Robert Freeman
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?
Pennsylvania should restrict the use of PFAS chemicals in consumer products. I support and voted for House Bill 2145 which would ban PFAS chemicals in certain products, and I also support and voted for House Bill 1261 to prohibit PFAS in firefighting foam and firefighting gear.
Exposure to PFAS can lead to a number of health risks including immune system suppression, increased cholesterol, hormonal disruption, and higher risk of cancer. These “forever chemicals” can accumulate in the human body over time. Scientific evidence from environmental groups and agencies (EPA) as well as research from Stanford University and the National Institutes of Health and experts from the CDC provide ample evidence-based information on the dangers posed by PFAS chemicals.
KEYWORDS: Restrict PFAS chemicals
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?
The increased rise in measles cases and the recent measles related deaths of two Pennsylvanians from measles, which are Pennsylvania’s first in 35 years, demonstrates the importance of being vaccinated against measles.
It is important to hear the concerns of members of the public regarding vaccine safety and to provide fact-based evidence from trusted members of the medical and scientific communities to address those concerns through educational outreach and dialogue with the public.
Establishing Vaccine Education Workgroups of physicians, pharmacists, parents, public health leaders, and community representatives can strengthen public communication and combat misinformation.
KEYWORDS: Vaccine education outreach
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?
The state Department of Agriculture deploys health teams immediately when avian flu cases are detected to quarantine affected sites and oversee virus elimination. Dedicated funding is provided to help farmers recover from their loses and grant funding is also available to assist in making biosecurity upgrades.
These efforts should be strengthened for maximum effectiveness. It is imperative to protect farm workers by providing protective equipment, testing, symptom monitoring, and immediate medical care to those who are exposed or infected. Public reporting and effective food safety protocols can make agricultural communities and the public safe.
KEYWORDS: Food safety protocols
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?
We need to accelerate the expansion of renewable energy resources to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels that contribute to climate change. Wind, solar, geothermal, hydropower, battery storage capacity, and the promoting of the solar for schools program as well as legislation to establish community solar initiatives can all have a positive influence in achieving these goals.
I co-sponsored House Bill 501 to expand the use of clean energy standards to provide for a minimum of 35% generation from renewable energy sources by 2035.
KEYWORDS: Expand renewable 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?
Data centers use a tremendous amount of electricity and water resources. The developer should be required to pay for the entire cost of the increased use of electricity as well as all transmission and grid upgrades required for their projects. That cost should not be paid by ordinary ratepayers.
Additionally, water withdrawals for data centers should be strictly regulated by the Department of Environmental Protection to safeguard limited water resources. Full public reporting of a proposed data center is essential. Non-disclosure agreements between developers and municipalities should be prohibited to ensure transparency on a proposed data center so that the public can be fully informed.
KEYWORDS: Developer should pay costs