Otten applauds nearly $1.8 million in state funding for local sewer projects

(Dec 19, 2023)

HARRISBURG, Dec. 19 – State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester, today announced nearly $1.8 million in state grant funding has been approved for sewer upgrade projects in the 155th Legislative District she represents. “These investments are needed to maintain our sewage systems, remove pollutants and repair flooding damage,” Otten said. “As our municipalities work to meet the challenges of higher operating costs, outdated systems and a growing population, I’m grateful to see these funds going toward the necessary upgrades to improve services for local residents.” Otten advocated for the following projects under the Department of Community and Economic Development’s H2O PA and PA Small Water and Sewer programs: $1,034,688 to Upper Uwchlan Township Municipal Authority for its Milford Farms Sanitary Sewer Extension project. The project includes installing sanitary sewer line and a pump station in the township. $259,089 for Upper Uwchlan Township Municipal Authority for its Eaglepointe Wastewater Treatment Plant Conversion Project. The project includes converting a wastewater treatment plant to a pump station and adding force main in the township. $498,958 for Caln Township Municipal Authority for the installation of a sewer main along Granger Lane and Caln Meeting House Road in the township. Otten joined state Rep. Dan Williams, D-Chester, in encouraging Read more

 

Legislature expands Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit for working families

(Dec 15, 2023)

It seems that at the end of every week of session, I find myself coming back to the district and sharing with all of you what a busy week we had in Harrisburg. But when I tell you that “this week was a busy week,” I mean, “this week was a very busy and very productive week!” This week had a little bit of everything – early committee meetings, informative public hearings, heated budget negotiations, long session days, and late-night votes. Read more

 

Several Otten policy issues win big in Harrisburg this week

(Dec 15, 2023)

HARRISBURG, Dec. 15 – State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester, marked several significant legislative achievements in Harrisburg this week, with committee hearings on two of her bills, another legislative proposal signed into law, and the passage of a resolution recognizing native Pennsylvanian Taylor Swift for her recent selection as TIME magazine’s Person of the Year. Otten also applauded several of the legislature’s collective accomplishments, as the General Assembly passed tax code and fiscal code bills containing multiple provisions to support working families. On Wednesday evening, the General Assembly passed and Gov. Josh Shapiro signed into law a school code bill authorizing funding for Otten’s student-teacher stipend program, which allocates $10 million in funding to help alleviate the statewide teacher shortage by providing stipends of up to $15,000 for prospective teachers during their student teaching semester. Otten’s proposal first passed the House in June with strong bipartisan support, and her proposal language was included in the state budget. “Student teaching stipends are an essential step in both addressing our teacher shortage and supporting every aspiring educator in Pennsylvania so they can join the workforce fully prepared to teach upon graduation,” Otten said. “I am excited to see this program enacted into law so that we can provide our student teachers Read more

 

Otten, Sappey, and Comitta Statement on Downingtown Trestle Bridge

(Dec 14, 2023)

State Representative Danielle Friel Otten, state Representative Christina Sappey, and state Senator Carolyn Comitta released the following joint statement regarding immediate and ongoing efforts to secure and prevent access to the Downingtown Trestle Bridge until Chester County can take possession of the property and long-term plans for the bridge can be addressed. “Our hearts go out to the entire Downingtown community in mourning those who have lost their lives on the Trestle Bridge. We continue to work to bring together partners and agencies to permanently and effectively secure the bridge. Please know that we share the public frustration and grief at the tragic loss of young lives at this site. And we continue to do all we can to advance and facilitate steps to secure it. Previously, we worked to facilitate the transfer of the bridge from Norfolk Southern to PennDOT. As a result, Chester County is now in a position to acquire the bridge and rail line, which has been a goal for some time. For many years, the bridge was owned by Norfolk Southern and unfortunately was allowed to fall into disrepair. Upon taking ownership of the bridge, PennDOT took (and continues to take) steps to secure it and prevent potential hazards, including having earlier replaced the mesh netting and removed the boulders that were suspended over the road. Until the transfer of ownership happens, PennDOT is working to install a resilient, non-scalable fence that will Read more

 

House committee to consider Reproductive Rights Amendment

(Dec 13, 2023)

The Otten and Hanbidge bill proposes an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution that would reaffirm and protect every individual’s right of reproductive liberty with respect to personal, sexual, and reproductive healthcare decisions, including the right to choose or refuse an abortion, the right to choose or refuse contraceptives, and the right to choose or refuse fertility care, without discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or relationship status. Read more

 

Public hearings on my renewable energy and reproductive rights bills next week

(Dec 08, 2023)

On Monday at 10 AM, the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee will hold a public hearing on my legislation HB 1467 – Modernizing Pennsylvania’s Renewable Energy Standards.Raising our renewable energy targets so that more of the energy on our power grid comes from clean, renewable sources would save Pennsylvania residents, businesses, farms, nonprofits, and municipalities money on their utility bills, while creating new family-sustaining jobs and cutting emissions in the process. Read more

 

Advocating for a more resilient and reliable power grid, plus upcoming community tree lighting events!

(Dec 01, 2023)

In my role as Pennsylvania State Lead for the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL), I often have the opportunity to learn about climate and energy policy developments from all around the United States. You can read more about that inside. Also, this past weekend, we kicked off the holiday season by supporting some of the many unique and creative shops here in the district on Small Business Saturday. Read more

 

Working to increase access to affordable housing in Chester County

(Nov 22, 2023)

And just like that, we find ourselves in the midst of the holiday season. After what has been a very busy, and at times hectic, year so far, I look forward to spending some much-needed time with my family over the upcoming holiday weekend. I hope all of you are able to find some time for yourself in the next week, whether it be by turning off your phone, spending time with loved ones, or some personal meditation, and enjoy this time of being thankful for all our blessings. Read more

 

Legislative update on health, worker, student, climate, & retiree issues

(Nov 17, 2023)

We passed several good bills in the House this week, including legislation to support striking workers, to protect people who come to Pennsylvania seeking reproductive care, and to provide the first cost-of-living adjustment in more than 20 years to retired teachers and public servants. The House and Senate also sent the governor a bill requiring consent before pelvic, prostate, or rectal exams can be performed on anesthetized patients. Read more

 

Otten questions panelists in ERE hearing on hydrogen hubs  

(Nov 16, 2023)

On November 13, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee hosted a public hearing on hydrogen hubs, the role they have the potential to play in meeting the commonwealth's climate goals, and their impacts on surrounding communities. I have been closely following the issues around hydrogen development, and as co-chair of the PA Legislative Climate Caucus, I have hosted numerous briefings over the past year on hydrogen's potential as well as its climate impacts and safety concerns. Read more

 

Voters choose to protect access to reproductive healthcare, integrity of elections

(Nov 09, 2023)

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 2023 Municipal Election. I’m grateful to our county election officials and the poll workers in every precinct who helped the process go smoothly. Read more

 

Continuing the fight against fracking; make your voice heard Nov. 7

(Nov 03, 2023)

In 2015, my neighbor Mary knocked on my door to hand me a flyer informing me about a pipeline that would send highly explosive fracked gas liquids through our densely populated neighborhood, just feet from where our children play. Read more

 

Otten to oil & gas executives: What is the value of a life?

(Nov 02, 2023)

This week, the Pennsylvania House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee held a public hearing on unconventional well setbacks and legislation (H.B. 170) introduced by state Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester. Following the hearing, Otten released the following statement and video... Read more

 

Pennsylvania’s future depends on access to education

(Oct 27, 2023)

This week I had the opportunity to discuss the state of our public schools and higher education in meetings with Downingtown Area School District Superintendent Dr. Robert O’Donnell and representatives from West Chester University. Read more

 

LGBTQ+ and Black Maternal Health caucuses shine in Capitol this week

(Oct 20, 2023)

In the House we were hard at work supporting our LGBTQ+ youth in schools, protecting consumers from deceptive junk fees, bots, and speculative ticketing, and addressing maternal health disparities in our state. Heartbreaking also feels like an understatement as we witness the recent events in Israel and Gaza. Read more

 

State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten responds to Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub (MACH2) grant funding/project

(Oct 13, 2023)

HARRISBURG, Oct. 13 – State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester, today made the following statement in anticipation of President Joe Biden’s visit to Philadelphia on the heels of announcing $750 million in federal grant funding for the Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub (MACH2) for Southeastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey, and Delaware. “While MACH2 is being promoted as predominantly ‘green’ and ‘pink’ hydrogen, an internal abstract shows that ‘blue’ hydrogen from fracked gas with carbon capture is a key component of the project and will be the hub’s first product,” Friel Otten said. “Hydrogen technology is an important part of a clean-energy transition, with the potential to fuel hard-to-decarbonize sectors like steel and cement manufacturing, chemical production, long-haul transportation, and aviation. But without adequate regulation, oversight, and scrutiny, this proposal has the potential to be the latest exercise in greenwashing. “While I recognize the importance of developing this technology, our path thus far has been too reminiscent of the early days of the fracking revolution - lack of transparency, essentially no community engagement, nor a willingness to bring affected parties to the table to responsibly negotiate a regulatory framework. From a regulatory standpoint, Pennsylvania is woefully unprepared to make an investment of this magnitude while Read more

 

Fighting Breast Cancer Across the State from Harrisburg

(Oct 09, 2023)

It was a busy week in Harrisburg this week, with committee meetings, floor votes and debate, Climate Week briefings, and multiple other events at the Capitol. Read more

 

Raising awareness around food insecurity

(Sep 29, 2023)

The House was back in session this week for the first time since July. While it was just a short two-day session week, I was busy with meetings for the Human Services, Environmental Resources & Energy, and Health committees, as well as with House session. Read more

 

Climate Week in Pennsylvania is Oct. 1-7

(Sep 29, 2023)

HARRISBURG, Sept. 29 – October 1-7, 2023, is Climate Week in Pennsylvania, and the bicameral Pennsylvania Legislative Climate Caucus today announced a schedule of events taking place during the week, as well as information about resources and legislation related to climate action in Pennsylvania and throughout the United States. This year’s Climate Week theme, “Empower Local Climate Action,” reflects the importance of addressing the costs and effects of the climate crisis in rural, urban, and suburban communities across the commonwealth. Climate Caucus members in the House and Senate have introduced more than 50 pieces of climate-related legislation this session, including several bills that would empower and support climate action at the residential, municipal, and regional level. Climate Caucus co-chairs state Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester, and state Sen. Carolyn Comitta, D-Chester, shared their thoughts on the importance of empowering local climate action and the work that the Climate Caucus is doing during Climate Week and every week. “The impacts of the climate crisis are felt first and foremost at the local level, as municipalities struggle to cope with the costs and challenges associated with stormwater, flooding, extreme weather events, and excessive heat,” Otten said. “We as state legislators have a responsibility to do everything in our power to support local communities and Read more

 

House returns to Democratic majority; DEP Public Meeting and Hearing Update

(Sep 22, 2023)

On Tuesday, all eyes in the legislature were once again on Allegheny County as a special election was held to fill the House seat vacated by former State Representative Sara Innamorato. Her resignation from the House in July left the House at 101-101, and Tuesday’s election results would bring the House back to full its complement. Read more

 

Otten applauds nearly $1.8 million in state funding for local sewer projects
Dec 19, 2023

Legislature expands Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit for working families
Dec 15, 2023

Several Otten policy issues win big in Harrisburg this week
Dec 15, 2023

Otten, Sappey, and Comitta Statement on Downingtown Trestle Bridge
Dec 14, 2023

House committee to consider Reproductive Rights Amendment
Dec 13, 2023

Public hearings on my renewable energy and reproductive rights bills next week
Dec 08, 2023

Advocating for a more resilient and reliable power grid, plus upcoming community tree lighting events!
Dec 01, 2023

Working to increase access to affordable housing in Chester County
Nov 22, 2023

Legislative update on health, worker, student, climate, & retiree issues
Nov 17, 2023

Otten questions panelists in ERE hearing on hydrogen hubs  
Nov 16, 2023

Voters choose to protect access to reproductive healthcare, integrity of elections
Nov 09, 2023

Continuing the fight against fracking; make your voice heard Nov. 7
Nov 03, 2023

Otten to oil & gas executives: What is the value of a life?
Nov 02, 2023

Pennsylvania’s future depends on access to education
Oct 27, 2023

LGBTQ+ and Black Maternal Health caucuses shine in Capitol this week
Oct 20, 2023

State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten responds to Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub (MACH2) grant funding/project
Oct 13, 2023

Fighting Breast Cancer Across the State from Harrisburg
Oct 09, 2023

Raising awareness around food insecurity
Sep 29, 2023

Climate Week in Pennsylvania is Oct. 1-7
Sep 29, 2023

House returns to Democratic majority; DEP Public Meeting and Hearing Update
Sep 22, 2023