Healthcare
I support Medicare for All because healthcare is a right, not a luxury. It puts more money in the pockets of families and makes healthcare more accessible and equitable. In Congress, I’ll do everything in my power to expand access to Medicare and lay the groundwork to transition to a single payer system. It is past time that we stop letting a profit based system leave Americans behind and bankrupt. I’ll push back against the insurance and pharmaceutical companies that put profits ahead of people. The pandemic has further demonstrated how far out of reach access to basic healthcare is for so many Inland Empire residents. As we work to pull ourselves out from the pandemic, it has never been more imperative that we bring equity to our healthcare system.
Economy
We have seen during our Covid-19 crisis how the economy is stacked against working people. Too many hard-working people in the Inland Empire continue to be left behind. Our poverty rate in Riverside County is still higher than the national average. It’s imperative that we invest in quality job training and apprenticeship programs and provide small businesses with the relief they need to hire workers and pay a fair wage.
Education
I went to school on a “hope scholarship”— always hoping I would find a way to pay for it. With little support to fall back on, I had to work a full-time job in college and incur student loan debt that I’m still paying off today. As the first in my family to attend and graduate college, I know first-hand the struggles that so many working families face to send their children to college. As an educator and pastor, I have assisted countless children get the skills, preparation and mentorship needed to go on to attend and graduate College. It shouldn’t matter what your zip code is. A quality public education should be accessible for all. In Congress, I’ll fight to eliminate student loan debt, expand access to early childhood education and give all students the tools they need to succeed in the 21st Century economy.
Family Care
I support a national paid family leave program that provides workers with adequate protections when suffering from an illness or injury and focuses on strengthening our families. We need to ensure that hard-working people don’t lose their jobs for looking after their own wellbeing and those in their family.
Reproductive Rights
I unequivocally support a woman’s right to choose and control their own healthcare decisions. I’ll fight back against any and all attempts that seek to turn back the clock on reproductive rights.
LGBTQ+
Every person has the right to full access, opportunity, and protection under the law. My faith has strengthened this conviction and drives me every day to serve the people in my community. In Congress, I will unequivocally support the Equality Act and other legislation to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ communities.
Homelessness
Homelessness is a systemic issue across the country, especially here in Riverside County. As of January 2020, there were nearly 3,000 unhoused individuals in the county, and likely more since the beginning of the pandemic. We must address this crisis with a real commitment to robust construction of affordable housing, closing the gap in healthcare access, mental health resources, job training, and other services to get folks back on their feet and make sure they stay there. Cities in Riverside County like Corona and Palm Springs have made great strides in addressing the crisis, but need federal funds and partnership to bring lasting help to unhoused people.
Police Reform
As a nonprofit executive, I’ve worked to strengthen ties between law enforcement and community members. We respect the sacrifice that members of our law enforcement community make to keep our communities safe. However, we also need transparency and accountability in policing. That’s why Congress needs to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to address racial injustices, eliminate the use of excessive force, and ensure that policing standards are in the best interests of all of our communities.
Gun Safety
As an educator and father keeping our communities safe is a top priority. It’s time that we finally implement sensible gun violence protection that keeps criminals and terrorists from getting their hands on weapons. Parents shouldn’t have to worry that when sending their kids to school that they won’t see them come home alive.
Immigration
We are a nation of immigrants. My grandfather immigrated to our country with the hopes of providing a better future for their children. I’m the product of their hard work. Divisive, anti-immigration policy and rhetoric needs to stop. We need to immediately provide a pathway to citizenship for DREAMers who only know this country as their home. They are members of our schools, military, places of worship and are a fabric of our communities.
Environment
Climate change is an international threat that we must tackle head on. We need a Green New Deal to address the climate crisis and reform the structures that created the crisis. I trust the science and recognize the rapid impact that global warming has on our planet. Here in the Inland Empire, we have the worst air quality in the state. Preserving our open space and ensuring that all of our communities have access to clean air and safe drinking water are essential. We can create good-paying jobs and support small businesses while also protecting our environment.
Seniors
Hard-working seniors have paid into Social Security and Medicare for generations. We should honor the promises we have made and protect these essential safety nets.
Veterans
The courageous individuals that serve our country not only deserve our gratitude for their sacrifices – they deserve to have their families supported, high quality healthcare and ample job opportunities for their transitions into civilian life. A simple thank you is not good enough – we need to do more.