With budget season now behind us and the House in recess until September 23, I will be back in the district meeting with constituents, attending local events, and working with my staff to prepare for a busy fall. Read more
The big news this week is that we have a budget! The House approved the state budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year by a vote of 122-80 last Thursday, July 11, and Gov. Shapiro signed the bill into law the same night. Read more
On Thursday, July 11, the House approved the Pennsylvania state budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year by a vote of 122-80 . Gov. Shapiro signed the bill into law the same night. I voted in support of this budget, which makes significant investments in public education, affordable housing and healthcare, human services, our workforce, communities, and the future of Pennsylvania – all without raising taxes. This budget is not perfect. It falls short on some of the priorities important to me and our community, but there is also a lot to like. The reality is that we have a Democratic-controlled House and a Republican-controlled Senate, and this budget reflects the compromise that was required for both sides to reach agreement. I believe that on balance, this budget contains more good than bad and will bring relief and growth to our families and communities. Here’s a deep-dive into where the budget delivers, and where I believe it falls short. Please give it a read, and contact my district office at repotten@pahouse.net or 484-200-8259 with your questions or feedback.? The headline in this year’s budget is school funding. Heading into budget season, school funding was the number one priority for me and my House colleagues, and I am happy to say that we delivered. While the budget falls short of the full amount and some of the important reforms we advocated for, it represents an enormous win for students and families across the Commonwealth, including Read more
Last Thursday, minutes after we voted on the state budget, I spoke on the House floor in opposition to Senate Bill 831 . The stated purpose of this bill is to establish a legal and regulatory framework for potential carbon dioxide capture, utilization, and sequestration (“carbon capture,” or CCUS). Carbon capture is an expensive, unproven technology that has shown no real evidence of reducing the negative environmental or public health impacts of the fossil fuel industry and conversely has the potential to do more harm. This legislation declares CCUS to be “in the public interests,” which allows for the corporate use of eminent domain to infringe upon the rights of private property owners. Under this bill, a private corporation could utilize your land for carbon sequestration, without your consent, if they can get 75% of your neighbors to agree. They could then carry out an experimental industrial practice with a history of causing earthquakes and asphyxiation on your land, injecting carbon dioxide -- the polluting byproduct of their fracked gas production -- into the ground below your property. This bill also would weaken property owners’ ability to take action against corporations for damages they cause to private property by limiting corporate accountability and liability for any negative consequences. In doing so, the bill would socialize all the risks and costs of these operations, Read more
We’re now in the first week of July, and with the June 30th state budget deadline behind us, the House is back in session, and budget negotiations are ongoing. I remain hopeful that House and Senate leaders will put forth a people-first budget that prioritizes the needs of Pennsylvanians and invests in our schools, workforce, and communities. We are scheduled to be in session for the remainder of this week and through the weekend, with a one-day break for the Fourth of July. Read more
With the June 30th budget deadline looming, House leadership has been meeting with the Governor’s office and Senate leadership all week to push for a people-first budget that prioritizes the needs of Pennsylvanians and invests in our schools, workforce, and communities. Although it is now assured that we will not have a final budget by June 30, those discussions will continue throughout the weekend, and both the House and Senate will return to Harrisburg on Monday for session to avoid any long-term delays in the state budget. Read more
With the June 30th budget deadline less than 10 days away, I wanted to take the opportunity to continue our discussion on the most pressing issue facing the General Assembly this budget season: funding our public schools. Read more
It was a busy week in Harrisburg with both the House and Senate in session, as both chambers continue to work toward budget negotiations. The House is scheduled to return to session the week of June 24, prior to the June 30th deadline. In the meantime, I will be back in the district meeting with constituents and working with my staff to prepare for the busiest time of the legislative year. Read more
EXTON, June 11 – State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester, will host a Period Products Drive through Friday, June 28, at her legislative district office, 631 N. Pottstown Pike in Exton. The drive will support local organizations in need of donations to ensure that members of the community have access to the essential menstrual hygiene supplies they need. Donations of new, unopened packages of pads and tampons can be dropped off at Otten’s district office between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the month of June. Additionally, Otten hopes to raise awareness around period poverty as the General Assembly considers legislation to address this issue. Period poverty, or the inability to afford and access necessary menstrual products, is real, and it’s affecting people throughout Pennsylvania, including here in Chester County. Across our commonwealth, one in four women and girls struggle to afford period products, directly impacting their ability to fully participate in school, the workplace and society. “Pads and tampons are not luxury items; they are necessities that every individual who menstruates needs and deserves access to,” Otten said. “When students miss class time or entire school days because of a lack access to these basic necessities, this becomes an equity issue. Period poverty isn’t just someone else’s problem – it’s happening right here in Read more
June marks the end of the school year for students across Chester County, and my team and I send our heartfelt congratulations to all of the new graduates and to everyone moving up! Best wishes especially to all the seniors graduating this month in the 155th Legislative District. I am certain that the skills and strength you have gained will help you face whatever challenges life may present. Your community is proud of you and excited to see what the future holds. Read more
The end of the school year is just around the corner, and I’m sure students (and teachers!) across the 155th Legislative District are excited for summer vacation to be here. I know the Otten kids are! Read more
While the House took a break from session this week, Team Otten was busy meeting with constituents, working on legislation, and checking out a sustainability leader right here in Southeast Pennsylvania. We return to Harrisburg next week for packed week of committee meetings and session. As we get closer to June, we have been actively preparing to advance a people-first budget that prioritizes the needs of Pennsylvanians and puts us on a path for success by investing in our schools, workforce, and communities. I will continue to keep you updated as we get closer to the June 30th budget deadline. Read more
It’s been another very busy week in Harrisburg and at home in the district, with positive and encouraging movement on some issues, as well as a couple disappointing votes. Read more
HARRISBURG, May 8 – State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester, and state Rep. Aerion Abney, D-Allegheny, today introduced legislation advancing the Shapiro administration’s Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS) and Pennsylvania Climate Emission Reduction (PACER) Program plans for Pennsylvania, respectively. The plans were first announced by Gov. Josh Shapiro in March . A companion PRESS bill was filed in the Senate by state Sen. Steven Santarsiero, D-Bucks, while state Sen. Carolyn Comitta, D-Chester, introduced the Senate version of the PACER legislation. “Right now in our commonwealth, we must take action to catch up in the race to create clean and reliable energy – to be more competitive, ensure consumers pay less for their electricity bills, and create more jobs and opportunities for our businesses to grow and our workers to get ahead,” Shapiro said. “I have made clear that any energy policy supported by my administration must meet the three-part test of protecting and creating energy jobs, taking real action to address climate change pollution, and ensuring reliable, affordable power for consumers in the long term – and my energy plan is built to do all three. Together with the support of leaders like Representative Abney and Representative Otten in the General Assembly, we’re going to ensure Pennsylvania will continue to be a national energy leader for decades to come.” Read more
The PA House was back in session this week, and we passed several bills in a bipartisan manner, including one to boost funding for minority-owned businesses in Pennsylvania. We also passed a bill that would ease the burden on our election workers and expedite the reporting of election results by allowing pre-canvassing of mail and absentee ballots up to seven days before an election. Read more
It was great to see so many constituents at the polls on Tuesday as voters across the 155th Legislative District carried out their civic duty by voting in the 2024 Primary Election. I’m grateful to our county election officials and the poll workers in every precinct who helped the process go smoothly. Read more
HARRISBURG, April 25 – State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester, today applauded the announcement of state grants awarded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to prevent and reduce gun and group-related violence in school communities across the commonwealth, including Chester County. "I commend the Downingtown Area School District, Coatesville Area School District, and all of our Chester County schools that secured grant funding that supports collaborative violence intervention strategies designed to improve school safety and security,” Otten said. “These investments in prevention, intervention and response underscore our collective commitment to creating safe learning environments for our students, faculty and staff." A full list of awards, including dollar amounts and school entities approved for funding, is available here: School Safety Awards . Nonpublic School Awards . Funds will advance the School Safety and Security Committee’s goal of ensuring that all Pennsylvania students can learn in safe, healthy school environments by helping school entities address basic safety needs and mental health services identified in the committee’s recently adopted Revised Baseline Criteria Standards . Read more
I was back in Harrisburg this week for another productive week of session, with several bills I co-sponsored advancing out of the House and moving to the Senate for consideration. The House will now take a one-week break before we head back to the Capitol on April 29. We have a busy week ahead in the 155th Legislative District, with our Free Paper-Only Shred Event & Food Drive this Saturday, April 20, and Primary Election Day on Tuesday, April 23. Let’s get into it! Read more
With the Eclipse on Monday, the House and Senate both in session, and a number of press events taking place, the Pennsylvania Capitol building was a busy place this week. It was also a successful week for Team Otten, with the passage of one bill in the House and the implementation of another program I advocated for last year. Let’s get into it! Read more
EXTON, April 11 – State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester, and the Chester County Food Bank have partnered to host a Free Paper-Only Shred Event and Food Drive from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at the Chester County Food Bank, 650 Pennsylvania Drive 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. “Shred events like this are an essential service to our community,” Otten said. “With tax season wrapping up and spring cleaning underway, we often hear from our neighbors here in the 155th Legislative District that they value these opportunities to securely dispose of and recycle their financial paperwork and other sensitive documents. I look forward to partnering with the Chester County Food Bank on this joint event to help prevent identity theft, promote sustainability, and increase donations to the food bank during a challenging time of year for food collection.” Each car will be limited to four file-size boxes at this rain or shine event. Small paper clips and staples are OK, but no binder clips, binders, or cardboard. Drivers are asked to remain in their cars and open Read more
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631 North Pottstown PikeExton, PA 19341
P*: (484) 200-8259
F*: (484) 200-8269
Hours of Operation - Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Constituent services available by email, phone, or in-person by appointment. If you need an appointment outside our regular business hours, please call us at 484-200-8259 or email repotten@pahouse.net and we will do our best to accommodate.
122 Wallace Ave.Downingtown, PA 19335-2643
Hours of Operation - Fourth Wednesday of every month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
34 East WingPO Box 202155Harrisburg, PA 17120-2155
P*: (717) 783-5009
F*: (717) 772-2943