Town Hall, Senior Fair bring the community together

Rep. Paul Friel October 17, 2025 | 4:21 PM

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Dear Neighbor,

It has been a busy and rewarding work week here in the district!

I am grateful for all of the people who made it out Wednesday for my town hall – co-hosted by state Rep. Joe Ciresi of Montgomery County – and then for my annual senior fair on Thursday. It was my honor to meet so many people, take your questions and help connect you with community resources.

I spent the week before in legislative session, where the House passed another responsible budget that addresses the needs of the Commonwealth. It's past time for the Senate to do the same.

The House last week also passed my bill that would require the state to establish a certification program for the haulers and brokers of food processing residue. Read more below.

As we head further into our state budget impasse and federal shutdown, please know that you can contact my office anytime if you have questions about the impasse, legislation or state programs and services. My job is to serve your needs first.

Sincerely,

Thank you for attending my Town Hall

On Wednesday, state Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, and I held a Town Hall at TriCounty Active Adult Center in Pottstown, in concert with the Pottstown NAACP. Thanks to all of the community members who participated, it was a fantastic event and truly heartwarming to see democracy in action.

Many of the audience questions concerned the impact that cuts and changes to SNAP and Medicaid would have on them and their communities.

Medicaid and SNAP have provided health care for and fed Pennsylvanians with modest means for decades. Now, because of federal budget cuts, 5,914 people will lose Medicaid and 1,024 will lose SNAP in Chester County alone.

Watch a video highlighting our Town Hall Wednesday.

Forcing people to choose between food and other must-haves is unconscionable, and kicking thousands of people off medical care destroys lives, bankrupts hospitals or at least makes everyone’s care more expensive.

The audience expressed concern that the cost of their insurance would go up if the federal budget didn’t extend the Affordable Care Act’s premium tax credits, which are set to expire this year. Premiums are expected to roughly double, on average, for the 24 million people enrolled in plans under the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance marketplaces, including Pennie, according to The New York Times.

The health care system in America was already convoluted and broken. Now we add Republicans at the federal level who decide to increase costs, reduce coverage and squeeze patients even more. We need a real reckoning on health and how we deliver care.

We need to wise up, but I don't believe we have enough people willing to put patient care over politics yet. I think it is going to get worse before enough political and medical industry leaders will be willing to make some of the transformative changes we need.

Senior Fair was wonderful!

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of the people who came to my annual Senior Fair as well as the Phoenixville Rec Center for hosting. It was fantastic to see so many friendly faces come together to learn about the wide range of programs and services available to help make life healthier, safer and more enjoyable.

I also want to thank the community organizations, state agencies, and local service providers who took part and shared their expertise. Your commitment to serving seniors ensures that no one is left without the support they need.

My goal hosting this fair is to connect older adults with the information, tools and resources they deserve – from health screenings and financial assistance programs to transportation options and volunteer opportunities. The conversations, questions and personal stories shared throughout the day always leave me more informed.

My bill treating food processing residue clears House

My H.B. 587, to require the state Department of Environmental Protection to establish a certification program for the haulers and brokers of food processing residue, passed the House last week. Certifications would be in effect for three years and eligible for renewal if the hauler or broker has completed six credits of continuing education as approved by DEP.

Food processing residuals, also known as FPR, are the leftover product created by commercial food processing. Food processing residuals can include vegetable peelings, raw meat scraps, and liquid-like cleaning fluid that includes blood, fat, hair and feathers, and a variety of other vegetable and animal byproducts and chemicals used to process them.

Along with H.B. 586, which would further guide the use of FPR, H.B. 587 would help manage FPR responsibly in Pennsylvania. Surrounding states have heavily restricted or banned the use of these residuals, making Pennsylvania a target for cheaply offloading the commercial product.

Reading to kids

I have a great job! This week I read to kids at the Spring City Public Library. Thank you, Spring City, for the opportunity!

Free Paper Shredding Event and Food Drive is Sunday, Oct. 26

Protect your identity from theft and fraud by bringing up to three boxes of personal documents to our FREE Community Shredding Event and Food Drive, co-hosted with Sen. Katie Muth! Shredding is a great way to destroy sensitive documents, recycle and protect your personal information. For more information, call Sen. Muth’s office at (610) 792-2137.

Fall wildfire season safety

The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources reminds Pennsylvanians that the greatest danger of wildfires occurs during the autumn months of October and November and spring months of March, April, and May. In Pennsylvania, 99 percent of all wildfires are caused by people.

Conditions necessary for wildfires include:

An available fuel source, such as dried grass or leaves
Dry conditions, including low relative humidity
An ignition source, such as debris burning, power equipment, or campfires

DCNR encourages anyone starting a fire at home or at a campsite to make sure there are no combustible items within 10 feet of the fire, keep a rake or shovel and water nearby, and ensure the fire is completely extinguished before leaving the site. Check DCNR’s website to see if there is an elevated fire risk.