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Rep. Danielle Friel Otten

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PA House Passes Fairness Act, Bill Signing, and more!

(May 05, 2023) Rep. Danielle Friel Otten

Dear Neighbor, I was back in Harrisburg this week for another busy week of session, committee meetings, and working on legislation with members of our community. I also had the pleasure of visiting the borough of Phoenixville, previously in my legislative district and now represented by my colleague Paul Friel, to see how we can best support our communities and local businesses. Let’s get into it! Read more

 

Justice for Survivors, Protecting Children and Women

(Apr 28, 2023) Rep. Danielle Friel Otten

Dear Neighbor, The House reconvened on Monday for a very busy week of session, with a number of bills advancing out of the House with unanimous or strong bipartisan support. Let’s get into it! On Tuesday, the House took up HB 1 from our Special Session earlier this year for final consideration. This legislation would amend the PA Constitution to provide a two-year window in which civil lawsuits alleging childhood sexual abuse may be filed in court notwithstanding otherwise applicable defenses. Rep. Rozzi, who spearheaded the efforts behind this legislation and made it the priority of his tenure as Speaker, once again spoke to the importance of this legislation and the impact it would have on survivors of childhood sexual abuse. In addition, he urged our colleagues in the Senate to pass this legislation without tying it to any divisive partisan issues. The bill ultimately advanced out of the House with vote of 147-54. Its fate is now in the hands of the Senate, which has passed this legislation in previous sessions. Read more

 

Celebrating Earth Week!

(Apr 21, 2023) Rep. Danielle Friel Otten

Dear Neighbor, It is Earth Week! This week we celebrate Pennsylvania and its many natural wonders. As home to over 100 state parks and forests, Pennsylvania’s natural landscapes offer shelter for more than 25,000 species of known organisms. In addition, our state parks and forests provide enormous recreational, aesthetic, and environmental benefits to our residents and visitors. None of this would be possible without the dedicated network of staff and volunteers at the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources who have made it their mission to help keep Pennsylvania beautiful. Take a look at some of the Earth Day events taking place in our communities this weekend! Read more

 

Providing a living wage for Direct Support Professionals

(Apr 14, 2023) Rep. Danielle Friel Otten

Dear Neighbor, I was in Harrisburg this week for the final days of Budget Hearings, as the General Assembly prepares to hammer out the details of the state’s budget. I look forward to working with my colleagues on a budget that fully funds our schools, invests in our workforce, and reflects the priorities of Chester County and the 155th Legislative District. Read more

 

Advocating for better options and outcomes for adults with disabilities

(Apr 06, 2023) Rep. Danielle Friel Otten

Dear Neighbor, I’m back in the district this week for a short break between budget hearings and committee meetings in Harrisburg. Here in the district office, my staff and I are working on introducing and redrafting legislation and serving constituents. On Tuesday, we took our SEPTA Senior Key mobile office to Traditions of America in West Brandywine Township, and on Wednesday, we helped reunite constituents with funds held by the PA Treasury, with an Unclaimed Property event in our district office. Read more

 

Spring Events Postcard 2023

(Apr 05, 2023) Rep. Danielle Friel Otten

Spring Events Postcard 2023 Read more

 

Updates from Harrisburg and home

(Mar 31, 2023) Rep. Danielle Friel Otten

Dear Neighbor, We are still in the midst of budget season in Harrisburg, as the House Appropriations Committee continues their annual budget hearings. This week we heard from the Pennsylvania departments of Aging, Health, Drug & Alcohol Programs, State, Corrections/Board of Parole & Probation, and Transportation. As a member of the Health Committee and Human Services Committee, I attended the budget hearings for the Department of Health and the Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs, which gave me a better understanding of the areas of priority for those departments and how we can craft legislation to meet those needs and better serve the communities who require the services offered by these departments. Read more

 

Updates on Lionville Trade Center warehouse proposal

(Mar 24, 2023) Rep. Danielle Friel Otten

Dear Neighbor,Over the past couple weeks, my staff and I have received a great deal of feedback about the Lionville Trade Center warehouse complex proposed for development on Lionville Station Road in Uwchlan Township. I wanted to take a minute to acknowledge the community’s concerns and share what we know at this point. Read more

 

Seeking answers in the Norfolk Southern derailment; Local grants awarded to district

(Mar 17, 2023) Rep. Danielle Friel Otten

The House may not have been in session this week, but I had a busy week traveling the state and meeting with constituents here in the district. Read more

 

Otten applauds nearly $700K in LSA grants

(Mar 17, 2023) Rep. Danielle Friel Otten

HARRISBURG, March 17 – State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester, today announced $699,500 from the Commonwealth Financing Authority has been approved for Local Share Account grants in the 155th Legislative District. “These investments are needed to maintain our sewage systems, remove pollutants and repair flooding damage,” Otten said. “As our municipalities work to meet the challenges of population growth, higher operating costs, and the increasingly severe weather events we’ve experienced across the commonwealth, I’m grateful to see these funds going toward necessary repairs and cleaner, more efficient operation of local sewer and water treatment systems. New backup generators will ensure reliability, while restoration, repair and replacement projects provide the proper upkeep to keep these systems fully operational for years to come.” The CFA approved funding for the following projects: $350,000 for West Brandywine Township Municipal Authority’s Pump Stations Generator Replacement. The municipal authority operates three sewage pump stations around the clock to convey wastewater into the sewer system for treatment. The proposed project will replace the 13-year-old backup power generators at Culbertson Run and Friendship Village and the 20-year-old backup generator at the Ashberry pump station. The new generators will provide reliable standby power at the pump stations. Read more

 

Climate Caucus and Budget Priorities

(Mar 10, 2023) Rep. Danielle Friel Otten

Dear Neighbor,We are back in the full-swing of things in Harrisburg, as we returned for the third consecutive week of session – and it was a busy one.The bipartisan, bicameral PA Climate Caucus has reorganized for the 2023-24 legislative session and elected new officers in both the House and Senate. I am excited to return as the House co-chair and eager to work with my Senate counterpart, Sen. Carolyn Comitta, who will now serve as Senate co-chair. In the House, Rep. Nancy Guenst of Montgomery County returns as vice chair, and newly elected Rep. Paul Takac of Centre County will serve as Secretary. Read more

 

Congratulations to Speaker Joanna McClinton

(Mar 03, 2023) Rep. Danielle Friel Otten

Dear Neighbor, This week was a historic week in the state House, as Representative Joanna McClinton of Philadelphia was sworn in as the first woman, first Black woman, and only the second Black member ever to serve as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. (The first was K. Leroy Irvis, who was first elected Speaker in 1977.) Read more

 

Pa. Legislative Climate Caucus announces 2023 leadership and legislative priorities

(Mar 03, 2023) Rep. Danielle Friel Otten

Harrisburg, March 3 – The bicameral, bipartisan Pennsylvania Legislative Climate Caucus has elected new officers for the 2023-24 legislative session. In addition, caucus members this week sent a letter to Gov. Josh Shapiro highlighting their priorities for the 2023-24 legislative session ahead of the governor’s 2023 budget address. The following members have been installed as Climate Caucus officers for 2023-24: Co-chairs: State Sen. Carolyn Comitta, D-Chester, and State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester Vice chairs, State Sen. Art Haywood, D-Montgomery/Phila., and State Rep. Nancy Guenst, D-Montgomery Secretaries: State Sen. Amanda Cappelletti, D-Delaware/Montgomery, and State Rep. Paul Takac, D-Centre The caucus’s letter emphasizes the need to mitigate future impacts of climate change on communities and advance the causes of environmental, economic and educational justice in the Commonwealth, particularly in marginalized rural and urban communities that have been disproportionately affected by both severe weather and industrial pollution. Among its priorities, the caucus advocates for the restoration of full funding to the Department of Environmental Protection; continued funding for the Whole Home Repairs program; investments to increase resiliency and emergency energy storage capacity in communities; a commitment to codifying, funding and empowering the Office of Environmental Justice and the Read more

 

Pennsylvania Climate Caucus Budget Letter to Gov. Shapiro

(Mar 02, 2023) Rep. Danielle Friel Otten

Dear Governor Shapiro,As state legislators, we see firsthand the devastating impacts of climatechange and pollution on our communities, from the enormous costsassociated with stormwater damage and severe weather incidents, to thedisplacement of families and businesses whose homes or storefronts aredestroyed by flooding, to the serious public health consequences arisingfrom polluted air and water. Read more

 

House passes historic justice reform for child sexual assault survivors

(Feb 24, 2023) Rep. Danielle Friel Otten

This week, members of the House returned to Harrisburg to complete the special legislative session requested by Governor Wolf in January to finally bring justice for victims of childhood sexual abuse. House Democrats used our new majority – ultimately joined by more than half of the House Republicans – to stand up once again for the rights of survivors. Read more

 

Holding corporate polluters accountable

(Feb 17, 2023) Rep. Danielle Friel Otten

Dear Neighbor, On Wednesday I was back in Harrisburg meeting with my colleagues in the Democratic Caucus to prepare for our first week of session since the House recessed in early January following the cancellation of session days intended to bring justice to victims of childhood sexual abuse. In that time, House Speaker Mark Rozzi conducted a statewide listening tour, seeking input from residents and good-government advocacy groups on how to break the partisan gridlock in the House. Read more

 

2023 Web Calendar

(Feb 14, 2023) Rep. Danielle Friel Otten

2023 Web Calendar Read more

 

Pennsylvania's special elections are completed, what's next?

(Feb 10, 2023) Rep. Danielle Friel Otten

On Tuesday, Allegheny County held three special elections to fill the House seats vacated by former state representatives Tony DeLuca, Austin Davis, and Summer Lee. The General Assembly has kept a careful eye on these seats because the results of these races would determine the majority in the House. And with Tuesday’s election of Joe McAndrew, Abigail Salisbury, and Matt Gergely, the voters of Allegheny Country confirmed the Democratic House majority that was first determined in November. Read more

 

Otten announces $110,000 for local fire companies and EMS

(Feb 08, 2023) Rep. Danielle Friel Otten

HARRISBURG, Feb. 8 – State Rep. Danielle Friel-Otten, D-Chester, today announced that $110,000 has been approved from the Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program for local fire and EMS companies serving the 155th Legislative District. The funding has been awarded as follows: $15,000 for Alert Fire No. 1 (Downingtown) $15,000 for East Brandywine Fire $15,000 for Glenmoore Fire Co. No. 1 $15,000 for Lionville Fire Co. $15,000 for Ludwigs Corner Fire Co. $15,000 for Minquas Fire (Downingtown) $10,000 for Minquas Fire EMS $10,000 for Uwchlan Ambulance "Our local fire companies and EMS are vital to the health and safety of our communities, and this support is needed more than ever," said Otten. "These grants will help with education, recruitment, equipment upgrades, and training and certification. We have a growing crisis in PA, and we are losing far too many EMS and firefighting professionals. I will continue to fight for state funding to ensure that our fire and EMS companies are able to train, equip and retain the courageous individuals who are committed to serving our communities.” The local funding was part of an investment of more than $31 million distributed to 2,336 applicants across the Commonwealth. Eligible projects in accordance with the 2022-23 FCEMSGP include facility upgrades, equipment, debt reduction, training and certification, education Read more

 

Working for You at Home

(Feb 03, 2023) Rep. Danielle Friel Otten

Dear Neighbor, The House may be adjourned until Feb. 27, but my staff and I are still working hard for you here in the district. And while we may not be voting on any legislation in Harrisburg at the moment, the time I have here in the district allows me the opportunity to hear from constituents and raise awareness around issues facing our community and our commonwealth. Read more

 

PA House Passes Fairness Act, Bill Signing, and more!
May 05, 2023

Justice for Survivors, Protecting Children and Women
Apr 28, 2023

Celebrating Earth Week!
Apr 21, 2023

Providing a living wage for Direct Support Professionals
Apr 14, 2023

Advocating for better options and outcomes for adults with disabilities
Apr 06, 2023

Spring Events Postcard 2023
Apr 05, 2023

Updates from Harrisburg and home
Mar 31, 2023

Updates on Lionville Trade Center warehouse proposal
Mar 24, 2023

Seeking answers in the Norfolk Southern derailment; Local grants awarded to district
Mar 17, 2023

Otten applauds nearly $700K in LSA grants
Mar 17, 2023

Climate Caucus and Budget Priorities
Mar 10, 2023

Congratulations to Speaker Joanna McClinton
Mar 03, 2023

Pa. Legislative Climate Caucus announces 2023 leadership and legislative priorities
Mar 03, 2023

Pennsylvania Climate Caucus Budget Letter to Gov. Shapiro
Mar 02, 2023

House passes historic justice reform for child sexual assault survivors
Feb 24, 2023

Holding corporate polluters accountable
Feb 17, 2023

2023 Web Calendar
Feb 14, 2023

Pennsylvania's special elections are completed, what's next?
Feb 10, 2023

Otten announces $110,000 for local fire companies and EMS
Feb 08, 2023

Working for You at Home
Feb 03, 2023