|
Healthcare
The Affordable Care Act expanded health insurance to 24 million Americans who didn’t have it before. However, there are flaws in the design. We should keep what works and fix what doesn’t. Unfortunately, the current proposals in Congress would strip millions of their access to healthcare by gutting Medicaid, scrapping the pre-existing conditions mandate and instituting an Age Tax that would make seniors pay more. This is the wrong approach. We must work together to ensure that, regardless of income level, every American is covered. Americans should not be going broke because a family member or they themselves get sick. Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. I also believe Congress must keep its promise to seniors and strengthen Medicare, not cut it. Medicare is not the government's money; it is your money. You earned it.
Crime
As a prosecutor, I work closely with our law enforcement partners, especially the men and women who serve and protect our communities as peace officers. I will fight to protect federal grant money that the Trump administration is threatening to withhold from our law enforcement agencies. Our policing agencies should not be held hostage to Sacramento and Washington's political fights.
Immigration
We need comprehensive immigration reform and secure borders. They’re not mutually-exclusive. We need a visa program that allows farmers and business owners to legally employ the labor they need. We need a work visa program that will bring these employees out of the shadows, so they can pay taxes and fully take part in the communities they support with their labor. While dangerous criminals who are here illegally should properly be deported, as a career prosecutor, I know that having ICE officials threatening crime victims and witnesses is making us all less safe. ICE should stay out of schools, hospitals, and courthouses.
Investing in Students & Teachers
Investing in our children’s education is the best way to build the economy of the future. When I served on the California State University Strategic Planning Commission I fought to expand access to all students regardless of their income or racial background. What we need now is an education system that prepares our children to be productive members of society and gives them the tools to enter the 21st-century job market. Many schools in CD-22 are underfunded and existing laws target these schools for budget cuts. For far too long teachers and professors have been blamed for lack of adequate funding from federal, state, and local governments. When I marched alongside the California Faculty Association during my days as a student leader at CSU Stanislaus, I understood that better working conditions for educators meant better learning environments for students. Although California is the wealthiest state in the nation, we rank near the bottom in funding per student. It is time for a change.
As your member of Congress I will push the federal government to do the following with respect to K-12 education: (1) ensure that no student is denied the right to equal educational opportunity, (2) protect grant funding for programs that expand access to educational opportunities, specifically art and STEM programs for students living in poverty and underserved communities, (3) continue to provide funding for research and data gathering so that local governments may make more informed decisions in education policy, and (4) support the mission and goals of state and local governments in improving education systems.
With respect to higher education, we need to reduce the cost to attend a four-year college. Students graduating from universities are saddled with debt and struggle to find well-paying jobs to repay their loans. The federal government should offer additional loan repayment programs such as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Additionally, not all students are geared to go to a standard four-year college. We, as a society, need to expand apprenticeship programs through new and additional public-private partnerships.
Water for the Valley
Water is one of the most important issue areas in the valley, one that Devin Nunes has tried to own during his tenure as our representative. I have spoken with countless local farmers, and I have looked at the state of our aquifer levels and water storage systems; I can tell you that Nunes hasn't delivered. I will work on increasing water storage for our Valley and commit to recharging our underground aquifers. I will work in a collaborative way that does not undermine our environment or our farmers.
Women's Health
I strongly support every woman’s right to choose and will stand up to any efforts to criminalize abortion. Reproductive health care decisions should be between a woman and her doctor, not Washington politicians.
Economy
My wife is a small business owner. Both she and I still carry student debt. We understand the burdens that hold back so many Americans from financial independence. Washington needs to be more responsive to the small businesses and working Americans who can’t afford to hire special interest lobbyists. We need to reduce the burden of taxes on small businesses and middle-class families, while simplifying tax filing. We need to ensure that the rising cost of college doesn’t hold anyone back from following their dream. And we need to prioritize the research and development that creates the high-paying and high-tech jobs of the future, so more Americans can find work that supports a family.
Gun Safety
I am in a unique position to tackle gun safety issues with credibility in Congress. As a prosecutor, I deal with violent crimes daily, and as a gun owner, I support an individual's right to bear arms. I am committed to enacting universal background checks, and closing gun show and private sale loopholes. Additionally, I believe that no one who commits a violent crime or who is mentally ill should have access to guns. Specifically, I support a measure banning those who are convicted of committing domestic violence from owning a gun. I also strongly support the no-fly no buy list. My opponent Devin Nunes has an A rating from the NRA and has accepted over $20,000 in contributions from them. I will never take a dime from the NRA or any organization that opposes common-sense gun safety legislation that will save lives and end the epidemic of mass shootings in America.
Climate Change
We’re already experiencing the effects of climate change in the Central Valley and around the world. Protecting the environment and ensuring clean air and water will be priority issues in my campaign. We can’t afford a member of Congress who ignores the threat of climate change we need one who is ready to act. The Central Valley can become California’s renewable energy powerhouse, creating good-paying jobs that the Valley desperately needs, but we will only achieve that through local, state, and federal cooperation and leadership.
Protecting & Expanding Medicaid
Medicaid is an essential part of this country’s safety net. Tens of millions of working families, children, seniors, and people with disabilities rely on Medicaid for their healthcare. Current Republican proposals in Washington would devastate the Central Valley with huge cuts to Medicaid. Medicaid is essential to keeping our most vulnerable populations covered by health insurance. It also boosts our local economy by adding jobs to the region and keeps rural hospitals open. I strongly oppose any effort to cut Medicaid. We should be working to strengthen the program for years to come, so that no American, regardless of income level, is without access to healthcare.
Ending Citizens United
People are understandably fed up with a political system that has been hijacked by billionaires and special interests. I strongly support the efforts to overturn Citizens United and will support legislation to require outside groups to publicly disclose political spending. Reducing the stranglehold that dark money has on our elections is a crucial step to making our government actually work for everyday Americans again.
Clean Drinking Water
It's unacceptable that people must use unsafe tap water, including people right here in California's 22nd Congressional District. Central Valley residents need representation in Washington that will advocate for clean water. This is something that we should all agree on. I will take the opposite approach of Devin Nunes. I will challenge the EPA to do more. I will work with state and local level agencies to ensure our residents have clean drinking water.
Criminal Justice Reform
As a prosecutor, my first priority is to the safety of our community. I will continue to do my best to seek justice for victims of violent crimes. With that being said, I am in a unique position to talk about criminal justice reform. From day one, I have spoken about the need to reform our criminal justice system.
Over the years I have supported a number of initiatives that end the seemingly endless cycle of incarceration that disproportionately targets low-income minorities. Specifically, I have supported increased funding for diversion programs that help those with drug addiction and mental health issues.
As a prosecutor, I have sought behavioral health programs in lieu of jail or prison time for non-violent offenders. Additionally, Fresno County has implemented a new bail system which I support and use every day. This bail system does not take into consideration a person's race or ability to pay and will allow non-violent offenders to be released pending trial under supervision so long as they are not a flight risk or a danger to the community. This is a model I support and one I believe should be enacted nationwide. I vehemently oppose profit-driven incarceration and prisons. I will fight any attempt for private businesses to take over our prison system. I believe these institutions should be accountable to the people and any attempt to privatize prisons will lead to re-offending and not to rehabilitation.
The question of how to reduce crime is a difficult question. However, I believe if we invest in education, commit ourselves to ending income-inequality, and promote mental health programs, we will see a sharp decline in recidivism and property crimes. We need to create more opportunity for everyone and my campaign is aimed at tackling these tough issues.
Dignity in Aging
Aging is not a disease, it's a gift. We should honor those who have worked hard and created paths for the next generation by providing them a life of dignity, choice and independence. We need to invest in services that provide the option for people to age in place, within their own communities, and in their own homes. They should not be an afterthought, forgotten and relegated to hospitals and institutions, choices which are more costly and less desirable. No one should age out of dignity in America.
According to the California Department of Finance (http://www.dof.ca.gov/Forecasting/Demographics/projections/), from 2010 - 2060, the aging population will grow as follows:
- Ages 65 - 74 by 140%
- Ages 75 - 84 by 203%
- Age 85 and older by 316%
Mental Health
New scientific studies show that maintaining our mental health is just as important as maintaining our physical health. Through education, I will fight to end social stigmas associated with seeking mental health services. I firmly believe that mental health services must be included in any health insurance. To that end, I will support legislation that provides more access and coverage for mental health services in our community to reduce emergency room visits, child abuse, incarceration, and homelessness. I would like to see a higher number of skilled mental health providers in our district to address shortages and I hope to break through the barriers which prevent patients from seeking services through cost-efficient programs.
Veteran Issues
Those who have served our country deserve more than just one day of recognition a year. They deserve a government that will fight to ensure that they have the healthcare and resources they need when they come home. I promise I will work to be a champion for veteran's issues. I will work to modernize and simplify the VA, expand mental health coverage, and work on incentives to hire and house veterans. This issue is one that hits close to home as it is the reason my wife Heather became a mental health professional. She witnessed her father struggle with PTSD after he came home from serving our country overseas. Heather’s experiences with her father led her to become a licensed marriage and family therapist and a staunch advocate for mental health services for veterans.
Accountability & Accessibility
As a candidate, and if elected as a Congressman, I will work for you, not for big business or special interest groups. I promise to hold at least two town halls a year, provide mobile office hours across the district, and to use social media to actively engage with you and hear your concerns. I will hire professional and diverse staff members who are ready to work for all members of the community. My offices will be open to the public, no appointment necessary. I work for you and I will never forget that.
Investing in Early Childhood Development
Recent studies have shown that a child’s brain develops at an astronomical rate during the period between conception and pre-kindergarten. Many factors influence brain development during this age including relationships, experiences, and environment. Of course, there is nothing better than good parenting, however, funding early childhood programs such as pre-kindergarten have been shown to have a net positive impact on both child and society.
In fact, children who do not receive quality learning programs during these early years are 70 percent more likely to commit violent crimes before age 18. This is especially true in underserved communities in the Central Valley. Every dollar society spends on a child before the age of five yields a net societal benefit of seven dollars. Our nation and communities need to decide whether we want to continue funding revolving door prisons or if we want to fund preschools. I will fight to fully fund universal pre-kindergarten. It's one of the best investments we can make.
LGBTQ Issues
As a prosecutor, I am deeply aware of the fact that the LGBTQ community faces a much higher risk of violence than the general population. Every American, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, deserves to live a life of dignity, respect, and safety. I will fight any attacks on same-sex marriage and am strongly opposed to bathroom bills that threaten the dignity and safety of transgender Americans.
Protecting our DREAMERS
Dreamers were brought to the United States by no fault of their own during childhood. Over the years, Dreamers have integrated into our society and worked hard for the American dream. Many have started their own businesses and volunteered to serve in our armed forces. They are law-abiding taxpayers that have no criminal history. We must keep our promises to them by creating a pathway to citizenship. If Donald Trump had his way, they would all be deported despite his promises during the campaign to protect their interests. What’s worse, if we fail to pass legislation to protect DACA-eligible immigrants, our local economy in CD-22 would see a net-negative economic impact of about $274 million per year. Dreamers contribute to our local economy. There are approximately 7,700 DACA-eligible immigrants in CD-22, 5,000 of whom have already secured DACA status. The majority of Americans believe that Dreamers deserve a pathway to citizenship, as do I. I will protect Dreamers from Trump’s attempt to have them all deported and will not use DACA recipients as a bargaining chip to fund Trump’s frivolous spending at our southern border.[1]
|
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
