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.