Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives - Alabama 2nd Congressional District in 2018 Alabama 2018 General Election.
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Get StartedGiving mothers and babies time to be together in the early weeks of a child’s life is critical. Too often, however, mothers are forced to return to work far too quickly, and infants are forced into unsuitable child care arrangements. Learn more
That’s why I support giving judges the freedom to impose sentences that address the needs of victims and restore damages whenever possible, options that make right rather than only options that punish. I support rehabilitating offenders to reduce recidivism and strengthen families and communities that are damaged by the absence of the offender. And most importantly, I support revising policies that unfairly target certain populations so that all citizens can feel confident that justice will be served. Close Learn more
That’s why I support investing in entrepreneurship and local small businesses, rather than in subsidies for outside businesses to come in. If we are going to spend public dollars on job creation (and I think we should!), then those dollars should go to business owners that are already in our district. We can and should develop innovative business leaders and a skilled workforce, but we can do so from within our community. Let’s invest in us. After all, its our money! Close Learn more
I pledge to be dogged in my pursuit of policies that will level the playing field, such as establishing minimum standards for teacher-student ratios in classrooms and counselor-student ratios in school systems. I will sponsor legislation to prevent school systems from segregating children with disabilities (or other special needs) from their peers. I will support holding school districts accountable for using Title I funds for their intended purpose, rather than allowing school officials to shuffle funds to other uses. Learn more
So I support investing in the Child Care Development Fund Block Grant to increase access to high-quality early learning. So every child can have a bright future. And every parent can go to work knowing their child is safe, healthy, and getting ready for Kindergarten. Learn more
That’s why I support ending the political policing of publicly-funded research, particularly as it relates to the Environmental Protection Agency and National Institutes of Health. We deserve to know what’s really happening in our communities, our country, and our world. Learn more
That’s why I support strengthening the Freedom of Information Act and state-level laws on government transparency to empower journalists and citizen watchdogs to hold our government accountable for its actions and spending. Learn more
It’s also why I support policies that make it easier for responsible adults to become foster parents and stay foster parents. That includes ensuring Medicaid coverage for every foster child, including access to high-quality, trauma-informed mental health care. It also includes extending benefits past the point of adoption so that no child is left without a permanent family simply because of their healthcare needs. Learn more
I will measure health care policy proposals according to the extent to which they make it easier for people to access and afford quality care. Learn more
Rural healthcare is of particular concern here. There is a significant shortage of providers in rural Alabama – nurses, doctors, specialist, lab technicians, etc. This shortage means that there simply isn’t enough healthcare to go around. There are already some programs in place to incentivize providers to live and practice in rural communities, but it’s not enough. We need to grow those incentive programs and also develop training programs in local areas for people who are already living in the community and willing to work in healthcare, but need career training. Close Learn more
That’s why I support health care policy (whether through the Affordable Care Act or Medicaid or some other innovative solution) that expands women’s access to healthcare and sexual education programs that give youth accurate information so they can understand the full consequences of the choices they face. Close Learn more
To give our community peace of mind, I support establishing a standard process and timeline for BRAC so that communities know when they do – and don’t – need to worry about base closures. I’m confident that our military bases are here to stay, and I want our communities to know that they can rely on that from year to year. Learn more
That’s why I support expanding FEMA’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program and FEMA’s Flood Mitigation Assistance Program. These investments will pay for themselves while also preventing loss of life and property. Learn more
To give our veterans the very best care, I support proposals to increase the supply of highly qualified staff by increasing the number of medical residency slots available at VA facilities. I support reducing administrative barriers to collaboration, so that partnerships with Dept of Defense facilities and with community-based health care providers can flourish without a heavy administrative burden. Learn more
To ensure we keep this promise, I support eliminating the payroll tax cap and implementing a modest 1% increase to the social security tax rate. These small changes would make Social Security solvent for generations to come. Learn more
That’s why I support expanding FEMA’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program and FEMA’s Flood Mitigation Assistance Program. These investments will pay for themselves while also preventing loss of life and property. Learn more
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