It was a busy week in Harrisburg, with several bills advancing out of the House and moving to the Senate for consideration, including legislation to protect the privacy and well-being of Pennsylvania's students as well as legislation that would protect patients, hospitals, and nursing homes from corporate greed. Additionally, we passed another bill that would take steps toward a long-overdue minimum wage increase for Pennsylvania workers. Read more
We’ve wrapped up another busy week, with committee meetings and House session days on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, plus graduations and end-of-school-year activities here in the district. Read more
It was a shorter week here in central Chester County following the Memorial Day holiday, but it was a busy one. We held our monthly Mobile Office at the Downingtown Library, I toured Bartram’s Garden with the Southeast Delegation in Philadelphia, and I hosted legislative town halls in East Brandywine Township and at Freedom Village in West Brandywine Township. We’re back in Harrisburg next week as budget season ramps up, and there is a committee vote scheduled for Monday on my PRESS legislation. Read more
EXTON, May 28 – State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester, will hold a community town hall from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 29, at the East Brandywine Fire Co.’s Witmer Conference Center, 2096 Bondsville Road in Downingtown, to provide legislative updates, discuss services provided by her Exton district office, and answer questions from constituents. With budget season ramping up in Harrisburg, this town hall is an opportunity for residents of the 155th Legislative District to engage directly with Otten and express their ideas and concerns. Residents of the Borough of Downingtown, East and West Brandywine townships, Uwchlan, Upper Uwchlan, and Wallace townships, and Precinct 4 of Caln Township are encouraged to attend. “An active and engaged constituency is essential to a government that works for all people, and your input and involvement help to ensure that the interests of central Chester County are well represented,” Otten said. “My upcoming town hall is an excellent opportunity to get updates on state legislative issues and ask questions about issues that matter to you. I hope to see you there!” Space is limited to the capacity of the venue, and seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees will have an opportunity to submit questions at the event, or constituents may submit questions in advance by sending an email to repotten@pahouse.net with the subject line “TOWN HALL Read more
It was great to see so many constituents at the polls on Tuesday as voters across Chester County carried out their civic duty. I’m grateful to our county election officials, poll workers, and countless volunteers in every precinct who helped the process go smoothly. Read more
The state House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee held a public hearing today at the state Capitol on legislation (H.B. 501) that would create the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard. Read more
The House returned to Harrisburg on Monday for another busy week of session. In the Education Committee, we advanced a package of bills designed to improve the teacher certification process, including legislation that would cap the certification fees future educators must pay. Read more
The House was back in session this week and it was a busy one! In the House Health Committee, we advanced my legislation regarding the use of BMI measurements in schools. On the House floor, we passed legislation which would legalize the sale of adult-use marijuana through state-run dispensaries. And we recognized our Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles! Read more
The House had a break from session this week, so I was back in the district with my team attending community meetings, getting ready for next week’s session, and preparing for our upcoming Shred Event and Food Drive this Saturday, May 3 from 1 PM – 3 PM, at the Lionville Middle School. Read more
I hope everyone is enjoying the sunny weather this week and was able to spend some time with family, friends, and loved ones over the holiday weekend. The House was back in session this week where we advanced several bills, all in a strong bipartisan manner. Read more
Exton, April 25 – State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester, and the Chester County Food Bank have partnered to host a free Paper-Only Shred Event & Food Drive from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at Lionville Middle School, 550 W Uwchlan Ave. in Exton. The shred event provides an opportunity for members of the community to safely dispose of documents containing personal information, thereby protecting them from potential identity theft. The food drive will benefit the Chester County Food Bank in their mission of fighting food insecurity and building support for neighbors in need. The two events will take place simultaneously. No donation is required to take advantage of the free shred event. “Shred events like this are a vital service for our community,” Otten said. “With tax season behind us and spring cleaning underway, constituents appreciate these opportunities to safely dispose of and recycle their financial documents and other sensitive materials. I am excited to partner with the Chester County Food Bank for this joint event to help combat identity theft, encourage recycling, and boost donations to the food bank during this challenging time when donations are needed the most.” Each car will be limited to four file-size boxes at this rain-or-shine event. Small paper clips and staples are OK, but please no binder clips, binders, cardboard, X-ray films, or photographs. Drivers are asked to remain in their Read more
UPPER UWCHLAN, April 23, 2025 – State Senator Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks) and state Rep. Danielle Friel Otten (D-Chester) today announced that $2.1 million in funding through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) has been allocated for protection efforts against forever chemicals in the drinking water supply at a well facility in Upper Uwchlan Township. The funding, approved this morning at a meeting of the PENNVEST Board of Directors, includes a $1.375 million grant and a $724,986 low-interest loan for Aqua Pennsylvania. The project was funded by the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Emerging Contaminants Grant program, which funds PFAS remediation projects through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. “Allowing permitted industries to continue the widespread use of toxic chemicals that last forever virtually guarantees that our sources of drinking water will become contaminated. That is why PENNVEST funding is so important because it helps fund projects that protect against dangerous PFOS and PFOA chemicals in drinking water supplies,” Sen. Muth said. “It must also be highlighted that if a for-profit, publicly-traded utility provider like Aqua can access $2.1 million in federal and state funding, they should make a more concerted effort to keep rates down and not continue to force repair and acquisition costs onto their ratepayers. It is my hope that funding for similar Read more
DOWNINGTOWN, PA – To help seniors apply for or renew their Free SEPTA Senior Key Cards, state Senator Carolyn Comitta and state Representative Danielle Friel Otten are hosting a sign-up event at Downingtown Borough Hall on Thursday, May 15 th from 10 a.m. to noon. “Whether going to a doctor’s appointment, visiting loved ones, or taking a day trip, the SEPTA Senior Key Card helps our residents get where they need to go,” said Comitta. “I hope to see you at our sign-up event so you can take advantage of this great program available to seniors in our community.” The SEPTA Senior Key card is available for free to all seniors aged 65 and older. With the card, seniors can ride all SEPTA buses, trolleys, subways, and regional rail lines for free within Pennsylvania. Trains to and from New Jersey and Delaware using the senior card are charged at half fare. SEPTA’s Senior Free Ride Program is funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery. “SEPTA Senior Key Cards are a lifeline for many seniors and are without a doubt one of the most popular services our district office provides,” Otten said. “Seniors rely on public transit for transportation to jobs, medical appointments, and cultural and sporting events in the city and along the Main Line. I look forward to hosting this event with Senator Comitta, and I encourage all seniors to stop by and take advantage of this valuable free service.” To apply, seniors must bring a Read more
Spring is in the air, and many families across central Chester County are excited for this week’s spring break holiday. Read more
This week, my colleagues and I returned to Harrisburg for another week of session. We passed several bills in a bipartisan manner that now move on to the Senate for consideration, including legislation that would provide a much-needed and long overdue cost-of-living adjustment for retired state and public school employees as well as legislation that would guarantee public workers the same workplace protection standards as private workers. Read more
This week I’m back in Harrisburg, and the House is officially back to its full complement of 203 members, as newly elected state Rep. Dan Goughnour of Allegheny County was sworn in at the start of yesterday’s session. Read more
Chester County Support for TEFAP and LFPA Read more
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. Read more
This week brought no shortage of new and egregious actions taken at the federal level. My office and I continue to hear from constituents, local officials, and organizations concerned about the impacts of the ongoing cuts, layoffs, and executive orders. Read more
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. Read more
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631 North Pottstown PikeExton, PA 19341
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