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after finding an incapacitated student and calling for help, the House Majority Policy Committee met in Harrisburg Wednesday to discuss legislation that will focus on bolstering legal protection for good Samaritans. Read more
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RSVP is required at RepFriel@pahouse.net or by calling 610-427-8782. Read more
2025-26 Winter Newsletter Read more
Come out and join me alongside your neighbors from the Coventry area for a chance to share your ideas, ask questions, and stay informed about the issues that matter most to our community and state government. Read more
This week, Governor Josh Shapiro addressed a joint session of the Pennsylvania General Assembly to present his proposed yearlong budget for the Commonwealth. While the final budget is due by June 30, each year the process begins with the Governor’s proposal, followed by several weeks of appropriations hearings. Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 28 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today passed bipartisan legislation ( 198-1 ) to allow start-ups in the state that are not yet profitable to sell their net losses to profitable corporations in exchange for capital, announced the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Paul Friel, D-Chester. To help keep these businesses here, Friel’s bill, H.B. 1129 , would allow qualified start-ups to sell net operating losses to other companies. This approach, based on a successful New Jersey law, would turn losses into usable cash and businesses into job creators. “Start-up businesses — especially in technology and biotechnology — play a key role in creating jobs and driving innovation,” Friel said. “However, many young companies struggle to raise enough money to grow, and too often they leave Pennsylvania for states with better options.” The bill would allow the money earned from selling their net losses to be reinvested directly into growing the business, hiring workers and expanding operations in Pennsylvania. This gives start-ups a much-needed source of funding without giving up ownership, Friel said. “Supporting these companies helps build good-paying jobs and keeps Pennsylvania competitive for the future,” he added. “This bill turns tough, hard-fought days into tomorrow’s growth and helps ensure that the next generation of jobs, investment and Read more
Welcome back to my email newsletter. I hope that the holidays and turn of a new year have recharged you. The challenges we're facing and fights we are waging across the country and in Pennsylvania did not take a break and neither have I. Read more
State Rep. Tarik Khan, D–Philadelphia, joined by colleagues in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, today introduced a resolution urging Congress to withhold additional federal appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) until meaningful accountability and safety reforms are enacted.The resolution comes in the wake of the killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis in January 2026, just weeks after another U.S. citizen, Renee Nicole Good, was shot and killed during federal immigration enforcement operations in the same city. Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 22 – Four Pennsylvania House Democrats are introducing legislation to empower the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission to receive and document complaints from the public regarding civil-liberties violations by federal ICE agents and law enforcement agencies working with ICE. State Reps. Paul Friel, Greg Scott, Abigail Salisbury and Joe Hohenstein circulated a co-sponsorship memorandum today outlining their plan to protect residents and hold ICE accountable in Pennsylvania. “This is a failure of leadership at the highest level,” said Friel, D-Chester . “These raids are not making our communities safer, nor do they seem designed to accomplish that goal. The tactics employed by ICE officials are proving to be inhumane, ineffective and unconstitutional. We must hold accountable those who violate both their duty to the constitution and the rights of our community members.” The memo highlights a troubling rise in hostile and unlawful actions under the guise of “immigration enforcement,” citing examples from Minneapolis, Chicago, Los Angeles, and other cities where ICE has overstepped its authority. “The actions we’ve seen from ICE agents nationwide are traumatizing,” said Scott, D-Montgomery . “They’re horrific, and the federal administration’s refusal to acknowledge that is alarming. Residents witnessing civil-liberties violations currently have Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 21 – State Rep. Paul Friel, D-Chester, today announced that more than $1.3 million in state funding has been approved for infrastructure projects in the 26th Legislative District. “I am proud to seek state funding to help make our communities safer and healthier for all here in Chester County,” Friel said. “This funding ups the quality of life in our communities and improves walkability. Pedestrians and motorists will benefit from the road and sidewalk enhancements, and everyone will live a little better knowing that their drinking water is healthy thanks to significant infrastructure improvements." Funding from the state Multimodal Transportation Fund includes: Phoenixville Hospital Pedestrian Safety & Accessibility Improvement Project Sidewalk repairs: $350,000. Spring City Borough Hall Street Improvements Roadway and sidewalk improvements along Hall Street: $291,660. Funding from the state Small Water and Sewer Program includes: Valley Forge Sewage Authority, Snyder Avenue Sewer Extension – $305,000. Elverson Borough Municipal Authority, Saddler Sewage Pump Station No. 4 Improvements – $200,815. North Coventry Municipal Authority, Bridge 311 Sanitary Sewer Relocation Project – $165,000. North Coventry Municipal Authority, Wastewater Pumping Stations Security Fencing Project – Read more
HARRISBURG, Dec. 18 – State Rep. Paul Friel today announced that more than $1.27 million in state funding has been awarded to support critical infrastructure improvements, public safety needs and community facilities across Chester County and the 26 th Legislative District. Funding was approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority through the state’s Local Share Account program, which is supported by revenue generated from Pennsylvania gaming operations. “These investments will help strengthen our communities by improving roads and bridges, upgrading essential public facilities, and supporting emergency services,” said Friel, D-Chester. “From safer transportation routes to reliable water and sewer systems, these grants will have a real and lasting impact on residents’ quality of life.” The grants include: East Coventry Township – Ellis Woods Road Bridge Rehabilitation : $263,803 to repair a structurally deficient bridge serving as a key connection to U.S. Route 422. East Coventry Township – Municipal Building HVAC and Electrical Upgrades : $48,076 to replace the original heating and cooling system with modern, energy-efficient equipment. East Pikeland Township – Snyder Avenue Sewer Extension : $100,000 to extend public sewer service to 13 homes currently reliant on aging septic systems. North Coventry Township – Laurelwood Road Bridge Replacement : Read more
The recent cold weather and snow remind me to share my hope that everyone is ready to meet with winter again, and that those who fall on hard times can be served. Read more
The House Majority Policy Committee convened a roundtable discussion Tuesday, hosted by Rep. Paul Friel (D-Chester), to talk with housing advocates and experts about what can be done to put more Pennsylvanians in homes. Read more
HARRISBURG, Nov. 21 — State Rep. Paul Friel announced today plans to introduce a resolution in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives condemning recent threats of political violence made by President Donald Trump against Democratic elected officials and reaffirming American service members’ long-standing duty to support and defend the U.S. Constitution. The resolution is in response to recent public statements from the President of the United States that have been widely interpreted as a threat of retaliation against those representatives for stating in a video that members of the U.S. Armed Forces can and should refuse unlawful directives. Friel and 29 other state representatives invited their colleagues to join them in supporting the resolution. The co-sponsorship memo states: "We are at a critical moment in American history. “When duly elected members of Congress publicly stated that, according to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the military must only follow lawful orders, the President of the United States declared they committed sedition and deserve death. This threat, and the rhetoric of political violence and retaliation, represents a betrayal of the American People and a threat to our constitutional democracy. “Upon taking office, we each swear an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. We cannot honor the military service members who have given their last full measure of Read more
After an avoidable political stalemate, I’m pleased to report that the Pennsylvania House and Senate this week in Harrisburg agreed to a bipartisan, compromise budget for 2025-26. Read more
POTTSTOWN, Nov. 12 – After four months of stalemate in Harrisburg, state Rep. Paul Friel today announced that he voted for the newly passed 2025-26 Pennsylvania state budget, calling it a bipartisan and responsible compromise that delivers many results for Pennsylvania families. The budget was signed today by Gov. Josh Shapiro. “This budget isn’t perfect, but it moves Pennsylvania forward,” said Friel, D-Chester. “It puts students, working families and local communities first – while holding taxpayer-funded programs to a higher standard of accountability. I’m pleased to have voted for it. “We were able to increase basic education funding from the state by more than $100 million, special education by $40 million, and additional funds for facilities, mental health and school safety – without raising state taxes – helping take pressure off local property tax, saving local homeowners and renters money in their pockets. The budget also included this year's installment of $565 million for adequacy payments to underfunded schools, continuing to address the Commonwealth Court ruling, which required the commonwealth to address its education funding disparities.” Under this budget, the following school districts will all receive state funding increases above last year’s levels: Owen J. Roberts School District 3.7%. Phoenixville School District 2.9%. Spring-Ford Read more
Tomorrow begins the fifth month without a budget in Pennsylvania, and the federal government shutdown marks its first month. Read more
I am grateful for all of the people who made it out Wednesday for my town hall – co-hosted by state Rep. Joe Ciresi of Montgomery County – and then for my annual senior fair on Thursday. It was my honor to meet so many people, take your questions and help connect you with community resources. Read more
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