Dear Neighbor,
This week has been a long year, folks. A lot has happened in a short period, and the overwhelming amount of concerning, confusing, and sometimes contradictory news coming at us may feel destabilizing right now.
Following the executive order for a federal spending freeze issued at the start of this week, and then rescinded—or perhaps not rescinded—a short time later, my staff and I have received numerous calls and emails from constituents understandably concerned about the impact this freeze would have not only on federally funded benefits like Medicaid, but also on organizations that rely on federal funding to help families and individuals right here in our communities.
It is extremely concerning that the administration would willingly and knowingly cause such confusion, chaos, and disruption to tens of millions of Americans, and I share the belief asserted by federal judges, more than 20 state attorneys general, Congresswoman Houlahan and many others that these attempted freezes and suspensions are illegal and unconstitutional. Congress, not the President, holds the power of the purse. I was grateful to see that our judicial branch stepped in to challenge the executive order and attempt to bring some stability to the situation.
While Pennsylvanians would deeply feel the impact of a federal funding freeze, it’s our federal legislators, U.S. Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, U.S. Senator John Fetterman, and U.S. Senator David McCormick, who have the power to push back. If you have concerns about the proposed federal funding suspension or any other executive order, please be sure to let our federal representatives know your concerns, including how a loss of federal funds would affect you, your family, or your business, and ask them to do all they can at the federal level to protect this funding from any future termination or suspension attempts.
At the state level, I remain focused on doing all we can to protect Pennsylvanians' access to healthcare, education, social services, and other programs potentially affected by this week’s actions or by any future federal funding suspensions or policy decisions.
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Updates from Harrisburg
This week we returned to the Harrisburg for the first days of voting session, where we saw committees convene for the first time to advance some bipartisan bills and passed resolutions on the House floor to honor Pennsylvania’s School Board Directors and recognize Maternal Health Awareness Day.
Many former members and former Speakers of the House were in the House Chamber on Tuesday as Rep. Bryan Cutler’s (R-Lancaster) official Speakers’ Portrait was unveiled. Rep. Cutler served as Speaker following the resignation of Rep. Mike Turzai in 2020 until the election of former Rep. Mark Rozzi and then our current Speaker, Rep. Joanna McClinton, in 2023.
The first session week is always a bit slow as we tee up legislation for the new session and wait for bills to make their way through their respective committees. But as session gets into full swing next week, I want to make sure you have the information you need to follow the issues that are important to you.
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How to Follow a Bill
The General Assembly website is the easiest way to stay up to date on how a bill is progressing through the legislature. You can find a bill and subscribe for updates in just a few simple steps:
- Go to https://www.legis.state.pa.us/
- If you know the number of the bill you wish to track, enter it in the Legislation Quick Search function at the top right of the page, as shown below. Be sure to enter “HB” ahead of the bill number for House bills and “SB” ahead of the bill number for Senate bills. (We’ll use my colleague Rep. Chris Pielli’s artificial intelligence bill, HB 95, as an example, because my new and updated legislation for this session is still in draft!)
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- Click “Search” and you will land on the Bill Information page, where you can see basic information and the bill’s current status at a glance.
- “Last Action” tells you whether the bill is in committee, awaiting assignment to committee, or awaiting a vote on the House or Senate floor.
- Clicking “History” will show you the bill’s cosponsors and actions on the bill so far.
- Clicking “Votes” will allow you to see if any committee or floor votes have been held on the bill, and if so, how each member voted.
- Click the “Subscribe for updates” link in the yellow box to create a free “PaLegis Notifications” account and subscribe to updates on the bill. Once your account is created, you will receive email notifications when there is any new action on any bill you follow.
If you do not know the number of the bill you want to track, you can use the Legislation Quick Search function to search for the bill by keyword or by the last name of the member who introduced the legislation. And of course, if you have any questions about the status of a bill or my position on a particular bill or issue, please contact my office, and we will be glad to assist you!
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Governor’s Budget Address
On Tuesday, Gov. Shapiro will present his budget proposal for 2025-2026 before a joint session of the House and Senate.
In last year’s Budget Address, we heard Gov. Shapiro address the need to meet our constitutional obligation to fully and fairly fund our public schools, as well as the need to invest in childcare, health care, human services, mass transit and infrastructure – all areas that support our working families while allowing Pennsylvania’s economy to grow.
Additionally, the governor made it a point to highlight some of my legislative priorities from last session, including investments in the Student Teacher Support Program and funding for menstrual hygiene products in schools, both of which saw increased funding in last year’s budget.
I will once again be in Harrisburg for the governor’s address. I’m hopeful that we’ll hear strong support for school funding, full funding of the popular Student Teacher Stipend Program, investments in human services, and a commitment to expanding our investments in renewable energy, among other priorities.
WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 4, 11:30 AM
WHERE: PA House of Representatives Floor
HOW TO WATCH: www.governor.pa.gov/live/
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If you have questions or would like to provide feedback on any legislative or state-related issue, please contact our district office at RepOtten@PaHouse.net.
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2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period NOW OPEN
The 2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period is now open and accepting application for rebates on property taxes or rent paid in 2024.
Thanks to changes we made in 2023, more people are eligible, with income limits adjusted to keep pace with Social Security cost-of-living adjustments. The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program has made it easier for seniors in Chester County to stay in their homes and afford groceries, medicine, and so much more.
The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians ages 65 and older, widows and widowers ages 50 and older, and people with disabilities age 18 and older.
Please call or stop by my office to find out if you’re eligible and get assistance applying for your rebate. We’d be glad to answer any questions and set up an appointment to help you complete your application online!
For those who prefer to file by mail, paper applications will be available in my office soon, and we will update here when they come in.
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LIHEAP Applications are Available!
The application process for the annual Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is open!
LIHEAP provides help with home heating bills so that Pennsylvanians can stay warm and safe during the winter months. Assistance is available for both renters and homeowners.
For eligibility requirements and information on how to apply visit:?dhs.pa.gov/LIHEAP.
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SEPTA Senior Key Cards and Card Renewals
If you have a SEPTA Senior Key Card that has expired or will expire within the next month, we can renew it in our district office. To renew your card before it expires, please stop by my district office, or call us to make an appointment.
My office can also process applications and take photos for new SEPTA Senior Key ID Cards, which allow seniors 65 and older to travel for free on all SEPTA Regional Rail and transit routes within Pennsylvania. Just stop by my district office and bring a form of ID with your date of birth on it, such as a PA driver’s license or non-driver ID, U.S. passport, or birth certificate. We’ll enter your information into SEPTA’s online system, take a quick photo, and then SEPTA will mail your new card to you directly.
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2-1-1 Southeastern Pennsylvania: Health and Human Services
211 SEPA is part of the national 211 Call Centers initiative that seeks to provide health and human services for everyday needs and those in crisis situations.
2-1-1 works with county governments and provider agencies to ensure important local program information is easily accessible.
Visit 211sepa.org for more information.
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Mental Health Resources: Call 9-8-8
Chester County residents experiencing mental-health-related crisis or distress can dial 9-8-8 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.?This system is designed to be a memorable and quick number that connects people in crisis to a trained mental health professional.
Chester County offers additional resources for those in crisis, including Chester County’s warm line, 1-866-846-2722, operated by Certified Peer Specialists, who are individuals in recovery with a lived experience of mental health challenges.
Chester County’s Teen Talk Line ensures seamless referral to Mobile Crisis for youth in need of immediate or higher-level support. The call line is 855-852-TEEN (8336), and the text line is 484-362-9515.
Visit the?Department of Human Services website for more information about the 988 system and other state and local mental health resources.
If you or someone you love is in crisis, please don’t give up hope, and please know that you do not need to walk this path alone. We are here and we will do whatever we can to help.
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My staff and I are here to help make state government work better for you! For assistance with the above programs or any other state-related services, please email repotten@pahouse.net, call 484-200-8259, or visit my district office in Exton.
Please don’t hesitate to call, email, or contact us through my website and let us know how we can help!
Sincerely,
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Danielle Friel Otten
State Representative,
155th Legislative District
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Pennsylvania State Capitol
34 East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 783-5009
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District Office
631 Pottstown Pike
Exton, PA 19341
(484) 200-8259
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