Environment

The job of your state representative is to act as a trustee of the environment.

 Pennsylvania State Constitution. Article 1, Section 27
"The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and aesthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people." 

Upholding our Pennsylvania Constitution. Since taking office, Christina has fought to uphold the environmental protections mandated by the Pennsylvania Constitution to ensure that the next generation of Pennsylvanians in Chester County will inherit a safe, healthy environment. Christina has lived in Chester County for nearly three decades and, in her words, has an "incredible love of place" for this area. She believes in science-based environmental policy to build a sustainable future.

Protecting open space. Christina has devoted years to advocating for open space. She believes that open space is one of the things that makes Chester County a unique place to call home. Open space preservation is sound economic policy and helps maintain healthy ecosystems. As a representative, she has secured over $4 million in grants for conservation and open space preservation projects in the district.

Funding the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The state budget directly represents the priorities of the state government, and our Commonwealth can do better. Christina has fought hard to properly fund the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) after being chronically underfunded for decades. Currently, there is far too little handling permitting in the DEP to sufficiently service all Pennsylvanians. Machine learning and mechanization can be more effectively used within the DEP to make permitting and enforcement processes more efficient.

Championing renewable energy. Christina is committed to meeting emissions guidelines set in the Clean Power Plan. She strongly supports policies that promote and incentivize renewable energy production, distribution, and research throughout Pennsylvania. Approaching the environment with an "and'' rather than an "or'' method is critical in combating climate change. Economic competitiveness and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive, and  renewable energy is a job-producing industry.

Promoting sustainable industries in Chester County. As we work towards carbon reduction goals, Pennsylvania has an opportunity to create businesses that create jobs and economic growth, while complimenting environmental sustainability. Promoting sustainable and environmentally-friendly industries will also allow Chester County to retain top talent, as 74% of the millennial workforce prioritize working for companies that support environmental stewardship (Talent Economy). The agricultural industry also benefits from sustainability, as it requires high-quality air and water sources for production.

There is also a unique opportunity for machine learning and robotic process automation. Chester County can be home to environmental technology innovation and support services for both the government and the private sector.

Christina also believes that we need to have a balance between environmental start-ups and the agricultural industries that already flourish in Chester County. She will promote policies that support both of these sustainable industries.

Supporting public transportation. Christina believes that public transit benefits all of us, particularly our workforce. Funding public and multi-modal transportation maintenance and infrastructure throughout Pennsylvania is not only important socially but is also critical in decreasing fossil fuel use.

Running a sustainable campaign and office. Christina’s campaign is committed to limiting the usage of single-use plastics, using recyclable materials, and prioritizing digital communications instead of paper. Christina continues these green practices in both Harrisburg and Chester County.

Reproductive Rights

We cannot go backward on fundamental reproductive rights and women’s healthcare. We must protect the freedom of individuals to make choices about their own bodies.

Christina will fight for accessible abortion care and birth control so Pennsylvania’s women and their doctors can make their own reproductive healthcare decisions. Banning abortion will disproportionately impact poor women, women of color, and women with children. Banning abortion will put women’s lives at risk and health care professionals’ careers at risk. Reproductive care is essential healthcare. We will not go back. 

Women’s Rights

Women should be treated and compensated equally in every sector. Equal pay for equal work. Furthermore, providing families with affordable and accessible childcare options will allow our women to re-enter the workforce and bolster our economy after caring for children at home during the pandemic.

Healthcare

Healthcare is a universal human right.

Christina hears frequently from the people of Chester County that healthcare is a universal human right. Pre-existing conditions should not exclude someone from receiving healthcare coverage.

As a member of the House Mental Health and Women’s Health caucuses, Christina works to lower costs for small and mid-sized businesses so that pre-existing conditions and mental healthcare support are affordable coverage options for businesses to offer.

Christina also believes that we must do more to increase access to mental health services for everyone. We need a proactive, holistic, and compassionate approach that incorporates mental health conversations earlier in life. We also need to ensure that families and healthcare providers have the tools to access mental health resources, including telemedicine. Christina has introduced legislation that would include telemedicine coverage for behavioral health.

Education

Vibrant public schools with committed and caring teachers determine our future.

Never has there been a more critical time for us to ensure that we live up to our responsibility as stewards of public education. She worked to pass the 2022-2023 Pennsylvania budget which allocated an increase of  $12,938,665 in education, physical safety, and mental health funding in the 158th district.

Christina Sappey is the proud mom of three kids who each received an excellent education in our public schools. She knows first-hand that it takes a strong partnership between families, communities, teachers, and administrators to produce a 21st-century-ready workforce. We need to test less and encourage more creativity to foster innovative thinkers.

It’s time for the state to pay its fair share of education funding to provide local property tax relief. Christina also supports the partnership of schools and local businesses to create job-ready vocational training programs for students at secondary and higher-educational levels.

Government Reform

The government should serve the public. 

Christina works across the aisle to advance good government measures and will continue to fight for reforms such as gift bans, transparent expense reporting, and amending House rules to allow legislation to be considered through the committee process more efficiently and fairly. 

We need to hold the government accountable by making better use of tax dollars and cutting waste rather than increasing taxes. 

Christina also believes the foundation for truly representative government begins with an independent redistricting commission.

Gun Violence Prevention

Christina will fight for common sense gun safety legislation and is a proud Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate.

Christina Sappey grew up in a family of hunters and respects responsible gun ownership.

She believes the Second Amendment should be protected and feels strongly that we must work together to re-interpret the intent of the founding fathers by balancing it with the reality of technology in the 21st Century by

-  Implementing training with first purchase and enforcing stronger background checks

-  Ensuring domestic abusers and stalkers cannot get access to guns

-  Closing the gun show loophole

-  Instating mandatory waiting periods

-  Banning assault-style weapons for civilians

-  Banning bump stocks and high-capacity magazines

-Implementing Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO)

Growth Economy

A strong, reliable economy helps create jobs. Jobs create opportunity for our families.

Christina Sappey believes we need to develop our business climate responsibly and ensure that Pennsylvania is an attractive place to start and grow businesses that create family-sustaining jobs. She will work to pass on-time state budgets that fund programs and support small and mid-sized businesses.

By 2025, over 75% of the workforce will be millennials. Pennsylvania needs to focus on training and retaining emerging talent now to ensure that the next generation decides to stay, work, and raise a family here.

Pennsylvania has a rich history, and although pockets of our state are benefiting from higher-paying jobs, we must ensure these opportunities are state-wide. State-wide economic growth is necessary to stop income inequality and fund programs that we value, like public education initiatives or residential recycling. Fiscal responsibility builds a sustainable economy and an effective state budget.

Immigration

No family should be ripped apart. Children need to be with their parents. Asylum seekers should be welcome in our country and treated with compassion and support. Adults, children, and families, if detained, need to be treated humanely and given due process.

Christina believes that Pennsylvania needs to do more to facilitate lawful immigration of hard-working, law-abiding Chester County residents. She will always act as a resource for immigrants, bringing concerns to and working with federal legislators for the benefit of all Chester County residents.