Philly Delegation welcomes Transportation Secretary Duffy to the ‘real world,’ offers challenge of road trip to visit GOP Senate leaders who broke the rules and broke SEPTA

Philadelphia House Delegation    October 24, 2025 | 9:48 AM

HARRISBURG, Oct. 24 — The Philadelphia House Delegation issued the following statement on U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's belated comments on the SEPTA transit crisis: 

"Secretary Duffy is three months too late expressing his concerns, placing blame in the wrong direction and playing political games without offering any real solution.  

"We have been sounding the alarm for years about the need to find a long-term, sustainable funding solution for SEPTA, and the Pennsylvania House has passed numerous bills to provide that funding for SEPTA and all mass transit systems in Pennsylvania, without raising taxes. Yet Senate Republicans put up roadblocks every time and even urged SEPTA to use their own capital funds to fill the gap. 

"Interestingly, Secretary Duffy agrees with us that the transfer of capital funds for operations is not sustainable and will lead to further safety failures. But he's pointing the finger in the wrong direction in some weak attempt to play politics — the fault lies strictly with the Senate Republicans for forcing SEPTA's hand.   

"Governor Shapiro has worked tirelessly for years alongside House Democrats and Senate Democrats to address this crisis by fighting for new revenues and securing funding. We are grateful for his leadership and his actions to support SEPTA. 

"Since Secretary Duffy is suddenly so concerned about SEPTA's operations, we strongly urge him to take the opportunity for a ride on a Regional Rail Silverliner IV to Sen. Joe Picozzi’s district in the Great Northeast or further out to Sen. Tracy Pennycuick’s or Sen. Frank Farry’s suburban districts and tell them to pass bipartisan legislation to provide a long-term, sustainable funding solution to SEPTA and all of Pennsylvania's mass transit systems."