Dear Neighbor,
In these last weeks before we head back into session, Team Otten has been busy working on and raising awareness of critical issues Pennsylvanians are facing, preparing for what is expected to be a challenging budget season as we face uncertainty around federally funded programs, and of course, striving to deliver excellent constituent services. With one less hour in the week due to Daylight Saving Time, our team did not miss a beat, from supporting agricultural conservation in Chester County to announcing plans to reintroduce PRESS, a major component of Governor Shapiro’s “Lightning Plan” energy proposal, in York County, visiting the southern part of the County to support Representative Sappey’s Earned Income Tax Credit proposal, and participating in a roundtable discussion at the Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce Annual Legislative Breakfast.
When we return to session next week, we’re expected to hit the ground running, continuing to advance a people-first agenda that will deliver better jobs, better schools and safer communities.
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Designating Milky Way Farm as a Century Farm
On Monday, I had the pleasure of joining Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and other Chester County legislators, in naming Milky Way Farm a “Century Farm.” This designation honors farms that have been in the same family for 100 consecutive years. The Matthews family has owned and operated the farm since 1902, although it has been a farmstead since the 1760s.
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Since it was first established in 1989, the Chester County Agricultural Land Preservation Board has preserved over 500 acres of farmland through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program and the Chester County Challenge Grant Program. Together, these two programs help guarantee our future food supply, contribute to a healthier economy, and protect the heritage of the rich agricultural history in Chester County.
Here in central Chester County, agricultural land preservation has a rich history and holds deep significance. Between 1976 and 1989, one of my predecessors in the 155th, State Representative Samuel Morris and his wife Eleanor were conservationists even before many people knew exactly what that meant. Through their advocacy, the Morrises began the land preservation movement in Chester County by donating a conservation easement for land preservation and were behind the movement to establish the Chester County Agricultural Land Preservation Board. Additionally, Rep. Morris was a driving force in the legislature behind some of our statewide conservation programs.
Read more about Sam and Eleanor Morris’ legacy of conservation here.
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State Rep. Samuel W Morris (HD-155: 1971-1978 & 1981-1990)
Since the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture started the Century Farm program in 1977 and the Bicentennial Farm program in 2004, more than 2,340 Century and Bicentennial Farms and two Tricentennial Farms have earned the distinction.
Read more about Monday’s event here.
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Introducing PRESS Legislation with Governor Shapiro
On Tuesday, I joined Governor Shapiro, members of his administration, and stakeholders from the environmental, labor, and business sectors in support of PRESS, a major component of Governor Shapiro’s Lightning Plan. Twenty years ago, Pennsylvania led the nation in forward-thinking energy policy by establishing the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards (AEPS), which successfully promoted new and innovative forms of energy generation in our Commonwealth. Now, however, Pennsylvania is falling behind in the race to keep up with rapidly increasing energy demand. With energy demand skyrocketing, the PJM capacity markets facing unprecedented price spikes, and our state sorely lagging in clean energy investments, it’s imperative that we act now.
That is where PRESS and the Governor’s Lightning Plan come in. We must harness our renewable resources and technological capabilities to secure Pennsylvania’s energy future and maintain our status as a top producer and energy exporter. PRESS has the potential to secure Pennsylvania’s place as one of the world’s top energy producers while delivering improvements in our emissions, grid reliability, and energy resilience. By enacting PRESS, we would significantly increase the amount of renewable energy supply to our grid, saving Pennsylvanians money on energy bills, creating thousands of clean energy jobs, and reducing the harmful emissions that result in air pollution and global warming.
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PRESS and the Lightning Plan are not just clean energy initiatives; they are a commitment to improve grid reliability, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, prevent exponential rate spikes, create tens of thousands of family-sustaining jobs, and protect Pennsylvania's position in the energy arena for the next 20 years.
I look forward to working with the administration, my colleagues in the General Assembly, and stakeholders in the environmental, labor, and business communities to move PRESS and the Governor’s Lightning Plan forward.
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Conversations in the Community
This morning, I joined the Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce for their annual Legislative Roundtable, where elected officials and business owners gather to discuss state and local policies that affect our local businesses and our community as a whole. My colleague Rep. Dan Williams and I fielded questions about the cost of housing, childcare, and utilities; access to healthcare in our region; road conditions and the need to prioritize work on the 30 Bypass; tax credits for working families; the challenges facing our EMS companies; and more. I look forward to this event each year, as it's a welcome opportunity to hear from the business community in the western part of our district and share some of the things we're working on in Harrisburg that directly affect our local economy and our everyday lives here at home. I'm grateful to the Chamber for hosting another great discussion.
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On Wednesday, I joined my colleague Rep. Christina Sappey in Kennett Square for a Finance Committee hearing on her legislation to enact a Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit, which would be a 30% refundable state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to help eligible working Pennsylvania households. In Chester County and across the state, a growing number of working families and individuals fall into a category the United Way of Pennsylvania refers to as "ALICE," which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. These are folks who are working, doing everything right, but still failing to afford the high cost of living. For these families, the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit will provide much-needed assistance with the costs of child care, food, transportation, clothes, and other basic household expenses. If Pennsylvania had the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit in 2023, the average eligible family would have received a tax credit of approximately $650 from the Commonwealth in 2024. I am a cosponsor of this legislation and look forward to working toward its passage in the House when we return to session.
For more about the bill and Wednesday's hearing, click here.
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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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Mobile Office at the Downingtown Library
Join us for a Mobile Office at the Downingtown Library!
Stop by to meet the staff from District Office 155! This is a great opportunity to learn about state services and to ask questions about issues that concern you.
Our staff can help you with SEPTA Key Senior ID Card sign-ups (must be age 65+/bring your ID), Unclaimed Property searches, Property Tax/Rent Rebate forms, PA Yellow Dot Program, information on Real ID and other state related services.
Stop in to say hello and find out how we can help you! We look forward to meeting you!
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Unclaimed Property Office Hours
Each year, the Pennsylvania Treasury receives hundreds of millions of dollars in unclaimed property. Unclaimed property may include checks from employers, insurers, or utility companies; dividends and interest from savings accounts and stocks; and credit balances on forgotten accounts. These items and funds go missing, often for things as simple as a misspelled name or an out-of-date address.
My office has a list of constituents in the district with property yet to be claimed, and we are working to get your rightful property back to you! The process to search & claim is simple & free and my office is here to help!
Join us the First Wednesday of the Month at our district office where my staff will help you search & claim your unclaimed property.
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Free Paper-Only Shred Event & Food Drive
Join State Representative Danielle Friel Otten and the Chester County Food Bank for a FREE Paper-Only Shred Event & Food Drive!
Bring your confidential documents to be securely destroyed and safely recycled! Each car will be limited to 4 file-size boxes. Small paper clips and staples are OK, but please no binder clips, binders, cardboard, X-ray films, or photographs (plan to take your boxes home with you).
The shredding event & food drive will take place in the parking lot of Lionville Middle School, 550 W Uwchlan Ave, Exton on Saturday, May 3 beginning at 1 PM. This event is first come, first served. When the truck is full, the shredding event will end. However, food donations will be accepted until 3 PM (check the food bank’s website for additional hours).
The food drive will benefit the Chester County Food Bank in their mission of fighting food insecurity and building support for our neighbors in need.
Most-needed food items include: cereal, canned tuna/salmon/chicken, brown rice, pasta sauce/canned tomatoes, & fruits (in juice) canned or in cups.
If you have any questions, please contact Rep. Otten’s district office at 484-200-8259 or email repotten@pahouse.net.
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Free Septa Senior Key Card Event
Did you know that seniors ride free on SEPTA with a Senior Fare Card?
To help seniors 65 and older get their initial fare card or renew an expired card, the offices of State Representative Danielle Friel Otten and Senator Carolyn Comitta have partnered for a Free Septa Senior Key Card Event at Downingtown Borough Hall on May 15.
The process to sign-up or renew your fare card is simple, fast, & free! All you need to apply is a form of ID that verifies age, such as a driver's license, state ID, social security statement, passport, etc.
Can’t make it to this event? No problem! Both Rep. Otten’s District Office in Exton and Sen. Comitta’s District Office in West Chester can process applications during normal business hours.
If you have any questions, please contact Rep. Otten’s office at 484-200-8259 or Sen. Comitta’s office at 610-692-2112.
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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 Now Available!
The application process for the annual Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is now 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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