District Deliberations: March 2025 Edition

Rep. Chris Pielli March 31, 2025 | 12:10 PM

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Hi Folks,

We hope this March edition of District Deliberations finds you all doing well. March, coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb, has come to us once again breaking through the winter blues. To many, March signifies new beginnings as the advent of Spring blooms into our lives. For me, it has always reminded me of family. There are nearly 39 million Americans of Irish Descent of which I proudly count myself. As the grandson of two maternal Irish immigrants from County Kerry, I take great pride in being a member of the PA House Irish American Caucus and want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made this St. Patrick’s Day a time of pride, reflection, and inclusion. Because on St. Patrick’s Day, everyone is Irish.

March is also Women’s History Month, and our office has spent this month celebrating, reflecting, learning, and educating our constituents about the great accomplishments of women right here in our community. Please see below for more information on this month’s hometown heroes.

Like last month, we are in the thralls of proposed federal funding cuts to our education, to our healthcare, and even to our Veterans. There is a lot of apprehension, anger, and fear because of the rapid nature of the proposed cuts and the uncertainty it brings, not only for our State budget but for many folks' financial security. Although I am not a federal elected official, I have chosen to fight whenever, however, and wherever I can to protect what you as taxpayers have paid taxes into for your entire adult lives. This month, my colleagues and I made an historic vote to protect your healthcare should DOGE cuts to the ACA be successful. Important benefits under the ACA will be protected, such as covering your child up to the age of 26, no Insurance refusals because of pre-existing conditions, and more. I’m happy to report it passed in the House with some bi-partisan support and is now in the hands of our State Senate. I urge all of you to reach out to your State Senators to urge them to do the right thing and pass these important bills.

In the meantime, in keeping with Women’s History Month, this issue of District Deliberations features future history makers: hometown heroes Hope Rice – Author of “The Worry Shark”: An inspiring children’s book about coping with anxiety; and the Chester County Fund for Women and Girls, a local organization that, through philanthropy and advocacy, can give the women and girls in our community the opportunity to thrive and succeed. These bright, young women are truly inspirational and give me hope that our future is in good hands!

This issue also features my recent legislation highlights, stepping up support with rallies for our Students’ and our Veterans’ funding, my legislative fellowship teaching opportunity at West Chester University, Open enrollment deadline for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), tax filing help, and of course the wise whelps of wisdom from our official mascot, Penny the Pup.

Folks, as always, we are thankful for the opportunity to serve you and look forward to any questions or concerns you may have. We wish you, your families, and friends a safe, healthy and pleasant Spring. Until our next issue, Stay Well, Stay Safe, and Stay Strong.

PA Representative Christopher Pielli's signature image

Chris Pielli
Pennsylvania State Representative House District 156

Fighting to Protect Your Right to Healthcare

I voted to make sure your right to health care is safe and stays between you and your doctor – nobody else. The Affordable Care Act has saved lives, protected people, and grown our economy here in West Chester. Sadly, the ACA is under constant attack in Washington and here at home.

I am proud to have voted for the four bills we passed in the House this week and will continue to fight for the protection of Healthcare for all our Pennsylvania residents. Now it is up to the Senate to step up and do the right thing and pass these bills:

H.B. 404: Would allow young adults to stay on their parents' health insurance until they turn 26.
H.B. 618: Will ensure coverage cannot be denied or premiums increased for pre-existing conditions.
H.B. 535: Would remove annual or lifetime caps on essential health services, including emergency care, maternity care, and mental health services.
H.B. 755: Would protect access to preventive health care, such as cancer screenings, without the burden of costly co-pays or deductibles.

HB 355 Advances out of Committee

I am proud to announce that my legislation, H.B. 355, has been unanimously approved by the state House Judiciary Committee. H.B. 355 would provide a sentencing enhancement for courts to consider in sexual assault cases where the defendant is a mandated reporter.

We tell our children not to trust strangers. We tell our children what they should do when a stranger approaches them. But we also tell our children that you CAN trust your teacher. You CAN trust a police officer. How can we allow those who break that sacred trust to those they’re supposed to serve, to their community, continue to benefit from institutional leniencies they do not deserve? This legislation, as amended, allowing for sentencing enhancements for a person in a position of authority is a step in the right direction.

I want to thank all those who have come out in support of this legislation, including Chairman Tim Briggs and staff. I want to thank my co-prime sponsor and author of this bill in the last session, state Representative Joe D’Orsie, R-York, for all his help with this bill. It was his commitment, his caring, and his perseverance that enabled this bill to go forward. And finally, I’d like to thank Grace, the brave young woman who had the courage to come forward and share her story with Rep. D’Orsie and myself, and in turn put a face of strength and resilience to all those victims who had to endure such injustice.

Hometown Heroes - Hope Rice and Chester County Fund for Women and Girls

This March, our Hometown Heroes are bright, young author; Hope Rice, and the Chester County Fund for Women and Girls.

Hope Rice – Author of “The Worry Shark”: Inspiring Children’s Book about Coping with Anxiety

Our Hometown Hero for March is Hope Rice, ten-year-old author and mental health advocate. Drawing from her own experiences with anxiety, Hope wrote “The Worry Shark,” a book that she hopes will help other children manage their anxiety using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques learned from her mother, a mental health professional and advocate.

I was honored to meet Hope and her wonderful family this month and present her with a formal Citation from the House of Representatives in recognition of her courage and creativity in calling attention to vital discussions about mental health in our community. I have no doubt that “The Worry Shark” will continue to accomplish Hope's mission to help readers manage and talk about their anxiety in productive, compassionate ways.

The Chester County Fund for Women and Girls

Our second Hometown Hero this month is The Chester County Fund for Women and Girls, a local organization that, through philanthropy and advocacy, can give the women and girls in our community the opportunity to thrive and succeed. I had the honor of speaking to their members this month at their annual Advocacy in Action Summit, where we discussed important issues like equal pay, early voting initiatives, healthcare, voter registration for 16-year-olds and up for School Board elections, SANE nursing support, and more. I was truly impressed with the presentations, discussions, and passion of these bright, young future leaders in our community. Thank you again to the members of the Fund for allowing me the chance to talk with you – and thank you for all that you do for the Women and Girls of Chester County!

Rally Highlights - Our Children's Education and Our Veteran's Care

This month, I attended and spoke at two rallies in support of causes that are extremely important to all Pennsylvanians.

Rally to Protect Our Education Funding

This month I was proud to join students, faculty, and staff at the West Chester University Rally to protect our education funding. Our most precious resource and our future is our children. Confucius once said: “If your plan is for one year, plant rice. If your plan is for ten years, plant trees. If your plan is for one hundred years, educate your children.” An investment in their education is an investment in our great nation. Pennsylvania receives approximately 14% of its education funding from the federal government. Proposed cuts to the Department of Education would have drastic effects on critical programs and support that our schools desperately need. For most school districts, federal funding cuts will directly lead to a rise in local school taxes to make up the difference. Let’s be clear. These proposed cuts to federal education funding, to help fund tax breaks for billionaires, will hurt every working student and family throughout this Commonwealth, now and in the future. I will continue fighting for our students any way I can.

Fighting for Veterans Benefits

This month I stood in solidarity with my fellow Veterans and those who truly support them. Special thanks to Reps Dan Williams, Kristine Howard, and Paul Friel, Retired U.S. Marine Capt. Deb Ciamacca, retired U.S. Navy Veteran and Active Army Reservist Chris Smith, and my good friend, Army Veteran Chris Kowerdovich for lending their support. Recently DOGE proposed cutting over eighty thousand jobs in the Department of Veterans Affairs. One-third of those who will be laid off are veterans themselves.

Right now, veterans are waiting an average of six to nine months for VA claims decisions. That’s too long. But with these proposed job cuts, these wait times will increase to nearly a year or more. That’s unacceptable and that’s dangerous. Ask yourself, Do DOGE bigwigs that came up with these ridiculous cuts wait a year for healthcare? So far, 2400 workers in the VA have been laid off, disrupting supply chains and backlogging medication requests by a full week. And that’s just 3% of the staff they plan to fire. Locally, our Coatesville VA employs nearly 1,200 dedicated employees, many of whom are Veterans. Last year they served nearly 18,000 fellow Veterans. Will we still have a VA in Chester County? Where will our Vets go for care? Those who served and sacrificed deserve so much better. Bottom line, I will not support funding cuts to my fellow veterans for tax breaks for billionaires.

Legislation Highlights

We had a busy session this month in the PA House of Representatives. My colleagues and I are working hard to improve the lives of ALL Pennsylvanians. In addition to our package protecting Pennsylvanians’ healthcare, a particular focus of mine this month was supporting veterans & our military families, protecting our children against predators in a position of authority, and protecting our environment.

Here are some of the legislative highlights from March:

?ADVANCED my House Bill 355, which increases the penalties for child abuse perpetrated by a person of authority. I introduced this bill with Republican representative Joe D’Orsie.
?ADVANCED my House Bill 441, which protects endangered insects and pollinators that our vital to our environmental health and upholds our constitutional right to the preservation of natural, scenic, historic, and aesthetic values of the environment. It was approved by the state House Environmental and Natural Resources Protection Committee.
?ADVANCED my House Bill 491 which protects military children and their families through concurrent jurisdiction. It was approved unanimously by the state House Judiciary Committee.
?Voted YES on House Bill 865, which ensures continuity of the Military Family Education Program.
?Voted YES on Senate Bill 173, which grants veteran status to any Pennsylvanian who is both a Vietnam War

veteran of the Korean Armed Forces and a duly naturalized citizen of the United States.

?Voted YES on House Resolution 89, which recognizes March 29, 2025, as "National Vietnam War Veterans Day" in Pennsylvania.
?Voted YES on House Resolution 122 which recognized the week of March 17-21, 2025 as "Flood Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

WCU Legislative Fellowship

It’s an honor to serve as Legislative Fellow for West Chester University starting this Spring semester for a 2-year term. I look forward to working with Professor John Kennedy's class to share my experiences as a State Representative and help teach students about the importance of Pennsylvania Politics and Government.

In turn, I look forward to learning from the students, our future leaders, about their concerns and needs as we face an uncertain political landscape now and in the future. Most importantly, this legislative fellowship opportunity allows me to help support the rights of students to quality, affordable higher education across the Commonwealth.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is Still Open

LIHEAP remains open and accepting applications!

The deadline to apply was recently extended and is now Friday, April 18, 2025.

A LIHEAP cash grant helps pay your heating bill. You can receive from $200 to $1,000 based on your household size, income, and fuel type.

The cash grant is a one-time payment -- it's yours until the grant money runs out. The grant will be sent directly to your utility provider or fuel company to be credited on your bill.

Learn more and apply here: Apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Please feel free to contact my district office staff for assistance with applying for LIHEAP or other state benefits like SNAP, Medical Assistance, etc.

Q: What is a REAL ID required for? -- Can your office help me obtain one?

A: You can only obtain a Real ID at a DMV. However, our office staff can help you navigate the process, what documents you need, and how to get these documents.

The Real ID requirement goes into effect on May 7, 2025. Real ID will be required to board a domestic flight and to enter a military base or certain federal facilities. -- However, it will NOT be required for most day-to-day activities, such as driving, voting, entering post offices and courthouses, or applying for federal benefits.

I recommend that you apply at a DMV that is also a "REAL ID Center” location -- which has full capacity to process and issue the card to you on the spot. If you choose to apply at a regular DMV location (i.e., not a REAL ID Center), you’ll need to wait up to 2 weeks or longer for the REAL ID card to be mailed to you.

Our closest REAL ID Center is at 143 South Gulph Road, King of Prussia.

Click link below for hours and locations of REAL ID Centers:

REAL ID Center Locations | Driver and Vehicle Services | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

To apply, you will need to show (1) your social security card, (2) either a birth certificate or a valid passport, and (3) two (2) documents proving your PA residency (driver's license, vehicle registration, bank statements, etc.). If applicable, you will also need to show proof of any and all legal name changes.

For a list of acceptable documents, click here: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dmv/driver-services/real-id.html

If you have any questions or need any further information, please contact our office and my staff can help!