Monica Weninger
DemocraticQ1 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, Pennsylvania should restrict non-essential uses of PFAS in consumer products to protect public health while preserving critical applications where no safe alternatives yet exist. My position is supported by epidemiological studies showing these persistent “forever chemicals” bioaccumulate in human tissue and water supplies, toxicological research linking exposure to increased risks of kidney cancer, thyroid dysfunction, and immune suppression, and environmental sampling demonstrating widespread watershed contamination across the Commonwealth. This evidence is drawn from peer-reviewed studies by the U.S. EPA and the CDC’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), along with water testing data from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Geological Survey.
KEYWORDS: Studies, Bioaccumulation, water contamination
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?
To address declining vaccination rates and local outbreaks, policymakers must lead with empathetic listening and trust-building rather than top-down messaging. Engaging communities effectively requires partnering with trusted local leaders, pediatricians, and community health workers who can address specific concerns about safety and personal risk through open, non-judgmental dialog. To restore public confidence and protect public health, I support policies that expand access to mobile vaccination clinics, improve public health data transparency regarding vaccine safety and outbreak monitoring, and ensure parents receive clear, evidence-based education from pediatric experts. I support maintaining strong state immunization requirements for school entry while preserving clear, standard exemption processes, ensuring our communities sustain the high coverage needed to protect vulnerable individuals who cannot be vaccinated.
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?
To protect Pennsylvania’s food supply and agricultural economy from avian flu, policymakers should focus on early detection, strong farm biosecurity, and clear protections for workers. Grounded in veterinary science and public health research from trusted sources such as the PA Department of Agriculture, the USDA, Penn State Extension, and the CDC, my approach prioritizes expanding state lab testing so farmers can spot outbreaks early, funding direct on-farm prevention measures, and providing protective gear and health monitoring for farmworkers who handle animals daily.
KEYWORDS: One Health, biosecurity, prevention
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?
Pennsylvania should move toward a cleaner energy mix by balancing its reliable power plants with more wind and solar energy. Supported by economic and power grid research, this approach helps keep our energy reliable and affordable while cutting pollution and expanding renewable power across the state. To support this shift, I would support legislation that updates clean energy targets to encourage growth, streamline local permits so landowners can host solar or wind projects without endless red tape, keep our zero-emission nuclear plants running, and use federal funding to turn old industrial sites into new clean energy hubs.
KEYWORDS: clean energy
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?
I absolutely support strong regulations on data centers as I have heard from voters again and again that they are not interested in the widespread construction of these buildings while their corporate owners reap tax benefits and pass on electricity costs to regular working families. This is no longer even a debate - the people have spoken and I will carry out the will of the people in Harrisburg.
I will protect the rights of municipalities to use local zoning for noise control, aesthetics, and community fit - no one should be left out of a decision on what is built in their own backyard.
I support state-level regulations, such as HB 1834 and Governor Shapiro’s GRID plan to ensure data centers pay for their own infrastructure and grid upgrades, preventing them from shifting those costs onto your monthly electric and water bills.
KEYWORDS: GRID, electric bills