Issues

As leaders, we must ensure that our nation’s finances are balanced, and that federal spending is sensible. Our government is most effective when it has a budget in place that minds the deficit while funding critical programs. We need to address the national debt by cutting wasteful spending, boosting tax revenue by ensuring the wealthiest pay their fair share, and investing in programs that promote economic growth and create family-sustaining jobs.

As the leader of the free world, we must set an example by practicing what we preach. We must protect freedom of speech and religion and guarantee freedom from persecution. We must ensure no one faces discrimination in the classroom or workplace. This should be true for everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual identity.

I am a strong supporter of LGBTQ+ rights as a member of the Equality Caucus and have championed equal pay for women and protecting pregnant workers from discrimination.

Since the birth of our country, the cornerstone of the American Dream has been opportunity. In the 21^st century, access to that opportunity requires access to a high-quality education system that allows students to compete in the global economy. We must provide everyone with access to a robust educational pipeline from preschool through high school to ensure that they can grow and pursue their full potential.

We have a responsibility to our communities and our children to guarantee an environment that is clean and sustainable. This responsibility also presents opportunities to create jobs and grow our economy by inventing in, manufacturing, and installing clean energy technology and other sustainable solutions here in South Jersey, including offshore wind and solar. Environmentally sustainable policies and investments in renewable energy will create jones, reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil, and help address climate change.

Access to high-quality health care is a fundamental right and is critical to our prosperity as a nation. Our current health care system focuses largely on treating symptoms, not prevention or finding cures, so our priority should be funding cutting-edge research. Social Security and Medicare are critical safety net programs that serve our nation’s most vulnerable, so we need to ensure their benefits meet the needs of American seniors by accurately reflecting their cost of living. 

We must do everything we can to ensure service members, veterans, and their families are cared for in return for their service to our country. Proper defense budgeting ensures our soldiers are best equipped to get the job done. Maintaining the readiness of our military also ensures our national defense. Supporting South Jersey’s Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst not only supports our national security needs, but it also employs 44,000 civilians and military personnel.