District Deliberations: August Edition

Rep. Chris Pielli August 28, 2025 | 2:42 PM

PA Representative Christopher Pielli banner image

Hi Folks,

We hope this August edition of District Deliberations finds you all doing well. The heavy metal rocker Henry Rollins once said, “August brings into sharp focus and a furious boil everything I’ve been listening to in the late spring and summer.” The comparison is striking when thinking of all we have heard from Harrisburg these last few months only to find ourselves at the end of a long, hot summer with no budget and no funding for our Public Transportation.

Since our last issue we have seen the GOP controlled Senate finally return to session after taking a 6-week hiatus, only to give us an underfunded, flat line budget bill as we face great needs with pending federal cuts and increased costs. To add injury to insult, they also left us with a joke transportation bill that is a band aid over a gaping fiscal wound which robs the Pennsylvania Transportation Trust Fund of money earmarked for safety and maintenance repairs. It is a temporary fix at best and without additional legislation that ensures recurring funding for our public transit system, we will never truly resolve this important issue. Bottom Line – This unsafe and irresponsible bill is basically robbing Peter to pay Paul in a shell game with your tax dollars.

Speaking of which, let’s talk about your tax dollars. Bottom line, the Senate Republican leadership is playing fast and loose with our hard-earned money. Southeastern PA contributes over 40% of all state revenue - and Chester County contributes a huge part of this figure - yet the Southeast only receives back 19% in public service funding for our students, seniors, streets, and bridges, and yes, for our SEPTA.

This is Taxation without Fair Economic Representation — and we will not settle for a budget that doesn’t fairly fund the needs of our constituents. You’ve Worked for it. You Deserve it. I am personally sick of hearing the Senate GOP leadership treat us like we are asking for a handout when we are in fact the prime economic driver of Pennsylvania’s entire economy. In truth, they and their districts are the only ones truly sponging off the bounty of our Labor. If there is one thing I would like you to know regarding our budget, this is it. South East PA - You Deserve Better!

This issue of District Deliberations also features the latest legislative highlights to include our budget and public transportation bills, fighting rising utility costs with my "Plug-In Solar Bill", and my Co-sponsorship of Rep. Shusterman's Fair State Tax Redistribution Bill. Additionally, we have information on our fight to fund SEPTA and the current service cuts to our area. We also honor our August hometown heroes – the Teachers of the West Chester Area School District and the historian/activist members of the Friends of Shiloh African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and Cemetery. In addition, we have an invitation to the Community Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM) 2nd Annual Dr. Mary's Legacy Run to help them in their crucial mission to provide healthcare to everyone. And, last but not least, a hats off to all of our First Responders as we enjoyed another successful National Night Out.

Finally, of course, we have 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.

Sincerely yours,

PA Representative Christopher Pielli's signature image

Chris Pielli
Pennsylvania State Representative House District 156

Hometown Heroes

This August, our Hometown Heroes are the Teachers of West Chester Area School District; and Friends of Shiloh African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and Cemetery.

Our Hardworking Teachers of West Chester Area School District

This month, our Hometown Heroes are all of the wonderful public school teachers who serve the K-12 students in West Chester Area School District!

While students enjoy one more week of summer vacation, our teachers, administrators, and faculty are heading back to school already in preparation of the school year. As the son of a Henderson High School teacher and a graduate of East High School, I can attest firsthand to the dedication, care, and passion that our area teachers have for our students.

Education is a cornerstone of what makes West Chester such an amazing community, and our teachers are the ones responsible for earning WCASD schools consistently high rankings amongst schools in Pennsylvania and nationwide. The hard work that our teachers put into their craft are reflective of long days and late nights writing lesson plans, grading papers, and decorating classrooms. For all of these reasons and more, thank you to this month’s Hometown Heroes, the Teachers of West Chester Area School District!

Friends of Shiloh African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and Cemetery

This month, our organization Hometown Hero is Friends of Shiloh African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and Cemetery. Since August 2023, the organization has led a community effort to maintain and care for this historic Black Church and Cemetery in Westtown Township, which dates back to 1817. They’re working to recognize the immense history of this early Free Black Community. For the first time in Westtown Township's 330-year history, a historic marker will honor African American History at Shiloh AME Church and Cemetery.

In 2024, the organization hosted a 'Decoration Day' ceremony at the Historic Chester County Courthouse, featuring descendants and leaders in the community. The ceremony advocated for the right to visit the cemetery, which is currently closed to public access. Participants held cut-out headstones since the actual headstones were removed in the 1960s – and only one remains (see photo). The cemetery holds nearly 140 graves, including those of 14 African-American soldiers who fought for the Union Army.

Fighting Rising Energy Costs with My Plug-In Solar Bill

Had enough of soaring Energy costs? One solution is to support residents who seek to generate their own electricity. The benefits of solar energy have remained exclusive to ratepayers with expensive access to rooftop solar systems or ground-based arrays. Plug-in solar is changing that. Plug-in solar photovoltaic systems can be installed on balconies, patios and terraces, making it possible for apartment dwellers to enjoy the benefits of renewable energy.

My Plug-In Solar Bill will eliminate the requirement to obtain an interconnection agreement and prohibits electric distribution companies from imposing fees on systems that have obtained national safety certifications. Notably, these systems would be ineligible to participate in Pennsylvania’s net metering program.

This bill takes a proactive approach to expanding opportunities for plug-in solar across the Commonwealth. Eliminating costly and time-consuming barriers to the adoption of plug-in solar expands a consumer’s choice to adopt an emissions free, cost-reducing energy solution.

A Fair and Reasonable State Budget Still Waits on the GOP-led State Senate

We're a divided government, but we have a job to do: Pass a state budget that delivers funding for critical programs and services to move Pennsylvania forward.

The PA House of Representatives have done just that. My colleagues I voted YES for bipartisan House Bill 1330 — a fair, responsible budget providing for infrastructure, health care, public education, and much more for the benefit of EVERY Pennsylvanian, while not raising a penny in taxes.

By contrast, the GOP-led State Senate waited to the last minute after being absent for over 6 weeks, and proposed an underfunded, unrealistic, and unreasonable budget bill (Senate Bill 160), which flat-lines funding for our essential public services at a time of great need and increased costs. Republican Senators are playing fast and loose with our hard-earned money. Southeastern PA contributes over 40% of all state revenue - and Chester County contributes a huge part of this figure - yet the Southeast only receives back 19% in public service funding for our students, seniors, streets, and bridges, and yes, for our SEPTA.

This is Taxation without Fair Economic Representation — and we will not settle for a budget that doesn’t fairly fund the needs of our Southeast constituents. We’ve worked for it. We Deserve it. I am personally sick of hearing the Senate GOP leadership treat us like we are asking for a handout when we are in fact the prime economic driver of Pennsylvania’s entire economy. In truth, they and their districts are the only ones truly sponging off the bounty of our Labor.

We've already passed numerous budget-related bills, focusing on our shared priorities with Governor Shapiro. During this 2025 legislative session, we've passed more than 200 bills to cut costs, put money back in people’s pockets, create jobs, protect health care, help every kid in every school and much more. To quote the Governor, we’re getting stuff done while the Senate sits in silence. Learn more at: www.pahouse.com/deliveringforpa

A Few State Budget Highlights:

? Funding to ensure all communities have access to mass transit while also investing in roads and bridges statewide (HB 1364 & HB 1788, currently held up in the PA Senate).

? Hundreds of millions of new revenue dollars for the state through the legalization and regulation of adult use cannabis (HB 1200, held up in the PA Senate).

? An overdue raise for working families through an increase to the minimum wage to grow the economy from the bottom up (HB 1549, held up in the PA Senate).

? Fair funding for public schools to overcome an historically underfunded public education system as mandated by court orders (HB 1330, held up in the PA Senate).

? Fighting for all K-12 students and every taxpayer in every district by finally fixing the corrupt cyber charter school funding scheme (HB 1500, held up in the PA Senate).

? Investments in the stability of our energy sector and increased production in the future.

(Several pieces of legislation, currently held up in the PA Senate)

? Protecting health care access while the federal government looks to close hospitals and nursing homes. (Several pieces of legislation, currently held up in the PA Senate)

We've had every piece of a bi-partisan, compromise budget ready to move and we are ready and waiting for the GOP Senate to catch up so that we can Get Stuff Done for Pennsylvania.

SEPTA Press Conference Hosted by Democratic PA Legislators and other Elected Officials from Chester County – August 7 in West Chester Borough

On August 7, I rallied for SEPTA funding with my Chester County House and Senate Democrat colleagues and other elected officials at the West Chester Transportation Center. We urged the PA Senate to adequately fund SEPTA and other mass transit systems in Pennsylvania.

Our press conference came a week before SEPTA announced it would need funding in place to continue normal operations. That funding deadline was August 14.

Now, on August 24 -- because the GOP-controlled PA State Senate has failed to pass or propose any substantive transit funding bills -- SEPTA has initiated cuts and reductions to its train, bus, and trolley lines throughout the Greater Philadelphia region.

Read More about the Press Conference: Chester County House Democrats call on Senate to fund mass transit

SEPTA Service Cuts Started August 24 – Consequences for Commuters, Students, and Seniors

On August 11, my PA House colleagues and I passed House Bill 1788, which would have invested almost $300 million into mass transit - the most significant transit funding increase in over 10 years - without raising any taxes.

In addition to fully funding SEPTA, HB 1788 would have delivered more dollars to repair roads and bridges, and add more jobs across PA. In good faith, this bill also included accountability measures asked for by Senators Picozzi, Farry, and Pennycuick, even though SEPTA was already doing this! No worries! We gave it to them anyway, but it didn’t matter because they still wouldn’t pass the bill and are unserious about adequately funding our Public Transportation.

Instead, the GOP-controlled State Senate tossed back a butchered and gutted House Bill that does not offer a long-term funding solution because it robs funding from the Capital improvement funds that are needed for repairs and safety maintenance. PA Senate Republicans need to do their jobs and pass fair, adequate funding - not just a temporary, BS do-nothing bills that rob from Peter to pay Paul and put the safety of our transit, roads, and bridges at risk.

Time's Up! The crisis is here. This is about real people and real jobs in Southeast PA and across the Commonwealth. Everyone's morning commute will get worse, kids won't get to school, seniors will be trapped at home and unable to make their medical appointments, and honest, hard-working residents who don’t own cars won’t be able to get to work.

Email -and- Call the following 3 GOP State Senators, who all have constituents that rely on SEPTA but don’t seem to care. Tell them to get back to work and do their job for our seniors, students, and hardworking residents by properly funding our Public Transportation.

Email GOP State Senators HERE:

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus | Take Action

Call GOP State Senators:

PA Senator Joe Picozzi: (215) 281-2539

PA Senator Frank Farry: (215) 638-1784

PA Senator Tracy Pennycuick: (215) 541-2388

Consequences of SEPTA Cuts for Our Community:

• The Paoli/Thorndale line would be gone. Not reduced or suspended. Completely cut on January 1, 2026.

• An immediate 21.5% system-wide fare increase, and a 20% service cut followed by another 25% service cut next year on remaining lines, including the Media/Wawa line and the bus to 69th Street.

• A complete hiring freeze that would leave SEPTA critically understaffed. More delays on whatever service we would be left with. Less sanitation workers to keep stations clean. Less transit police to keep stations safe.

• Significant job losses as thousands lose their means of commuting to work.

• Significant decrease in property values.

• Significant increase in traffic, pollution, car accidents, and drunk driving.

Proud to Co-Sponsor Rep. Shusterman's Fair State Tax Redistribution Bill

Due to Pennsylvania's regional economic diversity, the current system for collecting state income, property, sales, and corporate taxes results in lack of financial stability at the local level. For our Southeast region it basically equates to “Taxation without Fair Economic Representation” since we generate over 40% of all tax revenue for the entire Commonwealth but only receive 19% back in Government Services. This has proven unsustainable and unfairly benefits regions who get more than they contribute in tax dollars and who do not wish to give us our fair share for funding our schools, streets, seniors and yes, SEPTA.

Rep. Shusterman's legislation would establish indexed categories of counties for state tax collection and funding. (Please see map). Each of the three economic categories of the Commonwealth would keep its share of all collected taxes to fund its schools, medical facilities and services, law enforcement, parks and recreational areas, transportation infrastructures including roads and bridges, and other essential line-items that are currently appropriated through the state budget.

West Chester Area First Responders hosted a fantastic National Night Out at Henderson High School on August 5th.

I thoroughly enjoyed connecting and celebrating with our community First Responders, as well as meeting District Attorney Chris de Barrena-Sarobe, West Chester Borough Councilman Brian McGinnis, and others. It’s crucial to support our local law enforcement, Fire Fighters, and EMS personnel who put themselves out there every day to keep us safe. This event is a great way to get to know them better and build lasting community relationships.

Hats off to all of the sponsors, First Responders, and everyone who came out to help make this another fantastic National Night Out!

2nd Annual Dr. Mary's Legacy 5K Run, Walk, and Family Fun Day – Coming Saturday, September 6

Community Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM) is hosting its 2nd Annual Dr. Mary's Legacy Run on Saturday, September 6, at 9:00 AM at West Goshen Community Park.

Participants are encouraged, but not required, to wear creative costumes in honor of Dr. Mary. Prizes will be awarded to runners in various categories, including Best Costume and Best Team Costume.

Proceeds from this event will support the mission that Dr. Mary Wirshup championed at CVIM: Providing free, comprehensive healthcare to senior and low-income members of our community. This event celebrates Dr. Mary's legacy as a friend to every patient and volunteer, and a passionate advocate for healthcare access for all.

To Register for this Event and Learn More about this wonderful organization, Click Here: cvim.org/run

Q: How can organizations – such as schools, nonprofits, and local governments – apply for state grants and obtain a letter of support from Rep. Pielli?

A: Before you apply for a PA State Grant:

To apply for PA state grants, you need to create a Keystone Login account.
Utilize PA Grants Search Tool.
Find out whether you meet the eligibility requirements and how much money you can expect to receive.
Make sure you can make the deadline.
Align your application with the grant program mission.

How Our District Office Can Help:

Grant program searching
Letters of support from Rep. Pielli to accompany grant application
Email Chief of Staff, Julie K. Mesaros, to request a letter of support: JMesaros@pahouse.net