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Dear Neighbor,
Today we recognize the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. If you ask anyone who was alive then, I am sure they can tell you where they were, who they were with, and what they were doing when they learned of the tragic events unfolding. The memories of that morning remain vivid for so many of us, not only because of the shock and fear we felt, but because of how quickly our lives and our country changed.
I remember it clearly. I was just fresh out of college, beginning my career in sales at the Philadelphia Inquirer, and Iron Hill Brewery opened its doors early that day so people could watch the news. I remember the young mother who walked in off the street, cradling her baby, panicked, trying to locate her husband who had boarded a train to New York City that morning. Today, that little baby is just a little older than I was that day. I remember the fear, the worrying, the tears. And I remember the sense of community that formed as we all came together to support one another in a time of national crisis.
Thankfully, this young mother’s husband was alive and safe, but for too many that day, their calls to loved ones went unanswered, and their lives were forever changed. Families were shattered. First responders ran toward danger without hesitation. Ordinary people became heroes in the span of minutes. The weight of that day still sits with us, even 25 years later.
Now, a quarter century on, we have an entire generation of children and young adults who were not alive on that day. Their understanding of September 11 comes from documentaries, classroom lessons, and secondhand accounts. For those of us who remember that day, we have a responsibility to educate the next generation and keep the memory of those lives lost alive. We need to teach them what the world looked like before, and how much it has changed in the years since. We have seen wars, we have seen lives lost in the pursuit of freedom, and we have seen deep divisions among Americans. We have also seen resilience, courage, and a deep commitment to service.
Twenty‑five years later, it is up to all of us to remember that there is more that unites us than divides us. It is our duty to honor the lives we lost by continuing to tell their stories and by reminding future generations of the strength we found in one another during one of the darkest moments in our history. On this Patriot Day, I remain committed to honoring their memory, thankful for our first responders and military service members, and mindful of the responsibility we all share to carry forward the lessons of that day. Together, we will never forget. |
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Joining Lionville Middle School on 9/11
This morning, I joined Downingtown Area School District officials, students, teachers, and local law enforcement, firefighters, and EMS first responders at Lionville Middle School for their annual September 11 remembrance ceremony. Every year, beginning at 8:46 AM, the time the first World Trade Center tower was struck, the school community gathers to honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001. It is a tradition rooted in respect, reflection, and a commitment to ensuring that future generations understand the weight of that day.
We heard from LMS principal Dr. Ross and from students in the Patriot Club, who spoke with a level of thoughtfulness and maturity that was truly moving. We held a moment of silence as students placed a memorial wreath, and we watched as a large American flag was draped over the front of the building. The flag will remain in place until 9:11 PM, serving as a powerful visual reminder throughout the day of the nearly three thousand lives lost and the countless families forever changed.
Standing with the students and staff of Lionville Middle School, I was reminded of how important it is to teach the next generation not only about the events of September 11, but about the unity, courage, and compassion that followed. Their ceremony reflects a deep understanding that remembrance is not passive. It is an active commitment to honoring those we lost and to carrying forward the lessons of that day.
You can watch a recap of today’s ceremony here.
Remembering Flight 93
In 2019, while serving on the House Tourism, Recreation, and Economic Development Committee, I had the opportunity to visit the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville. It is a place that stays with you long after you leave. At the time, I said that it was one of the most powerful and beautifully designed memorials I had ever experienced, and that remains true today. Standing on that ground, looking out over the field where forty passengers and crew members made the ultimate sacrifice, was a deeply emotional and humbling moment.
Flight 93 holds a unique place in Pennsylvania’s story. On September 11, 2001, the people on board made a collective decision to fight back against the terrorists who had taken control of their plane. Their courage prevented further loss of life in our nation’s capital and changed the course of that tragic day. The memorial honors their bravery, their unity, and the extraordinary strength they showed in the face of unimaginable danger.
When I visited in 2019, the final major piece of the memorial, the Tower of Voices, was still under construction. It was completed the following year and is now open to the public. The tower stands 93 feet tall and holds forty wind chimes, one for each passenger and crew member. The design allows the wind to create a continuous, living sound that symbolizes their voices. It is meant to serve as a lasting reminder of their heroism, a place where visitors can pause, listen, and reflect on the courage that defined their final moments.
Returning to this anniversary, I find myself thinking about that visit and about how important it is to preserve these stories. The Flight 93 National Memorial is not only a place of remembrance, but a place of teaching. It reminds us that even in the darkest moments, ordinary people can rise to extraordinary acts of bravery. It reminds us that courage and unity can shape history. And it reminds us that we have a responsibility to carry their memory forward. |
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America250PA Legislative Session at Congress Hall
On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania House convened for a historic meeting in Philadelphia’s Congress Hall to commemorate the nation’s anniversary. I grew up visiting Independence Hall and the surrounding historic sites on school field trips, and being back there as an adult serving as a state representative felt like a full circle moment. It was a distinct honor and privilege to stand in the room where so much of our nation’s story began.
The men who gathered in that room 250 years ago had many disagreements, but they shared a foundational belief in self-determination. They believed in a theory that a nation could be governed for the people and by the people, and we did not need a king. They met in that room to discuss what they agreed on and debate what they disagreed on. It was there that the ideals of self-determination, liberty and freedom from tyranny took shape.
Following the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin famously described our government as, “A republic, if you can keep it.” Two hundred and fifty years later, our democratic republic has been tested by forces outside our borders, challenged by actors within our own government, and strengthened by tremendous efforts by regular people to move us toward a more perfect union. But the great American experiment was just that, an experiment, and it continues to evolve. It is important to recognize who was missing from that room: Indigenous people, women, Black Americans, and so many others whose stories were written out of the earliest chapters of our history, and whose voices were excluded from decisions about our democracy, even as their labor and their stewardship of this land helped to build the very foundations of our nation.
The work was not finished in 1776, and it is not finished today. Over the last two and a half centuries, generations of Americans have fought to expand the promise of liberty and equality. We have seen the end of slavery, a fight that reshaped the nation and affirmed the humanity of millions. We have seen women secure the right to vote, opening the door for fuller participation in our democracy. We have seen the Civil Rights Act confront discrimination and transform the American Promise for countless Americans. We have seen marriage equality affirmed in Obergefell v. Hodges, ensuring that love and commitment are recognized under the law. These movements, and many others, pushed our country closer to a promise that belongs to all of us.
The founders planted the seeds of a republic, but each generation has been called to nurture it, challenge it, and strengthen it. Standing in that room as a woman serving in the Pennsylvania Legislature carried its own sense of gravity. Someone like me would not have had a place in that chamber in 1776, but here in 2026, white women, Black and Latino and Asian American men and women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, of diverse religious faiths, and members of other long-marginalized groups are in the room, making decisions, leading the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and shaping our future. The work of building a more just, inclusive, and representative democracy continues, and it belongs to every one of us. Our differences still shape our debates, but they can also bring us together in service of a shared future. That is the legacy of Congress Hall, and it is the responsibility we carry forward today. |
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Please contact my district office at repotten@pahouse.net if you have questions or would like to share your thoughts on any legislative or state-related issue. |
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Upcoming Events
FREE Paper-Only Shred Event
Join Team Otten for a FREE Paper-Only Shred Event!
Bring your confidential documents to be destroyed! Each car will be limited to 4 file-size boxes. Small paper clips and staples are OK, but please no binder clips, binders, or cardboard (plan to take your boxes home with you).
The shredding event will take place in the parking lot of the North Brandywine Middle School, 256 Reeceville Rd, Coatesville, PA.
This event is first-come, first-served. When the truck is full, the event will end. All shredded paper will be recycled!
If you have any questions, please contact Rep. Otten’s district office at 484-200-8259 or email repotten@pahouse.net . |
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Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period Extended
The 2026 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period has been extended through December 31, 2026. The Department of Revenue began sending rebates on July 1, so submit your application now to get your rebate as soon as possible!
The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians ages 65 and older, widows and widowers ages 50 and older, and people with disabilities age 18 and older.
Please call or stop by my office to find out if you’re eligible and get assistance applying for your rebate. We’d be glad to answer any questions and set up an appointment to help you complete your application online!
For those who prefer to file by mail, paper applications are available in my office. |
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SEPTA Senior Key Cards and Card Renewals
If you have a SEPTA Senior Key Card that has expired or will expire within the next month, we can renew it in our district office. To renew your card before it expires, please stop by my district office, or call us to make an appointment.
My office can also process applications and take photos for new SEPTA Senior Key ID Cards, which allow seniors 65 and older to travel for free on all SEPTA Regional Rail and transit routes within Pennsylvania. Just stop by my district office and bring a form of ID with your date of birth on it, such as a PA driver’s license or non-driver ID, U.S. passport, or birth certificate. We’ll enter your information into SEPTA’s online system, take a quick photo, and then SEPTA will mail your new card to you directly. |
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2-1-1 Southeastern Pennsylvania: Health and Human Services
211 SEPA is part of the national 211 Call Centers initiative that seeks to provide health and human services for everyday needs and those in crisis situations.
2-1-1 works with county governments and provider agencies to ensure important local program information is easily accessible.
Visit 211sepa.org for more information. |
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Mental Health Resources: Call 9-8-8
Chester County residents experiencing mental-health-related crisis or distress can dial 9-8-8 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This system is designed to be a memorable and quick number that connects people in crisis to a trained mental health professional.
Chester County offers additional resources for those in crisis, including Chester County’s warm line, 1-866-846-2722, operated by Certified Peer Specialists, who are individuals in recovery with a lived experience of mental health challenges.
Chester County’s Teen Talk Line ensures seamless referral to Mobile Crisis for youth in need of immediate or higher-level support. The call line is 855-852-TEEN (8336), and the text line is 484-362-9515.
Visit the Department of Human Services website for more information about the 988 system and other state and local mental health resources.
If you or someone you love is in crisis, please don’t give up hope, and please know that you do not need to walk this path alone. We are here and we will do whatever we can to help. |
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My staff and I are here to help make state government work better for you!
For assistance with the above programs or any other state-related services, please email repotten@pahouse.net, call 484-200-8259, contact us through my website, or visit my district office in Exton and let us know how we can help.
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District Office 631 North Pottstown Pike |
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Pennsylvania State Capitol 34 East Wing PO Box 202155 (717) 783-5009 |
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