Dear Neighbor,

First thing this morning, our friends at the Chester County Food Bank reached out to let us know that $250,000 worth of vital food orders have been canceled by the USDA. These cancellations include essential items like proteins, eggs, and dairy products. If this trend continues, the Food Bank could face up to $1 million in canceled food orders over the next year.

Adding to the challenge, the USDA has also withdrawn $145,000 in federal Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) funding previously allocated to the Food Bank for the purchase of products from local farmers in Chester County. Despite these setbacks, the Food Bank remains steadfast in its commitment to serving our community. However, the impact of these changes is profound, and they are calling on our community for support.

I urge you to contact your federal lawmakers and advocate for the reinstatement of these critical food orders and funding. Together, we can help ensure the Food Bank has the resources it needs to continue fighting hunger and supporting Chester County.

Make no mistake: These federal cuts in no way help taxpayers. Instead, they hurt our most vulnerable community members, including working families, seniors, and those who are struggling to make ends meet as the cost of living continues to rise.

For the last 40 years, it seems that everyone has had their hands in your pockets. And far too often, the Republican solution is to put even more hands in your pockets, to appease corporate donors and fund tax breaks for billionaires. The same people who benefit year after year from lenient tax policies are the same ones picking our pockets, while fighting against programs that benefit our neighbors, our communities, and the majority of us.

This week, the U.S. Senate voted to repeal a cap on bank fees, siding with big banks over their own constituents. And the Pennsylvania Senate passed a Corporate Net Income Tax Reduction, which gives further tax relief to multi-million and multi-billion-dollar corporations that continue to see record profits and exorbitant executive salaries, bonuses, and benefits, much of which is being funded by consumers in the form of ever-increasing prices. The PA Senate bill does nothing to address the Delaware Tax Loophole, meaning that our locally owned businesses still pay a relatively high CNIT while multi-state corporations avoid paying any Pennsylvania state income tax.

Local Pennsylvania businesses and large out-of-state corporations are playing by two different sets of rules, and it’s our neighbors who pay the price, sometimes forcing them to close the doors of longstanding, locally owned and operated, family businesses. And it’s not just local neighborhood businesses who are feeling the impact, it’s all of us. When tax loopholes are given to large corporations at the state level, there are fewer resources available for vital services in our communities. As the cost of everything from energy to construction materials continues to rise, we see townships, school districts, and counties raising taxes, because as our communities grow, the big-box businesses that benefit from our shoppers are not paying their fair share to support the additional roads, bridges, emergency services, schools, human services, and waste management that come with development and growth.

Over the past six years, I have served in both Republican-led and Democratic-led legislatures, under both a Republican president and a Democrat president, and two different Governors. In that short time, we have seen a remarkable amount of change occur in both Harrisburg and Washington D.C. And right now, so much of it feels chaotic and destabilizing.

Chester County is the home of the Underground Railroad and Bayard Rustin, rooted in a Quaker tradition of peaceful nonviolent direct action fighting for civil rights, social justice, equality, and environmental stewardship. It is no surprise that in this moment in history, with the rise of authoritarian leaders, a violent insurrection, inhumane targeting of our immigrant communities and neighbors who identify as LGBTQ+ Americans, the erosion of rights for women, and the increasing power of billionaires and corporations, that this once-conservative stronghold has shifted and changed.  

Over an entire decade, the decisive majority of our neighbors have communicated that they don’t want their children to have fewer rights than they did, they understand that mass shootings are a uniquely American problem, and they understand that threats to our environment are directly correlated to our fossil-fuel-friendly energy policies. The majority also understand that the concentration of wealth in the top 1% hurts the rest of us in the 99%.

For six years, my team and I have worked hard to visit every corner of the district, provide constituent services, and listen to every person who wishes to share their opinion, regardless of their political affiliation, and each week I am greeted with an inbox full of folks with comments ranging from “you’re an idiot,” to “you’re not doing enough to push back against Trump.” And over these past six years, I have never shied away from calling it as I see it. A colleague this week introduced me to a new member and said, “if there is anything to know about Danielle, she’s going to tell you how it is. No sugarcoating it.”

I know we are living in overwhelming times right now, and there is a lot to be outraged about. As many of you know, my path to the legislature was paved as an activist because of local issues that demanded attention at the state level that I wanted to change, so I stepped up and ran for office, and I have now been sent back by my neighbors four times to continue the fight. I wanted to be the change in Harrisburg, and I still work toward that every day.

As we continue to see attacks on our fundamental freedoms and public institutions, understand that I am doing everything in my capacity as your state representative to fight for our community and our country. I understand today, more than ever, that my colleagues and I in the House Democratic caucus are the last line of defense against this oppressive federal executive branch, and the most important and impactful way that I can do my part to protect democracy and our constitution is to man my post and do my job--the one I was elected to do–in state government. And as a fellow citizen and constituent, I am actively adding my voice to yours in demanding the same of our federal elected officials, both Democrats and Republicans.  

I understand that times are tough. Grocery prices are still high. Energy bills are inching up and expected to skyrocket this summer. Housing costs are soaring. I am sympathetic as to why Pennsylvanians are outraged and asking more from their elected officials in Harrisburg, as you all should be. We all need to ask ourselves what is government currently doing to address the high cost-of-living and put more of your hard-earned money back in your pocket?

As the federal government seeks to cut tens of billions in federal funding for human service programs, veteran services, education, cancer research, healthcare, food programs, emergency response, climate research, and more, Elon Musk and his billionaire bros have not lost a single contract or a single tax credit, and you haven’t received a single penny of those federal tax dollars back in your paycheck. While Trump and Musk have their head in the clouds, dreaming about launching rockets, space travel, organizing high-stakes military operations via unsecured group chats with reporters in the room, occupying Greenland, and building casinos in Gaza, our feet are here on the ground in the grocery store, at the VA, at the pharmacy, figuring out student loans, rent, childcare, and summer camp, pinching pennies, and making sacrifices every day.

I know whose side I’m on. My fight is for my constituents, and for our shared community. We’re all in this together!  

PA House Passes Affordable Care Act Protections

While Republicans in the federal government seek to strip away access to health care coverage, House Democrats are committed to ensuring Pennsylvanians maintain access to health care services when they need it most.

This week, House Democrats advanced four bills that would protect Pennsylvanians’ access to essential health care under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. All four passed the House with unanimous Democratic support and significant bipartisan support.

Specifically, these bills would ensure that the following essential protections remain in place for Pennsylvanians despite threats to dismantle the ACA at the federal level: 

• Health Insurance Preventive Services Coverage Act: Requires health insurance policies to cover preventive health care services without cost-sharing. 

• Health Insurance Protections Against Limitations Act: Stops insurance executives from capping coverage for essential benefits. 

• Health Insurance for Young Adults Act: Makes sure parents can keep their children insured until age 26. 

• Health Insurance Access Protections Act: Protects coverage for pre-existing conditions. 

Pennsylvanians can access ACA health coverage through?Pennie, Pennsylvania’s official health insurance marketplace, where people can access high quality affordable health insurance. 

Now, these bills to save lives, help health care workers, and keep the doors open at hospitals across the commonwealth are in the hands of the State Senate – and we need YOUR help to get the bills passed and sent to the governor to become law.

Add your voice below and ask a friend or neighbor to join the fight!

Take action here! 

Upcoming Events

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.  

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. 

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. 

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, 

Danielle Friel Otten 
State Representative, 
155th Legislative District 

Pennsylvania State Capitol

34 East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 783-5009

District Office

631 Pottstown Pike
Exton, PA 19341
(484) 200-8259