We hope this June edition of District Deliberations finds you all doing well. Writer and Sportscaster, Al Bernstein once said, “Spring being a tough act to follow, God created June.” June means the start of summer and many noteworthy events like, Pride Month, Juneteenth, Father’s Day and …the “Budget Season.” Read more
“We should do everything in our power to help our veterans,” Pielli said. “That same attitude should be extended to the families of veterans. That’s why my colleagues, Representative Dan L. Miller and Representative Joe Webster, and I worked to create House Bill 1963. This simple change will make the lives of veterans and their families that much easier after this abrupt and unfortunate change. As a veteran, I’ve come to learn that when our men and women serve our great nation, their family also serves. This legislative consideration is the least we can do for our veterans and their families.” Read more
WEST CHESTER, May 30 – State Rep. Chris Pielli, D-Chester, is urging local PECO electric and natural gas consumers to participate in an upcoming public input hearing arranged with the Public Utility Commission regarding the energy company’s request to the PUC to raise its rates. “Customers deserve to have a voice at the table,” Pielli said. “This rate increase can make life that much harder for our neighbors.” According to Pielli, PECO asked the PUC on March 28 to increase rates for electric ($575 million more per year) and natural gas ($111 million more per year) distribution services. If the rate increase is approved, consumers will be paying significantly more, according to information from the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate. The in-person hearing for Chester County residents will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, June 10 at the Kennett Square Borough Building located at 600 S. Broad St. Pre-registration is not required to testify at an in-person public hearing. There will be a sign-up sheet in the hearing room. Interested residents are encouraged to visit the PUC’s website at puc.pa.gov for tips on offering testimony at public input hearings, along with how to handle any exhibits people wish to submit during testimony. People with questions may contact Pielli’s office by calling 610-696-4990 or by emailing reppielli@pahouse.net with “PECO rate Read more
“Our future depends on the health of our environment,” Pielli said. “We are extremely lucky to be blessed with such natural beauty in Chester County. Thankfully, our neighbors want to protect and preserve it. I thank the Pennsylvania DEP for giving the Stroud Water Research Center this funding, so that our high school students can have the resources and support they need to help keep Chester County clean and healthy.” Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: Wild Resource Conservation Program Who May Apply: Counties, municipalities, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, conservation districts, and municipal authorities. Individuals, state government agencies, and for-profit businesses may be eligible depending on the project. Use: Grant applications will be accepted for species surveys, conservation, and management. Funds: Funding comes through the Wil Resource Conservation Fund and a portion of the Environmental Stewardship Fund. Grant size varies, but the average grant award is $30,000. Application Deadline: July 1, 2024 More information: DCNR website Department of Community and Economic Development: Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) The NAP is broken down into five components: The Neighborhood Assistance Program Tax Credit, the Special Program Priorities, the Neighborhood Partnership Program, the Charitable Food Program, and the Enterprise Zone Program Tax Credit. Please visit the link below for specific information on each component. Who May Apply: Depending on the program, eligible applicants include neighborhood organizations that hold a ruling from the IRS as nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organizations, and organizations operating as food banks, food pantries, or emergency food providers. Use: Use varies by program, but priorities for this funding Read more
Hi Folks, I hope this May edition of District Deliberations finds you all doing well. The great naturalist Edwin Way Teale once said, “All things seem possible in May.” Indeed, this month offers us the opening act of nature’s beauty in color, fragrance, and vibrancy promising new beginnings and possibilities. One can only hope these pleasantries foreshadow a productive budget month in June! Read more
“In order for Pennsylvania to succeed, we need to be more welcoming to businesses,” said Pielli. “For purposes of efficiency and consistency, my bill would change the requirement so all companies doing business in Pennsylvania have the same reporting date. Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Education: Public School Environmental Repairs Program Who May Apply: School districts, area career and technical schools, charter schools, and regional charter schools that operate school buildings. Use: Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the remediation and/or abatement of lead in water sources and paint, asbestos, and mold inside school buildings of eligible school entities. Funds: Up to $75 million in state funds will be competitively awarded. There is no minimum funding request. The maximum funding request is $10 million. One application per entity will be accepted, but the application may consist of more than one project in more than one school building. Application Deadline: June 30, 2024 More information: PDE Website Department of Agriculture: Farm-to-School Grant Program Who May Apply: Any school district, school, charter school, private school, or center with pre-K classes, kindergarten classes, elementary classes, or middle school classes through 8 th grade that participates in a Federal Child Nutrition Program. Use: The purpose of the Farm-to-School Program is to educate prekindergartners through eighth graders and their families about the importance of choosing healthy, locally produced foods and increase awareness of Pennsylvania agriculture. Eligible projects will achieve this purpose. Funds: $500,000 is available for Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Indigent Defense Grant Program Who May Apply: Counties Use: Salaries and benefits for staff, recruiting efforts to find/retain staff, training and development courses for staff, efforts to improve data collection, and any cost associated with gaps or needs in providing indigent defense, among other things. Funds: A total of $6,750,000 is expected to fund up to 67 grants (one in each county). Application Deadline: , May 23, 202d4 More information: PCCD Website Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (via Department of Homeland Security): Nonprofit Security Grant Program Who May Apply: Non-profit organizations may apply as a sub applicant through PEMA. PEMA is the direct applicant to the Department of Homeland Security. Use: Funds are to be used to enhance the protection of soft targets/crowded places. Funds: $274,500,000 in federal funds are available for this national funding opportunity. $3,277,500 in funding is targeted toward Pennsylvania. Application Deadline: May 29, 2024, at 5 p.m. More information: PEMA Website Historical and Museum Commission: Historical & Archival Records Care Grant Who May Apply: Local government entities and nonprofit organizations Use: Projects must relate to some aspect of Pennsylvania’s history and funds may be used for preservation of Read more
I've recently introduced a PA House resolution (HR 404) to urge Congress to support and pass the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 1282). The Congressional Act is named for Retired Army Major Richard Star, who passed away in 2021 after a fight with Stage 4 lung cancer. Read more
Hi Folks, We hope this April edition of District Deliberations finds you all doing well. They say April showers bring May flowers, and on that note, we should be in full bloom soon. April is also a significant month for several world religions who observe major events like Easter, Passover, and Eid-Al-Fitr – the end of Ramadan. Read more
“The bill is simple. If it’s AI, it has to say it’s AI,” Pielli said. “People deserve to know if what they’re looking at is real or not when making purchases. This disclosure will be clear and conspicuous in the same medium as the content generated to help consumers make better-informed and more secure purchases. We also hope to curb possible misinformation by malicious authors who knowingly or recklessly generate and spread this content with the goal of fooling the public.” Read more
HARRISBURG, April 1 – State Rep. Chris Pielli, D-Chester , said he is proud to announce the approval of H.B. 1598 from the Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee by a 21-4 margin Wednesday. House Bill 1598 would require a disclosure on content generated by artificial intelligence. This disclosure will give people who are reading, listening, or viewing this content the information they need to make informed decisions and not be misled, Pielli said. “Artificial intelligence is becoming a more prevalent component of our everyday lives,” he said. “As AI becomes more sophisticated, it will be impossible to verify the author of material and content produced. Additionally, the questionable veracity of AI content has the potential to spread false information or images. This bill is simple. If it’s AI, it has to say it’s AI. Pennsylvanians have the right to know if the content they are consuming was created by a human or if AI was used to create it. I thank my colleagues for standing with me in providing transparency for all Pennsylvanians.” The bill now heads to the full House for consideration. Read more
HARRISBURG, March 27 – Today, a bipartisan group of state lawmakers held a news conference at the Capitol touting legislation they’ve introduced to support Pennsylvania veterans exposed to the dangerous herbicide “Agent Orange” and other toxic chemicals during their service, and make March 29 Vietnam Veterans Day in Pennsylvania . This group of lawmakers includes state Reps. Paul Takac, D-Centre; Mike Cabell, R-Luzerne; Brian Munroe, D-Bucks; Dane Watro, R-Schuylkill/Luzerne; Tarik Khan, D-Phila.; Zachary Mako, R-Northampton/Lehigh; Chris Pielli, D-Chester; and Abby Major, R-Armstrong/Westmoreland. Both bills were introduced earlier this year. “We owe all those who have served our country, especially those who have been harmed as a result of their service, not only our profound respect and gratitude but an enduring commitment to serve and support them and their families. That, of course, includes Vietnam-era veterans who were exposed to -- and at the time, unknowingly harmed by -- Agent Orange. As our understanding of the extent of the damage caused by that chemical exposure has grown and evolved, so have the programs and benefits available to those affected,” Takac said. “Since taking office, one of my areas of focus has been ensuring that veterans and their families are aware of and can more easily access all of the benefits and support available to them,” he said. Read more
I'd like to thank Governor Shapiro for signing my bill, HB 1278, last week at a ceremony to honor its passage into law. Renewing and improving the Wiretap Act is an extremely important crime-fighting measure. This extension to the Wiretap Act and the improvements made will go a long way toward assisting our law enforcement community here in Pennsylvania. Read more
“Our commonwealth is committed to improving its infrastructure,” Pielli said. “Sidewalks are not something we give a lot of thought to, but when left ignored, it can cause a multitude of problems. This project may seem small in name, but thanks to this funding, West Chester can provide safe sidewalks that will leave a lasting impact on residents and visitors alike. I thank the Commonwealth Financing Authority and state Sen. Carolyn Comitta for their help in making sure projects like this are provided for in the 156th Legislative District.” Read more
“As a former Court Appointed Guardianship Attorney, I saw clients who lost their homes as a result of unpaid property taxes,” Pielli said. “Too often, these were individuals with cognitive impairment or those who were otherwise incapacitated and could not pay tax bills without assistance. Tragically, these same individuals sometimes had the financial means but were so impaired they were unable to keep up with payments. It is simply unfair to leave these people to try and pay these bills alone." Read more
Hi Folks, I hope this March edition of District Deliberations finds you all doing well. March, coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb has come to us once again through the cold, bleak winter. To many, March signifies new beginnings as the advent of Spring blooms into our lives. For me, it has always reminded me of family. Read more
"Disclosure would give people who are reading and viewing the content the information they need to make informed decisions and not be misled," said Pielli. "I think it potentially can do a lot of harm to us as a society, a republic and in so many [other] ways. It’s almost incomprehensible." Read more
HARRISBURG, Feb. 21 – Today, state lawmakers introduced legislation that would create a task force on Agent Orange -- a blend of herbicides used during the Vietnam War. Agent Orange was banned when evidence of the harmful and sometimes deadly results of exposure to it began to emerge. Those who were exposed to Agent Orange are at risk of developing cancers, neurological and psychological conditions, and other long-term effects to the skin and heart. Exposure to Agent Orange can also cause reproductive health problems and birth defects in the children of veterans, including spina bifida, hip dysplasia, and congenital heart disease. The task force would comprise several members of military organizations and members of the PA House and PA Senate to investigate and form recommendations on how best to communicate with veterans affected by Agent Orange concerning the treatment options available to them. This bipartisan legislation was introduced by state Reps. Paul Takac, D-Centre; Mike Cabell, R-Luzerne; Brian Munroe, D-Bucks; Dane Watro, R-Schuylkill/Luzerne; Tarik Khan, D-Phila.; Zachary Mako, R-Northampton/Lehigh; Chris Pielli, D-Chester; and Abby Major, R-Armstrong/Westmoreland. “We owe all those who have served our country, especially those who have been harmed as a result of their service, not only our profound respect and gratitude but an enduring commitment to serve and support them and their families. That, Read more
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