I hope everyone is enjoying the sunny weather this week and was able to spend some time with family, friends, and loved ones over the holiday weekend. The House was back in session this week where we advanced several bills, all in a strong bipartisan manner. Read more
Exton, April 25 – State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester, and the Chester County Food Bank have partnered to host a free Paper-Only Shred Event & Food Drive from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at Lionville Middle School, 550 W Uwchlan Ave. in Exton. The shred event provides an opportunity for members of the community to safely dispose of documents containing personal information, thereby protecting them from potential identity theft. The food drive will benefit the Chester County Food Bank in their mission of fighting food insecurity and building support for neighbors in need. The two events will take place simultaneously. No donation is required to take advantage of the free shred event. “Shred events like this are a vital service for our community,” Otten said. “With tax season behind us and spring cleaning underway, constituents appreciate these opportunities to safely dispose of and recycle their financial documents and other sensitive materials. I am excited to partner with the Chester County Food Bank for this joint event to help combat identity theft, encourage recycling, and boost donations to the food bank during this challenging time when donations are needed the most.” Each car will be limited to four file-size boxes at this rain-or-shine event. Small paper clips and staples are OK, but please no binder clips, binders, cardboard, X-ray films, or photographs. Drivers are asked to remain in their Read more
UPPER UWCHLAN, April 23, 2025 – State Senator Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks) and state Rep. Danielle Friel Otten (D-Chester) today announced that $2.1 million in funding through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) has been allocated for protection efforts against forever chemicals in the drinking water supply at a well facility in Upper Uwchlan Township. The funding, approved this morning at a meeting of the PENNVEST Board of Directors, includes a $1.375 million grant and a $724,986 low-interest loan for Aqua Pennsylvania. The project was funded by the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Emerging Contaminants Grant program, which funds PFAS remediation projects through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. “Allowing permitted industries to continue the widespread use of toxic chemicals that last forever virtually guarantees that our sources of drinking water will become contaminated. That is why PENNVEST funding is so important because it helps fund projects that protect against dangerous PFOS and PFOA chemicals in drinking water supplies,” Sen. Muth said. “It must also be highlighted that if a for-profit, publicly-traded utility provider like Aqua can access $2.1 million in federal and state funding, they should make a more concerted effort to keep rates down and not continue to force repair and acquisition costs onto their ratepayers. It is my hope that funding for similar Read more
DOWNINGTOWN, PA – To help seniors apply for or renew their Free SEPTA Senior Key Cards, state Senator Carolyn Comitta and state Representative Danielle Friel Otten are hosting a sign-up event at Downingtown Borough Hall on Thursday, May 15 th from 10 a.m. to noon. “Whether going to a doctor’s appointment, visiting loved ones, or taking a day trip, the SEPTA Senior Key Card helps our residents get where they need to go,” said Comitta. “I hope to see you at our sign-up event so you can take advantage of this great program available to seniors in our community.” The SEPTA Senior Key card is available for free to all seniors aged 65 and older. With the card, seniors can ride all SEPTA buses, trolleys, subways, and regional rail lines for free within Pennsylvania. Trains to and from New Jersey and Delaware using the senior card are charged at half fare. SEPTA’s Senior Free Ride Program is funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery. “SEPTA Senior Key Cards are a lifeline for many seniors and are without a doubt one of the most popular services our district office provides,” Otten said. “Seniors rely on public transit for transportation to jobs, medical appointments, and cultural and sporting events in the city and along the Main Line. I look forward to hosting this event with Senator Comitta, and I encourage all seniors to stop by and take advantage of this valuable free service.” To apply, seniors must bring a Read more
Spring is in the air, and many families across central Chester County are excited for this week’s spring break holiday. Read more
This week, my colleagues and I returned to Harrisburg for another week of session. We passed several bills in a bipartisan manner that now move on to the Senate for consideration, including legislation that would provide a much-needed and long overdue cost-of-living adjustment for retired state and public school employees as well as legislation that would guarantee public workers the same workplace protection standards as private workers. Read more
This week I’m back in Harrisburg, and the House is officially back to its full complement of 203 members, as newly elected state Rep. Dan Goughnour of Allegheny County was sworn in at the start of yesterday’s session. Read more
Chester County Support for TEFAP and LFPA Read more
First thing this morning, our friends at the Chester County Food Bank reached out to let us know that $250,000 worth of vital food orders have been canceled by the USDA. These cancellations include essential items like proteins, eggs, and dairy products. If this trend continues, the Food Bank could face up to $1 million in canceled food orders over the next year. Read more
This week brought no shortage of new and egregious actions taken at the federal level. My office and I continue to hear from constituents, local officials, and organizations concerned about the impacts of the ongoing cuts, layoffs, and executive orders. Read more
In these last weeks before we head back into session, Team Otten has been busy working on and raising awareness of critical issues Pennsylvanians are facing, preparing for what is expected to be a challenging budget season as we face uncertainty around federally funded programs, and of course, striving to deliver excellent constituent services. Read more
This week, the House Appropriations Committee wrapped up the last of this year’s Budget Hearings. My staff and I diligently followed the hearings to get a sense of what we might expect in the months ahead in our legislative sessions and budget negotiations. Read more
Across the United States today, many individuals and grassroots organizations are participating in economic boycotts directed primarily at multi-billion-dollar corporations that have dismantled their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives or otherwise backtracked on anti-discrimination policies. Our collective purchasing power can have meaningful political power, so while it’s noble to exercise the power of your purse or wallet for one day, it’s also important to think about how we reallocate our spending dollars to have an ongoing impact. Read more
HARRISBURG, Feb. 24 – State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten today announced state funding for Caln Township to install streetlights and a bike lane along Lincoln Highway. The $450,000 grant was approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority under its Multimodal Transportation Fund. Improvements along two sections of Lincoln Highway will address safety issues for pedestrians and bicyclists. The project will add 42 streetlights along Lincoln Highway West (1500-1800 blocks), 48 streetlights along Lincoln Highway East (4200-4400 blocks), and pavement markings for a dedicated bicycle lane along the corridor. These improvements provide needed upgrades for an area experiencing residential and commercial growth. “The planned improvements in Caln Township will help to ensure pedestrian safety, as well as safe access to public transportation for residents who use the bus stops along this stretch of Business Route 30,” said Otten, D-Chester. “I applaud the Caln Township commissioners for their efforts to improve the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and drivers along these busy stretches of road, and I am grateful to the administration for this investment, which will help to connect Caln Township residents with local businesses, jobs and neighboring communities.” Otten said that her office is always prepared to help organizations and municipalities apply for state funding. There are many programs offered by the state to help Read more
Budget Hearings kicked off this week in Harrisburg, with state agencies making their cases to House and Senate leadership and committee members for funding in the next state budget. Read more
Our beloved Philadelphia Eagles have been such a bright spot these past few weeks. It’s been an exciting time here in southeast PA, first watching our Birds soar to victory in Super Bowl LIX over the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs and now feeling all the brotherly and sisterly love as Philadelphia and the surrounding region come together to celebrate today’s championship parade. Read more
On Tuesday, Governor Shapiro delivered the third budget address of his term, laying out a proposal that makes continued investments in our children and schools, cuts costs for working families, and creates more economic opportunities for all Pennsylvanians. Read more
East Brandywine Fire Co. Chief Sergio Ora and Rep. Danielle Friel Otten. From left, East Brandywine Fire Co. Trustee Joe Edwards, Ron Miller, East Brandywine Fire Co. Treasurer Ken Ader, Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, Greg Kohlmaier, and Dr. Robert Nye. EXTON, Feb. 3 – State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten on Friday presented $94,000 in state grant funding to the East Brandywine Fire Co. for the purchase of new rescue equipment. The fire company will use the funds to outfit a new rescue vehicle with a Res-Q-Jack kit and battery-powered rescue tools, which will free up existing equipment for use on other vehicles in the fleet. “The communities served by East Brandywine Fire Company have experienced significant growth over the past several years and continue to grow at a rapid pace,” said Otten, D-Chester. “This new equipment will help East Brandywine Fire Company continue to provide high-quality emergency services to keep up with the increased need. I commend East Brandywine for their hard work and dedication to keeping our neighbors safe, and I am glad we’ve been able to help fulfill this funding request.” The grant was funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. “The support of the state representative to our emergency services is second to none,” East Brandywine Fire Chief Vince D’Amico and East Brandywine Fire Co. President John Edwards Read more
This week has been a long year, folks. A lot has happened in a short period, and the overwhelming amount of concerning, confusing, and sometimes contradictory news coming at us may feel destabilizing right now. Read more
This week began and ended on a very sad note, as my House colleagues and I learned on Sunday of the untimely passing of our dear friend and colleague, State Representative Matt Gergely. Read more
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