District Deliberations: June 2025 Edition

Rep. Chris Pielli June 30, 2025 | 2:07 PM

PA Representative Christopher Pielli banner image

Hi Folks,

We hope this June edition of District Deliberations finds you all doing well. June - “the Gateway to Summer” - has come once again, making for a hot, hazy, humid Harrisburg Budget season. While much of the budget negotiations remains up in the air, one thing for certain is my commitment to important budget priorities to include properly funding our Public Transportation. Let’s stick to the facts on this one and be clear that not funding public transportation will have a terrible impact on ALL PENNSYLVANIANS IN ALL 67 COUNTIES. Conversely, properly funding it is great for our economy (See figures below) Another fact, my Caucus and I voted for House Bill 1364 to increase our public transportation and work on roads and bridges, WITHOUT RAISING TAXES. What’s the holdup? Well, that brings us to our final fact – The Republican controlled state Senate leadership is the only thing standing in its way. I urge everyone who relies on or who appreciates our public transportation and infrastructure upgrades to our roads and bridges, to contact the state Republican leadership and urge them to vote YES on this crucial bill. We can work together and do great things like the recent Money Match program (see below). Let’s get this done for Pennsylvania.

Other budget priorities include protecting our Seniors and most vulnerable Pennsylvanians who rely on Medicaid and SNAP. The drastic proposed federal cuts in the “Big, Beautiful Bill” will leave millions without the help they need all to finance questionable tax cuts to our most wealthy citizens. The truth is, we can’t make up the difference in Medicaid and SNAP spending if the proposed “Big Beautiful Bill” passes. These and other cuts will adversely affect millions of our fellow Pennsylvanians and the impact will be felt for years to come. We in the PA House have tried continually to find new sources of revenue to recently include House Bill 1200 – Legalizing Adult Use Cannabis, like all our neighboring states; and increasing the minimum wage which will result in more revenue, and more. However, the state Senate leadership continues to deny this and other initiatives to help bring much needed revenue to our citizens despite their complaints that we don’t have enough money. Worse yet, they offer no solutions of their own. Doing nothing in the face of crisis may be a political strategy, albeit a senseless one, but it is not to be confused with actually governing. I took this job to help make peoples’ lives better. Not to see things crash and burn to make political points at the expense of our citizens. I will do all that I possibly can to protect the level of care, services, and freedoms we Pennsylvanians proudly fought for in the past and deserve for future generations to come.

This issue of District Deliberations also features my latest legislative highlights to include House Bill 355 – Increasing Grading on Corruption of Minor Charges in Cases Where the Perpetrator is a Person of Authority and House Bill 491 – Protecting Military Children and Families Through Concurrent Jurisdiction, both of which have been signed by the governor and are now law. Also featured are this Month’s Hometown Heroes who are all the Juneteenth Volunteers who helped make West Chester’s Juneteenth celebrations a huge success and West Chester’s finest, the West Chester Police Department who, through their diligence and professionalism, kept thousands safe during the recent “No Kings Rally.” We also have some helpful hints on keeping your electric bill down, PA Treasury Money Match checks that are hitting mailboxes, rent rebates delivered by District Office staff, and finally, 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

Hometown Heroes

This June, our Hometown Heroes are the Juneteenth Event Organizers and the West Chester Borough Police unit that kept the “No Kings” protesters safe on June 14 in downtown West Chester.

Hats Off to Juneteenth Organizers and Volunteers

This month, our Hometown Heroes who made Juneteenth so impactful this year -- the Chester County Cultural Alliance, the Chester County History Center, Mayor Lillian DeBaptiste, Bethel AME Church, and all the local organizations and folks here in West Chester!

The ChesCo Cultural Alliance hosted a slate of events, including a re-enactment of the Juneteenth announcement at our Chester County History Center, a townhall meeting at Bethel AME Church, and finally, a wonderful celebration at Milestone Events, courtesy of Mayor Lillian DeBaptiste.

The Chester County History Center offered two unique walking tours, The Underground Railroad in West Chester and Bayard Rustin's West Chester. Attendees learned about those who worked to make the Underground Railroad possible and those who made the journey and decision to settle down in our area, as well as a stroll downtown that gave some perspective to the life of the great civil rights leader and West Chester native, Bayard Rustin.

Thank you also to everyone in our community who planned, conducted, and attended events like these. Our region has a diverse and rich Black history, and I’m proud to be a member of a community that continues to honor and recognize all of it.

West Chester Borough Police Protection of “No Kings” Protesters in Downtown West Chester

On June 14, more than 6,000 of our neighbors turned out to exercise their 1st Amendment rights and reaffirm our founding proclamation that there are No Kings in America. These nationwide protests were inspiring, peaceful, and patriotic.

Most notably for us in West Chester, the protestors and community were safe. This is thanks to our June Hometown Heroes, the West Chester Borough Police Department. As many of us have learned, during the demonstrations there was a man found nearby with a gun and ammunition attached to his body. While his intent remains unclear, we should all be thankful that he was apprehended without incident, and no one was harmed. Police identified him, stopped him, and removed him quickly from the scene. Because of this intervention, all of us who were peacefully protesting were kept safe. They have my sincere gratitude for their bravery and professionalism. Thank you!

Congrats to the Classes of 2025 at East, Henderson, and Rustin High Schools!

Best Wishes and Congratulations to all 2025 high school graduates of East High School, Henderson High School, and Bayard Rustin High School. And many thanks to all the WCASD teachers, administrators, counselors, and support staff members who make it possible year in and year out.

Public education is a fundamental right for all school-aged children in the Commonwealth. As a product of our great WCASD, I fully support strong K-12 public education funding and I’m extremely proud to watch our high school students complete their schooling every year. I’m eager to see what these bright young people will do next, and I am hopeful for a future they will help form.

Why SEPTA Should be Properly Funded Now!

Mass Transit is a major economic powerhouse
For every dollar invested in transit five dollars in economic activity is generated.
For every dollar invested in transit three dollars in increased business sales are generated.
For every million dollars invested 500 direct jobs are created and thousands of downstream jobs are created at suppliers, vendors and support industries.
Finally treating mass transit as an economic driver would lead to 50,000 direct and ancillary jobs all across the commonwealth. (American Public Transit Association 2020 Report).
Transit creates direct jobs, but it also allows employers to create indirect jobs when they know their workforce can get to the job and back reliably and safely
SEPTA takes nearly 800,000 people to work, school, doctors’ appointments, grocery shopping and back every day.
SEPTA has more than 10,000 direct employees and an economic impact of more than $4 BILLION.
SEPTA is a bigger business with a larger economic impact in Pennsylvania than CVS Pharmacies – and there’s 457 of those in the commonwealth.
SEPTA leads to hundreds of thousands of indirect jobs and spends more than $200 million per year buying materials and supplies from companies in 41 PA counties to support SEPTA’s operation.
People who will never set foot on a SEPTA vehicle are putting food on their tables thanks to those trains and buses.

Let’s not get in a political traffic jam for performance politics. Republican Senate - Get On the Bus and vote yes on H.B. 1364!

June's Legislation Highlights

H.B. 355 and H.B. 491 Signed Into Law by Governor Shapiro

My colleagues and I in the House have been fighting for YOU and ALL Pennsylvanians. I have had several bills pass the state Senate and two that have been signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro. I’ve also introduced and voted YES on bills that increase public accountability.

A Few Legislative Highlights from June:

My Bills that have been signed into LAW:

?House Bill 355 - Allows a sentencing enhancement for courts to consider in sexual assault cases where the defendant holds a position of authority and is a mandated reporter. Mandated reporters are legally required to report suspected child abuse or neglect. Examples include clergy, school employees, health care professionals, childcare providers, law enforcement, and social service workers.
?House Bill 491 - Establishes concurrent jurisdiction of Pennsylvania and the Federal government on military installations. This would ensure military children have access to juvenile-focused resources, including for mental health issues, and that they are not unfairly tried as adults to address misconduct.

My Bill that Passed the House, Not Await Consideration in the Senate

?House Bill 968 - Would make it easier for active-duty military and disabled veterans to obtain fishing & hunting licenses in Pennsylvania, by allowing the Attorney General to enter into reciprocal agreements with other states to recognize their licenses here. This would result in cost-savings for these valued veterans and servicemembers, increased tourism to the Commonwealth, and contribute to therapy efforts for veterans struggling with PTSD.

Bills that I’ve Co-Sponsored:

?House Bill 811 – Banning AI Political Deepfakes - Would prohibit fraudulent misrepresentation of a political candidate. Dissemination of a campaign advertisement containing an artificially generated impersonation of a candidate would be prohibited if done without consent and with the intent to unduly influence the outcome of an election.
?House Bill 1533 – Would codify that consequences of Artificial Intelligence must be treated like those of the person or entity deploying the A.I., in the same way companies are liable for the actions of employees. The risk of bad actors evading criminal or civil liability by blaming A.I. is too great.

Major Legislation that I voted YES on:

?Voted YES on House Bill 1364 - Would save SEPTA by investing almost $300 million into mass transit across the Commonwealth - the most significant funding increase in over 10 years – all without raising taxes. This means more jobs & more dollars to repair roads & bridges, and easier commutes to work and school with less traffic and fewer car accidents. It would also support the services of Chesco Connect, which serves our seniors and disabled citizens.

Shop for YOUR Electricity

As the summer heat moves in, thermostats are turning down. Cooling our homes is a natural reaction that we don’t tend to think much about –– until the electric bill shows up. June not only kicked off summer, but with it came new electric rates for all utility customers as prices jumped on the heels of the PJM capacity auction price increase. This prompted the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to issue a press release advising energy users of tips to shop for their electricity. Why? Because that’s where customers can find savings.

You can easily compare rates and plans – and shop for renewable energy providers, if you wish – at PA PowerSwitch, the official electricity shopping website of the Pennsylvania PUC. Suppliers may also approach you directly, by phone, mail, or even door-to-door to try to get you to switch, but it’s important to verify that the offer being presented is legitimate and make sure you understand the terms.

PA PowerSwitch offers tips to protect yourself from misleading energy marketing tactics and scams, as well as a helpful explainer about understanding your electric utility bill so that you can better understand which costs are within your control.

100+ Rent Rebates Delivered by District Office Staff out in the Community

My district office staff works hard for you, our 66,000 constituents, at the district office. And they’re often out in the community hosting “mobile offices” in public spaces and facilitating 2024 PA Property Tax/Rent Rebate applications on site where constituents live.

So far this year, my staff has facilitated more than 100 PTRR applications 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 deadline have been extended to Dec. 31, 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.

Also, if your organization is interested in hosting a Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program clinic for my staff to help your residents or clients on your site, we’d be happy to arrange that and come to help. Please contact my Chief of Staff through the above contact methods to make this request.

PA Treasury Money Match Checks are Hitting Mailboxes!

Thanks to last session’s bipartisan “Money Match Bill” authored by state Rep. Ryan Bizzaro and state Sen. John DiSanto, the PA Treasury announced that PA residents will automatically be receiving nearly $10 million in checks. Under the PA Money Match program, unclaimed property that’s worth up to $500 owned by a verified individual and has no complexities are returned automatically through quarterly checks sent in the mail. First, recipients are sent postcards notifying them that a Money Match check is coming soon. Stay tuned for possibly raising the dollar amounts of these returns with passage of House Bill 1189 (Rep. Bizzaro-D), which proposes to increase the threshold for the automatic return of unclaimed property from $500 to $10,000.

You might have Unclaimed Property waiting for you! More than 1 in 10 Pennsylvanians has unclaimed property available to be claimed. The process to search and claim is simple and free -- and can be done from any computer or device with internet access. – OR – Feel free to contact my district office staff at (610) 696-4900; RepPielli@pahouse.net; and 121 W. Miner St., Suite 1E, West Chester Borough.

Search for Unclaimed Property on official PA Treasury website here -- Unclaimed Property.

Q: I’m worried about funding cuts by the Federal Government. How will my Medicaid benefits be affected by these cuts? ... And what can I do about it?

A: That’s a good question. A lot of Pennsylvanians are feeling the same way.

Governor Shapiro is fighting for fair, affordable health care options for everyone in PA. He proposed a Medicaid funding increase in the state budget to state legislators earlier this year. The proposed boost to Medicaid would mean a 10% increase in spending on the programs compared to the prior fiscal year.

Medicaid covers about 3 million people in Pennsylvania, including 1.3 million children. Governor Shapiro’s request to increase state Medicaid funds does not account for how Pennsylvania will handle potentially crushing federal cuts to Medicaid spending, proposed by President Donald Trump — which could lead to 300,000 Pennsylvania residents losing Medicaid.

First, I strongly suggest that you contact the PA Senate Majority Leader, Joseph Pittman, at:

(724) 357-0151 – OR – Online here: Contact Me - Senator Pittman

Then, to express opposition to the destructive “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act” - you can contact your federal-level legislators: U.S. Senators Dave McCormick and John Fetterman, and U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan.

Elected officials DO pay attention to what their voters think of them. Every legislative district office keeps track of what constituents are calling and emailing about. When they see a lot of people reaching out about the same issue – or even one particularly compelling message – they feel pressure to change their behavior. This could be changing how they would vote on a bill or fighting harder on a particular issue, because they know voters are paying attention. Ultimately, you’re holding your representatives accountable.

And it’s easy to do! It can take less than a minute to leave a message or write an email. So, next time you find yourself feeling worried or upset, Make Your Voice Heard - and let your representatives know. You may be the difference maker.

Contact Information for Their Offices Here: