STANCES & SOLUTIONS

THE ISSUE:

Faith in our government is eroded when special interests drown out the voices of ordinary citizens, politicians seem more focused on personal gain than public service, and dark money floods our elections. Restoring trust requires real reform.

MY STANCE:

Our democracy cannot function when the voices of citizens are drowned out by big money. Restoring trust requires fundamental reforms to ensure accountability, transparency, and a government truly representative of the people.

MY SOLUTION:

• Overturn Citizens United: Support a constitutional amendment to overturn the disastrous Citizens United Supreme Court decision and get big money out of politics.

• Pass Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform: Advocate for legislation that increases transparency in political spending, empowers small-dollar donors, and strengthens enforcement against violations (e.g., supporting measures like the DISCLOSE Act and For the People Act).

• Limit Stock Trading for Members of Congress: Eliminate conflicts of interest by limiting members of Congress from trading individual stocks while in office.

• Strengthen Ethics Laws: Support robust ethics enforcement and close loopholes that allow former officials to immediately lobby their old colleagues.

• Protect Voting Rights: Fight against voter suppression efforts and advocate for federal standards that ensure fair and accessible elections for all eligible citizens.

THE ISSUE:

Families across Central Florida are being squeezed. The costs of housing, childcare, groceries, and healthcare are rising faster than wages, making it harder to get ahead, no matter how hard you work.

MY STANCE:

Economic security should be attainable for everyone, not just the wealthy. When basic needs are out of reach, families suffer, potential is stifled, and our entire community is held back.

MY SOLUTION:

• Make Housing Affordable: Support federal investments in affordable housing construction, expand rental assistance programs, and explore policies to curb predatory practices that drive up housing costs.

• Lower Childcare Costs: Fight for universal pre-K and significant investments to make quality childcare affordable and accessible for all working families, boosting workforce participation and child development.

• Reduce Healthcare Expenses: Work to lower prescription drug costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate prices, cap out-of-pocket expenses, and defend protections for pre-existing conditions. Strengthen the Affordable Care Act and move towards ensuring healthcare is a right, not a privilege.

• Promote Fair Wages: Advocate for raising the federal minimum wage to a living wage and ensuring fair pay practices. We need to empower workers and ensure they have a voice in their workplaces and a fair share of the prosperity they help create.

THE ISSUE:

Too many workers face stagnant wages, unsafe conditions, and illegal practices like wage theft, while their fundamental right to organize for better treatment is under attack.

MY STANCE:

A fair and prosperous economy depends on empowered workers. We must ensure workers are treated with dignity, paid fair wages, and have the protected right to bargain collectively for a better life. Safe working conditions are paramount, no ones family should worry if someone will make it home from work today.

MY SOLUTION:

• Protect the Right to Organize: Strongly support the PRO Act to make it easier for workers to form unions and collectively bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.

• Ensure Workplace Safety: Strengthen OSHA enforcement and fight against attempts to weaken safety regulations that protect workers on the job.

• Combat Wage Theft: Crack down on employers who steal wages from their workers through misclassification or other illegal practices.

• Expand Paid Leave: Advocate for federal paid family and medical leave policies so workers don't have to choose between their job and caring for themselves or a loved one.

THE ISSUE:

Millions of Americans, including many in Central Florida, struggle with unaffordable healthcare costs, lack adequate insurance coverage, face high prescription drug prices, and worry about losing care due to pre-existing conditions.

MY STANCE:

Healthcare is a fundamental human right, not a privilege reserved for those who can afford it. No one should face financial ruin or forgo necessary treatment because of cost. Ensuring accessible, affordable, quality healthcare is essential for individual well-being and the economic health of our community.

MY SOLUTION:

• Lower Prescription Drug Costs: Empower Medicare to negotiate drug prices, cap insulin costs, and hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for price gouging.

• Strengthen and Expand Medicaid: Defend protections for pre-existing conditions, enhance subsidies to lower premiums and deductibles, and work towards expanding coverage to all Americans, potentially through a public option.

• Increase Access to Care: Support funding for community health centers, expand telehealth services, address healthcare provider shortages in underserved areas, and ensure access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare.

• Promote Mental Health Parity: Fight for full parity between physical and mental healthcare coverage and expand access to affordable mental health and substance use disorder treatment.

• Cap Out-of-Pocket Expenses: Work towards capping out-of-pocket healthcare costs for families to prevent medical debt and financial hardship.

THE ISSUE:

Politicians continuously use veteran benefits as a talking point to gain favor during elections yet continuously fail to speak up when veteran benefits continue to be threatened.

MY STANCE:

The bureaucratic hurdles, absurdly long waits for healthcare, and red tape surrounding accessing benefits is unacceptable. To betray the promises made to our service members is to betray the fundamental trust they placed in the nation.

MY SOLUTION:

• Fully Fund & Modernize the VA: Fight for robust, predictable funding for the Veterans Assistance to reduce wait times, expand services (especially mental healthcare and women's health), and upgrade facilities and technology.

• Streamline Benefits Access: Work to simplify the VA claims process and cut bureaucratic red tape so veterans receive their earned benefits without unnecessary delays or denials.

• Expand Economic Opportunity: Champion programs that connect veterans with job training, educational opportunities (protecting the GI Bill), and resources for veteran entrepreneurs.

• Veteran Homelessness: Support initiatives providing housing assistance and comprehensive support services to end veteran homelessness in our communities.

• Prioritizing Mental Health: Advocate for expanded mental health resources, suicide prevention programs, and reduced stigma around seeking care for veterans and their families.

THE ISSUE:

Florida is ground zero for the climate crisis, facing existential threats from rising seas and extreme weather, driven by our reliance on fossil fuels.

Floridians are on the front lines of climate change: rising sea levels, stronger hurricanes, and coral reef degradation are immediate threats. Failure to protect the environment wreaks havoc on natural ecosystems, destroys the delicate habitats that only exist here, and risks water and soil contamination that can have decade long effects.

MY STANCE:

Protecting our environment is not optional; it's an urgent economic and moral imperative. We must transition rapidly to clean energy to safeguard Florida's future and create new jobs.

As a nuclear energy professional and avid outdoorsman, it comes as no surprise that I endorse clean energy and protecting Florida's environment. We have the technology and the know-how to build a sustainable future for Florida. We just need the political will.

MY SOLUTION:

• Invest Boldly in Clean Energy: Champion federal investments in renewable energy sources like solar and wind, as well as advanced grid modernization. Support research and development into next-generation clean technologies, including advanced nuclear energy where safe and appropriate, recognizing its potential as a reliable, carbon-free power source.

• Strengthen Environmental Protections: Oppose efforts to weaken the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and protections for endangered species. Fight to protect Florida's unique ecosystems, including the Everglades.

• Promote Energy Efficiency: Support programs that help families and businesses reduce energy consumption and lower utility bills.

• Rejoin Global Climate Efforts: Advocate for strong U.S. leadership in international climate agreements and cooperation.

THE ISSUE:

When hurricanes strike, federal disaster relief is often too slow, insufficient, and difficult to access, leaving communities struggling to recover and rebuild.

MY STANCE:

The efforts to reduce FEMA's budget and staffing is a direct attack on states like Florida. Floridians know all too well the devastating impact of hurricanes.

A well-funded FEMA means faster recovery for Florida families and businesses, as well as stimulating local economies by creating jobs and supporting businesses during recovery efforts. By strengthening FEMA, we can build stronger, more resilient communities that are better able to withstand future disasters.

FEMA is not a political football. Let's make sure that FEMA is a tool that is used to help citizens when they need it the most.

MY SOLUTION:

• Fully Fund FEMA & Disaster Relief: Fight for consistent and adequate funding for FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund, ensuring resources are available before disaster strikes.

• Invest in Resilient Infrastructure: Support federal funding for projects that harden our infrastructure (power grids, water systems, transportation) against the impacts of severe weather.

• Streamline Recovery Aid: Work to simplify the process for individuals and communities to access federal recovery assistance after a disaster, cutting red tape and ensuring aid is distributed equitably.

• Improve Forecasting & Warning Systems: Advocate for investments in advanced weather forecasting and communication systems to give communities more time to prepare.