District Deliberations: April 2025 Edition

Rep. Chris Pielli April 30, 2025 | 10:28 AM

PA Representative Christopher Pielli banner image

Hi Folks,

We hope this April edition of District Deliberations finds you all doing well. As April rolls in, bringing with it another season of growth and rebirth, we look ahead to sunny days and new possibilities. Yet, even with the advent of a milder season there are always “April Showers” to create some uncertainty. And so, it is in these uncertain times that one can look back on our own history for fresh beginnings and growth, not of a botanical or seasonal type, but of freedom and liberty. 250 Aprils ago the cause of democracy was born like a new spring flower budding, not from the earth’s bounty, but from the hearts of men and women yearning to be free. It is not an exaggeration to say that since that fateful day when embattled Lexington and Concord colonists stood and fired the “shot heard round the world,” our planet has changed forever.

And now we are forced to revisit these historical truths and ask if we are being true to ourselves, to our forefathers’ sacrifices, and to the future of our children blessed with the citizenry of this great nation. I, like most of you, love this country. And my heart tells me that democracy, and the Republic for which it stands, is like a spring garden. Tend it well with a sense of duty and care. Nurture it. Pull out the invasive weeds of division and shore up the bending plants with poles for strength and support, while always recognizing that care and effort are needed to enjoy the final bounty it brings forth. And with that bounty, we share the fruits of our labor and save the seeds of freedom for generations to come.

This issue of District Deliberations includes our District’s latest Hometown Heroes, 16 inspiring West Chester Area High School students who were awarded 2025 Spellman Humanitarian Awards for their significant contributions of service to our community. This month is also Sexual Assault Awareness month. As such, it is fitting that we recognize our organization Hometown Heroes, the dedicated staff of the Crime Victims Center of Chester County for their tireless efforts supporting Crime Victims in Chester County.

Also included are important updates on SEPTA funding; DOGE cuts that threaten our state budget; West Chester University students’ visit to the state Capitol; two new inductees to the Chester County Voters Hall of Fame; Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program application help; Real ID information; news on the unanimous House passage of my bill H.B. 491, which would protect military children and their families; a legislative report of bills I have sponsored, introduced or voted for, like H.B. 411, which would provide long-overdue COLA retirement increases to our retired teachers and state employees; and, of course, the wise whelps of wisdom from our official mascot, Penny the Pup.

Folks, as always, we thank you for the opportunity to serve you and look forward to any questions or concerns you may have. Until our next issue, Stay Well, Stay Safe, and Stay Strong.

PA Representative Christopher Pielli's signature image

Chris Pielli
Pennsylvania State Representative House District 156

Legislation Highlights

My colleagues and I in the PA House have been working hard for ALL Pennsylvanians. I have had several bills pass the House or advance out of committee, and I have introduced several more.

Here are some of my legislative highlights this month:

My Bill Passed the House with UNANIMOUS Support:

?House Bill 491 - which protects military children and their families through concurrent jurisdiction - was unanimously passed by the state House with a final vote of 203-0!

My Bills Passed through Committee:

?House Bill 96 - which would help vulnerable older adults and incapacitated individuals remain in their homes by creating an option for them to designate a person to receive notice should their property taxes fall into arrears - unanimously passed the Commerce Committee.

?House Bill 393 - which would allow all Second-Class Townships to Increase Funding for Fire and Emergency Services - passed the Local Government Committee.

?House Bill 1102 - which would expand recruitment efforts for the PA National Guard by expanding the partial tuition reimbursement program - unanimously passed the Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee.

Bills I Introduced:

?Introduced House Bill 1139, which would create a mother’s treatment court pilot program aimed at providing mothers recovering from addiction with the support and resources they need to confidently re-enter society.

?Introduced House Bill 1236, which would protect hospital employees from violence by extending existing protections.

?Introduced House Bill 1237, which would replace the term “problem-solving courts” with “treatment courts” under state law, in order to be more accurate and allow for greater flexibility in adding additional treatment courts.

?Introduced House Resolution 193, which would urge the President of the United States to unfreeze previously appropriated Federal funds and cease future action to freeze Federal funds that Congress has already appropriated.

Major Legislation I’ve voted YES on:

?Voted YES on package of bills (House Bills 404, 535, 618, and 755) to protect the Affordable Care Act in Pennsylvania.
?Voted YES on House Bill 411 to finally provide a Cost-of-Living-Adjustment to retired teachers and other public employees.

Trump's Cuts and Illegal Impoundment of Pre-Approved Funding Felt Sharply in Our District and Around the Country

Trump and DOGE are unilaterally destroying federal government programs with illegal funding cuts to critical resources for our everyday life. This is an unconscionable abuse of power!

We are fighting against these cuts in court, but we need your help. Call the White House and U.S. Sens. Dave McCormick and John Fetterman and demand that they fight to return money that was already Congressionally allocated to Pennsylvania.

Trump/DOGE Cuts to our Congressionally approved funding includes but is not limited to:

Food Banks — Chester County Food Bank – pre-approved $250,000 cancelled.
Libraries — West Chester Public Library among the entire Chester County Library System
Museums — Chester County History Center – pre-approved $250,000 cancelled
Transportation / Infrastructure — Construction/Repair/Safety of highways and state roads-over $700 million pre-approved funding frozen.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) Program — An essential program that ensures vulnerable households can heat and cool their homes - $378 million of pre-approved funds remain frozen.

Fighting Back for Pennsylvania at the Hands off Rally

I was proud to join approximately 8000 fellow residents at the “Hands Off” Rally in West Chester Borough on April 5. While I, like many others, am disturbed by the illegal and unconstitutional actions of the Trump/DOGE administration, it was encouraging to see the energy of this massive crowd who stand resolved to make a positive change. Only united and organized can ‘We The People’ reverse these wrongs and ensure the rights and congressional funding we are entitled to.

DOGE has made it a goal to take a chainsaw to all non-military discretionary spending. This includes cuts to our Department of Education, which will result in no savings because our local school taxes will increase to make up for the difference. Cuts to museum and library services will have long-term negative consequences, creating a future in which our students do not have the necessary resources to succeed. And while they have not cut anything form the federal military budget, they certainly have cut funding from Veterans Affairs, solidifying their ambivalence for our servicemen and women who rely on the VA’s critical services. To add injury to insult they have cut funding for our food banks and for struggling families who need help with their energy costs through LIHEAP.

More cuts are to come to ensure Trump’s massive tax cut for billionaires to include Medicaid, which millions of Americans rely on for their health care needs. That’s why I stand with Gov. Josh Shapiro in his lawsuit against the illegal freezing of federal funds allocated to our state and will continue to use my voice in the state legislature to speak out as best as I can. And if you’re as frustrated as I am, I encourage you to do the same. Please join us in calling our U.S. Sens. McCormick and Fetterman and demand they stop these cruel and dangerous cuts to every hard-working Pennsylvanian.

Threat of Catastrophic SEPTA Cuts

SEPTA is facing cuts to its service that would be catastrophic. If not addressed, the entire Paoli/Thorndale Line will be eliminated by next January. This crisis has been completely manufactured by the Republican-controlled state Senate, who have refused to adequately fund SEPTA.

SEPTA is a crucial service for Chester County and the entire Philadelphia region. 800,000 people rely on its buses, trains, and trolleys every day to get to work and to go about their daily lives. The fact is public transportation bolsters commerce which boosts tax revenue. Therefore, not only our region, but the entire state, benefits from population dense regions whose commuters rely heavily on public transportation systems.

Without SEPTA, economic activity in Southeastern Pennsylvania would grind to a halt, with many unable to get to and from work, go to schools, or seek medical attention. We would also see an additional 175,000 cars on our roads, worsening the already terrible traffic on I-76 and other highways leading in and out of the city, not to mention the detrimental effects to our environment and air quality from more car exhaust. SEPTA is already chronically underfunded; this would only make things worse. We should be investing more to improve and expand SEPTA’s service, not cutting it back.

Please know this: I am and have always been a strong proponent of public transportation. My Democratic colleagues in the PA House and I strongly support Gov. Shapiro’s plan to fund SEPTA. The only roadblock to this issue getting solved is Republicans in the state Senate refusing to act. With that said, I am urging my constituents and anyone who wants to avoid these severe cuts to contact the office of the state Senate Majority Leader, state Sen. Joe Pittman, to urge him to put SEPTA funding up for a vote.

You can reach his office by phone at (717) 787-8724 or via online form here: Contact Me - Senator Pittman

Hometown Heroes - Spellman Humanitarian Award Winners and Crime Victims Center of Chester County

This April, our Hometown Heroes are bright, caring high school students who were awarded Spellman Humanitarian Awards; and the Crime Victims Center of Chester County for its year-round service to the community and in light of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Spellman Humanitarian Award Winners from the West Chester Area School District

This month, our Hometown Heroes are the 16 wonderful students who were honored with the prestigious Spellman Humanitarian Award this year! This award is presented to high school seniors in West Chester Area School District who -- in addition to keeping up with academics, extracurriculars, and applying to colleges -- donated a significant portion of their time to volunteer work.

I had the honor of meeting this generous group of students at the awards ceremony, and I applaud them for their dedication to the betterment of our community. Many thanks to Michelle Chen, Jada Cooper, Nuala Coyle, Devika Nair, Keira O’Flynn, Amelia Piombino, Peter Kennedy, Madeline Miller, Jayashri Muthukrishnan, Elena Patarcity, Benjamin Pentz, Adam Pontzer, Sophia Rivell, Leah Ambrosine, Henry Matonis, and Diana Munoz-Lopez for all your hard work, and for being April’s Hometown Heroes!

Crime Victims Center of Chester County (CVCCC)– Community Pillar and Advocate of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. As such, I am thankful for this month’s Hometown Hero, the Crime Victims Center of Chester County (CVCCC). Recently I met with Executive Director Christine Zaccarelli and her staff to recognize their tireless efforts supporting Crime Victims in Chester County with a citation from the PA House of Representatives. Rape crisis centers across Pennsylvania provide their services at no cost to clients, as statutorily required, yet these services are at immediate risk of being cut or scaled back because appropriate resources are not being allocated.

Despite the staggering prevalence and lifetime impacts of sexual violence, Pennsylvania is not effectively funding rape crisis centers. The state budget has flat-funded rape crisis centers for five consecutive years, despite cost of living rising more than 20% in that same time frame on top of increasing demand for services. Rape crisis centers in Pennsylvania are legally and contractually required to provide 24/7/365 services, including hotline calls and in-person accompaniment to emergency rooms. However, this is becoming increasingly difficult under these budgeting constraints. Last year alone, the state’s rape crisis centers served 26,396 people, including 6,722 children, and a received a staggering 17,073 Hotline calls.

We must continue the legal and moral obligations to protect our fellow Pennsylvanians in their most vulnerable moments by appropriately funding these crucial rape crisis centers and their dedicated staff. The Commonwealth’s 47 rape crisis centers are currently allocated $11.921 million annually under the PA Department of Human Services budget, split per capita. I stand strongly with the Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect (PCAR) in demanding that we equitably fund these services with an additional $8 million, to a total of $19.921 million, to account for the increase in cost of living and critical need for services in our communities.

Founded in 1973, CVCCC provides immediate and confidential crisis response, counseling, advocacy, and educational services to those impacted by sexual violence and all other crimes and has long stood as the designated provider of services to victims of sexual violence in Chester County. During Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, the dedicated staff and volunteers of CVCCC embody the core belief that every person deserves safety, dignity, and the ability to heal by honoring survivors, increasing awareness, and promoting prevention, through which CVCCC exemplifies their 2025 theme, “Together We Act. United We Change.”

Capitol Visit by West Chester University Political Science Class

It was with great pride that I welcomed Professor John Kennedy and students of West Chester University's Pennsylvania Government and Politics class to the state Capitol in Harrisburg. It has been such an honor assisting Professor John Kennedy with this course as WCU's 2025-2026 Legislative Fellow, and getting to know these bright, inquisitive students.

I look forward to continued engagement with Dr. Kennedy's class to share my experiences as a State Representative and help teach students about the importance of politics and government in Pennsylvania. Most importantly, this legislative fellowship opportunity allows me to help support the rights of students to quality, affordable higher education across the Commonwealth.

Linda and William Scott Inducted into Chester County Voter Hall of Fame

Last Friday, I joined fellow public officials and state-level leaders to honor four inductees into the Chester County Voter Hall of Fame. Two honorees are Linda C. Scott and William R. Scott, West Chester residents who are my friends and constituents.

In attendance were PA Department of State Secretary Al Schmidt; our three Chester County Commissioners; several ChesCo Board of Elections members; State Rep. Paul Friel; and State Sen. Carolyn Comitta.

William and Linda Scott received this honor because they've voted in every single November election for over 50 years. Their dedication to the democratic process is a model of exemplary citizenship that we should all strive to emulate.

70 Rent Rebates Delivered by District Office Staff out in the Community

My district office staff works hard for our 66,000 constituents every day at the district office -- and they’re often out in the community hosting “mobile offices” in public spaces and facilitating 2024 Rent Rebates applications on site where constituents live.

Since early March, my staffers Matthew DeWese and Ryan DeStefano have facilitated 70 Rent Rebates during outreach to apartment residents on site at Denney Reyburn, Mary Taylor House, Church Street Towers, and Maple-Locust-Spruce Courts in West Chester Borough.

The 2024 Property Tax / Rent Rebate Program is open until June 30, 2025. Please feel free to contact my staff with questions or for direct assistance at 121 West Miner Street in West Chester Borough; or (610) 696-4990; or RepPielli@pahouse.net

We currently host a monthly “mobile office” table at:

? West Chester Public Library (Every last Tuesday / month)

? West Chester Senior Center (Every 3^rd Wednesday / month)

? West Chester University (Done for Spring semester; Will return this Fall semester)

Q: What is a REAL ID required for? -- Can your office help me obtain one?

A: You can only obtain a Real ID at a DMV. However, our office staff can help you navigate the process, what documents you need, and how to get these documents.

The Real ID requirement goes into effect on May 7, 2025. Real ID will be required to board a domestic flight and to enter a military base or certain federal facilities. -- However, it will NOT be required for most day-to-day activities, such as driving, voting, entering post offices and courthouses, or applying for federal benefits.

I recommend that you apply at a DMV that is also a "REAL ID Center” location -- which has full capacity to process and issue the card to you on the spot. If you choose to apply at a regular DMV location (i.e., not a REAL ID Center), you’ll need to wait up to 2 weeks or longer for the REAL ID card to be mailed to you.

Our closest REAL ID Center is at 143 South Gulph Road, King of Prussia.

Click link below for hours and locations of REAL ID Centers:

REAL ID Center Locations | Driver and Vehicle Services | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

To apply, you will need to show (1) your social security card, (2) either a birth certificate or a valid passport, and (3) two (2) documents proving your PA residency (driver's license, vehicle registration, bank statements, etc.). If applicable, you will also need to show proof of any and all legal name changes.

For a list of acceptable documents, click here: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dmv/driver-services/real-id.html

If you have any questions or need any further information, please contact our office and my staff can help!