Brian Fitzpatrick
RepublicanQ1 PFAS chemicals are widely used in consumer products but have raised health concerns due to their persistence in the environment and humans, and some Pennsylvanian legislators are considering restrictions on its use, such as in House Bill 2145. Should Pennsylvania restrict PFAS in consumer products? What scientific evidence would you use to inform your decision?
Yes. I am leading on the federal level on a bipartisan legislative push to eliminate toxic “forever chemicals” (PFAS) from everyday consumer goods, focusing specifically on two key bills: the Keep Food Containers Safe from PFAS Act and the No PFAS in Cosmetics Act. These bills focus on direct pathways of human exposure where chemicals can leach straight into food or be absorbed through the skin. There are well-documented health risks linked to PFAS, including hormone disruption, liver disease, thyroid dysfunction, and various cancers. These uniform federal standards builds on similar phase-outs already enacted in several individual states.
KEYWORDS: PFAS health safety
Q2 Measles vaccination rates in Pennsylvania have declined in recent years, from 95.5% in 2020 to 92.5% in 2025. At the same time, measles outbreaks have emerged across the state, with 62 confirmed cases in PA in 2026. As a policymaker, how do you approach engaging with communities that have concerns that center on infectious disease outbreaks and vaccine safety, and what policies, if any, would you support related to these issues?
Regarding vaccines for highly transmissible, and widely studied diseases, I think it is important to approach communities with vaccine hesitancy with data and facts concerning safety and personal and public health benefits. While acknowledging distrust that may exist, I will support funding for public education efforts and expanding health resources for vaccines for those who the community where access and affordability remains an issue.
KEYWORDS: Health access affordability
Q3 There have been avian influenza outbreaks in Pennsylvania, with potential impacts on poultry and dairy operations, both industries that provide billions of dollars of economic value to the state. What policies, if any, do you support to strengthen the state’s preparedness and outbreak response? Are there specific strategies you would prioritize to protect farm workers, agricultural communities, and the broader public?
I support robust funding for USDA so that our nation’s experts and leading agricultural scientist can collaborate both with Pennsylvania agencies and our world leading research universities.
One of the legislative efforts I have led to stop the spread of avian influenza outbreaks is the Mink VIRUS Act, which aims to phase out or ban captive mink operations. Documented evidence shows that species like mink can be high-risk viral reservoirs capable of contracting and mutating dangerous pathogens, including H5N1 avian influenza. Therefore, by promoting humane animal welfare, we can in the future stop these outbreaks at the source or at the very least, slow transmission.
KEYWORDS: Agriculture prevention research
Q4 Pennsylvania is the nation’s second-largest producer of natural gas and nuclear energy, as well as the third-largest producer of coal, per the Energy Information Administration. In contrast, PA currently ranks 45th in the country in terms of wind, solar, and hydropower energy production. How do you think these energy sources should be distributed across PA’s energy production portfolio, and what policies, if any, would you support to facilitate this?
The key to this expanding the energy deployment of renewable energy resources is to expand the transmission capabilities of the grid to allow more renewable energy to participate in the distribution on an equal basis with fossil fuels. Once transmission expansion occurs, ensuring that the renewables have access to capital investment and a fair tax base is crucial.
KEYWORDS: Renewable transmission deployment
Q5 Pennsylvania has proposed more reporting, utility oversight, and zoning guidance for large data centers, along with shifting some generation, capacity, and reliability costs onto data center developers rather than ordinary ratepayers. How should the costs and benefits of large data center development be divided between developers and the public, and what requirements, if any, would you support on power, water, and public reporting before a project moves forward?
We must strike the right balance between protecting affordability for utility ratepayers and promoting environmentally conscious economic development and good-paying union jobs. Public reporting and transparency remains critical for public trust and understanding of the approval process. Other requirements and specifications should depend upon the particulars of a project, environmental factors, and that particular community’s input and energy needs.
KEYWORDS: Affordability ratepayers community