Climate Caucus members call on the legislature to act during Climate Action Week

(Sep 20, 2022)

HARRISBURG, Sept. 20 – State Reps. Rick Krajewski, D-Phila., and Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester, and state Sen. Carolyn Comitta, D-West Chester, led a Climate Caucus news conference celebrating Climate Action Week Tuesday in the Pennsylvania Capitol Rotunda. “One of the biggest issues facing Pennsylvania is that our polluters are not held accountable for their actions and the effects they have on public health,” Krajewski said. “We have an underfunded and under-resourced DEP that has had to make significant staffing cuts, whilst the fracking industry the DEP is tasked to regulate has flourished with the aid of technology. This has become a growing problem that demands concrete actions and I believe H.B.1467 is a step in that direction.” “Every day in the news, we see stories that should serve as red-flag warnings about the very real and present impacts of climate change,” Otten said. “Seeing the devastation in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Fiona; the growing threats throughout the United States from historic droughts, fires and floods; and the communities that are too often impacted first and hit the hardest by the economic and public health effects of climate change, we need to expand the conversation and the scope of what climate action means. During Climate Week, we’re lifting up the dozens of bills and solutions proposed by Climate Caucus members that would help Pennsylvania advance environmental justice, hold Read more

 

WEEKLY E-BLAST (Sept. 16): We’re back in session in Harrisburg

(Sep 16, 2022)

The House returned to session this week for the first time since July. Throughout the session, you can check the “How I Voted” section of my website for information about the bills that have come before the House, how I’ve voted on those bills, and why I voted the way I did. Read more

 

WEEKLY E-BLAST (Sept. 9): $218K in Conservation Grants Awarded to our Community!

(Sep 09, 2022)

While summer may be coming to end, I am excited to get back to Harrisburg next week for what is expected to be a busy session week. Read more

 

Otten announces $218K in outdoor recreation grants

(Sep 07, 2022)

EXTON, Sept. 7 – State Rep. Danielle Friel-Otten, D-Chester, today announced that two projects in her district received grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources that will create new recreational opportunities, conserve natural resources and help with revitalization efforts. Funding has been distributed as follows: Natural Lands Trust: $93,000 for the further development of Bryn Coed Preserve to construct a pedestrian walkway, observation area, parking area and stormwater management measures, ADA access, landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements. West Vincent Township: $125,000 toward the acquisition of approximately 2.5 acres in West Vincent Township for access to the French Creek for fishing and recreation. "Public parks and protected open spaces help us build resilient communities and improve our public health and quality of life," said Otten, who serves as House chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Climate Caucus. "The preservation of natural lands and environmental conservation are at the forefront of the work we do. By making Bryn Coed Preserve and the French Creek more accessible, we can help to ensure that all members of our community are able to enjoy the beauty of Chester County. I am grateful to DCNR for this investment in conservation and recreation which will allow more residents to benefit from some of Chester County’s most beautiful Read more

 

WEEKLY E-BLAST (Sept. 2): Voting to protect and preserve Pennsylvania's environment

(Sep 02, 2022)

Earlier this week, Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania released their annual Legislative Scorecard for 2021-22. Read more

 

WEEKLY E-BLAST (August 29): Back to School in Chester County!

(Aug 30, 2022)

The weather still says summertime, but this week means Back to School for most Chester County K-12 students. Read more

 

GRANT MEMO: Youth Agriculture, Urban Agriculture, and Watershed Cooperative Funding Opportunities

(Aug 30, 2022)

STATE PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture: ?Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant Program (Funding Source: General Fund) Who May Apply : An individual, partnership, association, firm, corporation, cooperatives or any other legal entity. Use : To support projects that grow agricultural infrastructure in urban food deserts to improve access to fresh, local food and provide opportunities for hands-on learning, community-building, and for people to become social entrepreneurs. Community gardens are eligible projects. Funds : $2,500 micro grants or up to $50,000 for collaboration grants. Application Deadline : September 16, 2022 More Information : Click on https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Funding/Farmbill/Pages/Urban-Ag-Grant.aspx . Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture: ?Very Small Meat and Poultry Processor Reimbursement Grant Program (Funding Source: Federal Funding) Who May Apply : An individual, partnership, association, firm, corporation or any other legal entity. Use : To support the development and expansion of current or future very small meat and poultry processing operations. Funds : Grants are limited to no more than $100,000 per applicant. Application Deadline : September 26, 2022 More Information : Click on https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Funding/Farmbill/Pages/Very-Small-Meat-Processor-Grant.aspx . Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture: ?Agriculture and Youth Grant Program Read more

 

Rep. Otten's summer 2022 print newsletter

(Aug 22, 2022)

Print newsletter featuring updates regarding the Mariner East pipeline, this year's state budget and access to reproductive health care, Read more

 

WEEKLY E-BLAST (August 19): Rundown on the federal Inflation Reduction Act

(Aug 19, 2022)

On Tuesday, President Biden signed into law The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a comprehensive climate, healthcare, and economic package. Read more

 

WEEKLY E-BLAST (August 12): Sunoco/Energy Transfer Convicted of Criminal Charges

(Aug 12, 2022)

On August 5, Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced that Energy Transfer subsidiaries Sunoco Pipeline L.P and ETC Northeast Pipeline LLC pleaded no contest to criminal charges related to their conduct during construction of their Mariner East 2 and Revolution pipelines, and they have therefore been convicted of these environmental crimes. Read more

 

WEEKLY E-BLAST (August 5): Updates on committee actions and Marsh Creek cleanup

(Aug 05, 2022)

On Tuesday, the House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee voted on a resolution to disapprove a proposed environmental regulation limiting the emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Read more

 

Sunoco fails to meet July 1 cleanup deadline at Marsh Creek State Park

(Aug 03, 2022)

EXTON, Aug. 2 — Nearly two years since Sunoco Pipeline L.P. spilled drilling mud into Marsh Creek Lake and its tributaries, and more than one month past the company’s agreed-upon remediation and restoration deadline, state Senator Katie Muth, D-Chester, Berks, Montgomery, and state Representative Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester, commented on the operator’s failure to meets its commitments, as cleanup efforts continue near Marsh Creek State Park. August 10 marks the two-year anniversary of the spill, which sent more than 20,000 gallons of drilling mud into streams, wetlands, and the lake during construction of Sunoco’s Mariner East II pipeline. A Consent Order and Agreement signed in December between the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Sunoco Pipeline L.P., a subsidiary of Energy Transfer, required Sunoco to complete dredging, remove the dredged material to an approved disposal facility, and restore the access and staging areas on or before July 1, 2022. In documents submitted to DEP on June 23 and July 7, Sunoco attributed its failure to meet the agreed-upon schedule to a number of factors, including weather, the presence of an unexpected amount of debris in the lakebed, and repeated significant equipment failures, including the July 1 failure of a containment bag at the sediment dewatering site. The biggest delay was attributed to the company’s discovery of two Read more

 

WEEKLY E-BLAST (July 29): New state resources allocated in this year's budget

(Jul 29, 2022)

Last month, just shortly after Governor Wolf signed the budget, House and Senate Republican leaders were working hard behind the scenes to advance SB 106, an omnibus bill containing five different proposed constitutional amendments. Read more

 

WEEKLY E-BLAST (July 22): Legislative Updates from Harrisburg

(Jul 22, 2022)

With news about the state budget taking center stage the past few weeks, there are some other important updates from Harrisburg that you may have missed. Here’s a quick roundup... Read more

 

WEEKLY EBLAST (July 15): PA budget is good start, but improvements still needed

(Jul 15, 2022)

As we are celebrating so much that we fought for in this year’s budget, there are areas where we need to keep pushing. Read more

 

Rep. Otten’s Budget Statement

(Jul 11, 2022)

Last week, the General Assembly approved, and Governor Wolf signed, a $45.2 billion budget. This deal comes a week after the deadline to pass a balanced budget. While no budget is perfect, this year’s plan makes meaningful investments in child care, mental health (both K-12 and adult), long term care, and support for individuals with disabilities and the workers who provide their care. For these reasons and others, I voted YES. I wanted to provide an overview of the budget broken down by some of the key issues in our legislative district based on feedback we’ve received from constituents. Investments in Education: This year’s budget makes historic investments in public education, with an increase of $850 million for basic and special education. This funding increase includes a $525 million bump to basic education, $100 million increase for special education, and adds $100 million to the state’s school safety and security grant program as well as a new school mental health initiative. These historic investments will directly impact our communities with Chester County schools receiving $15.9 million in additional funding. As part of this increase, the Downingtown Area School District will receive an additional $1.8 million, an 8.4% increase over last year, and the Coatesville Area School District will receive an additional $4.5 million, a 13.6% increase over last year. My Democratic colleagues and I fought hard for this Read more

 

WEEKLY E-BLAST (July 1): Pennsylvania's Budget is Officially Past Due

(Jul 01, 2022)

Budget season continues, and I am headed back to Harrisburg today to keep fighting for a final budget that both helps Pennsylvanians who are struggling right now and makes crucial investments in the future of our commonwealth. Read more

 

WEEKLY E-BLAST (June 24): Budget talks stall as session was cut short this week

(Jun 24, 2022)

With the budget deadline looming, legislators headed to Harrisburg on Monday for the first of five scheduled session days this week, expecting to finally hear some of the details of the budget negotiations. Read more

 

WEELKY E-BLAST (June 16): Pennsylvanians are feeling the pinch

(Jun 16, 2022)

We were back in Harrisburg for session this week, and while we passed some good legislation, including a bill to improve mental health curriculum in our schools, we still failed to address many of the biggest issues facing Pennsylvanians. Read more

 

WEEKLY E-BLAST (June 10): It’s time to reform the rules and fix Harrisburg

(Jun 10, 2022)

This week, the House was scheduled to be in session for three days. Read more

 

Climate Caucus members call on the legislature to act during Climate Action Week
Sep 20, 2022

WEEKLY E-BLAST (Sept. 16): We’re back in session in Harrisburg
Sep 16, 2022

WEEKLY E-BLAST (Sept. 9): $218K in Conservation Grants Awarded to our Community!
Sep 09, 2022

Otten announces $218K in outdoor recreation grants
Sep 07, 2022

WEEKLY E-BLAST (Sept. 2): Voting to protect and preserve Pennsylvania's environment
Sep 02, 2022

WEEKLY E-BLAST (August 29): Back to School in Chester County!
Aug 30, 2022

GRANT MEMO: Youth Agriculture, Urban Agriculture, and Watershed Cooperative Funding Opportunities
Aug 30, 2022

Rep. Otten's summer 2022 print newsletter
Aug 22, 2022

WEEKLY E-BLAST (August 19): Rundown on the federal Inflation Reduction Act
Aug 19, 2022

WEEKLY E-BLAST (August 12): Sunoco/Energy Transfer Convicted of Criminal Charges
Aug 12, 2022

WEEKLY E-BLAST (August 5): Updates on committee actions and Marsh Creek cleanup
Aug 05, 2022

Sunoco fails to meet July 1 cleanup deadline at Marsh Creek State Park
Aug 03, 2022

WEEKLY E-BLAST (July 29): New state resources allocated in this year's budget
Jul 29, 2022

WEEKLY E-BLAST (July 22): Legislative Updates from Harrisburg
Jul 22, 2022

WEEKLY EBLAST (July 15): PA budget is good start, but improvements still needed
Jul 15, 2022

Rep. Otten’s Budget Statement
Jul 11, 2022

WEEKLY E-BLAST (July 1): Pennsylvania's Budget is Officially Past Due
Jul 01, 2022

WEEKLY E-BLAST (June 24): Budget talks stall as session was cut short this week
Jun 24, 2022

WEELKY E-BLAST (June 16): Pennsylvanians are feeling the pinch
Jun 16, 2022

WEEKLY E-BLAST (June 10): It’s time to reform the rules and fix Harrisburg
Jun 10, 2022