or will expire within the next month, we can renew it in our district office. To renew your card before it expires, please stop by my district office, or call us to make an appointment.
My office can also process applications and take photos for new SEPTA Senior Key ID Cards, which allow seniors 65 and older to travel for free on all SEPTA Regional Rail and transit routes within Pennsylvania. Just stop by my district office and bring a form of ID with your date of birth on it, such as a PA driver’s license or non-driver ID, U.S. passport, or birth certificate. We’ll enter your information into SEPTA’s online system, take a quick photo, and then SEPTA will mail your new card to you directly.
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2-1-1 Southeastern Pennsylvania: Health and Human Services
211 SEPA is part of the national 211 Call Centers initiative that seeks to provide health and human services for everyday needs and those in crisis situations.
2-1-1 works with county governments and provider agencies to ensure important local program information is easily accessible.
Visit 211sepa.org for more information.
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Mental Health Resources: Call 9-8-8
Chester County residents experiencing mental-health-related crisis or distress can dial 9-8-8 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.?This system is designed to be a memorable and quick number that connects people in crisis to a trained mental health professional.
Chester County offers additional resources for those in crisis, including Chester County’s warm line, 1-866-846-2722, operated by Certified Peer Specialists, who are individuals in recovery with a lived experience of mental health challenges.
Chester County’s Teen Talk Line ensures seamless referral to Mobile Crisis for youth in need of immediate or higher-level support. The call line is 855-852-TEEN (8336), and the text line is 484-362-9515.
Visit the?Department of Human Services website for more information about the 988 system and other state and local mental health resources.
If you or someone you love is in crisis, please don’t give up hope, and please know that you do not need to walk this path alone. We are here and we will do whatever we can to help.
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My staff and I are here to help make state government work better for you! For assistance with the above programs or any other state-related services, please email repotten@pahouse.net, call 484-200-8259, or visit my district office in Exton.
Please don’t hesitate to call, email, or contact us through my website and let us know how we can help!
Sincerely,
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Danielle Friel Otten
State Representative,
155th Legislative District
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Pennsylvania State Capitol
34 East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 783-5009
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District Office
631 Pottstown Pike
Exton, PA 19341
(484) 200-8259
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