Women's rights

50 years of precedence is gone and federal protection is in the hands of the states.  17 million women in America no longer have control of their reproductive freedom.  States are passing laws to restrict access to reproductive care regardless of rape, incest.  This is Government Mandated Pregnancies. We are in dark times when an American has been striped of their rights.  #maga Republicans in the Senate and House have made it clear, they will pass a Federal Ban on abortion.  I will fight to restore the rights of 17 million women and will codify Roe and fight the extremism.

JOBS, wages, & economic reform

Working families need better paying jobs now. So many people working full-time jobs and/or multiple part-time jobs struggle just to pay their bills and save for retirement. There’s no excuse for our government allowing that.

I will fight to:

• Raise the federal minimum wage to a livable wage tied to inflation.
• Eradicate wage discrimination based on race, gender identity, sexual orientation, etc. through legislation like the Paycheck Fairness Act.
• Protect the rights of workers to organize and collectively bargain without employer interference and intimidation.
• Invest in union apprenticeship programs.
• End payday lending and other predatory practices.
• Implement paid family leave for new parents & those caring for adults who need special care, such as those with disabilities.
• Cut taxes for working class families and small businesses.
• Raise taxes and close loopholes for the ultra-rich and corporations, especially the wealthiest 1% of Americans.

healthcare

No one should go broke just because they’re sick. We must move to a Medicare for All system that guarantees quality healthcare for every American. We must also protect Medicare and Medicaid from reckless, corporate-driven plans to turn them into voucher programs.

I will fight to:

• Bring mental health services to all healthcare facilities.
• ​Prioritize funding for cancer therapy and research.
• Pass the CARE Act, which would expand funding for opioid addiction treatment, support, & research. 
• Raise funding for treatment facilities in communities that need them most.
• ​Increase the use of Naloxone by first responders. This life-saving medication reverses overdoses and saves lives. We should be using it more.

VOTING RIGHTS & ELECTORAL REFORM

Dark money has reshaped the very nature of our government and damaged our democracy. Politicians have access to unlimited funds. I have pledged to reject corporate PAC money and be transparent of all monies this campaign receives. I will work with End Citizens United to end the unlimited money poisoning politics.

I will fight to:

• Restore the Voting Rights Act.
• Implement automatic voter registration.
• Establish independent redistricting committees & end gerrymandering.
• Make Election Day a federal holiday.

Climate change

We can protect our environment while creating quality, well-paying jobs. We must break our addiction to fossil fuels or we'll destroy our planet & children's future. We have the ability to make 80% of our energy use clean within a decade. This means developing more solar & wind power systems, among other infrastructure.

We need leaders who will fight to protect our state, our farmlands, and preserve its natural beauty while guaranteeing clean air and water to every North Carolinian.

I will fight to:

• Make electric vehicles more affordable for working families.
• Put Americans to work preserving and nurturing our nation’s immense natural beauty.
• Invest in sustainable agriculture practices that empower farmers and put healthy, nutritious food on families’ tables.

education

I am a product of North Carolina public schools and believe that education is the pathway to opportunity. Every child in NC-08 should be able to go to a great public school no matter where they live.

Here's my plan to make that a reality.

I will fight to: 

• Build new schools, reduce overcrowding, and enhance learning opportunities.
• Create federal teaching programs that attract and retain the best teachers possible.
• Reduce student loan debt and cap interest rates.
• Make public universities, community colleges, and vocational schools tuition-free.
• Implement financial literacy classes in every high school.
• Increase teacher pay and funding for classroom supplies.
  

EQUALITY

The United States has a long history of white supremacy and patriarchy that must be addressed through concrete government action. Groups that have faced and continue to face systemic discrimination must be given the support they deserve. Among these groups are women, people of color, LGBTQ+ Americans, individuals with disabilities, and others.

I will fight to:

• Pass the Equal Rights Amendment.
• Repeal the Hyde Amendment.
• Increase access to birth control.
• Make equal pay for equal work a reality.
• Eliminate taxes on tampons and other feminine hygiene products.
• Create community development programs that boost racial equity and fair housing policies.
• Pass the Equality Act, which would guarantee legal protections to LGBTQ+ Americans.
• Increase access to Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) by passing the Disability Integration Act (H.R.555).
• Enforcing standards for inclusivity in all classrooms so students with disabilities aren’t forced to learn in isolation. 
• Improve transportation accessibility by installing proper ramps, strengthening audible cues on trains and buses, etc.

immigration reform

We have wasted enough time ignoring immigration reform. Too many people and families have been hurt by our government's inaction. 

I will fight to:

• Streamline the citizenship process for all undocumented Americans with no history of violent crime.
• Protect immigrant workers from corporate exploitation.
• Work with African, Latin American, and Caribbean countries as strategic economic partners to stem influxes of people fleeing danger and extreme poverty.
  

Veterans' affairs

I'm proud that the Bill Hefner Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center is in my home county here in NC-08. Service to country is rooted in my family history. I served in the U.S. Navy, and my family members have served in Iraq, Vietnam, World Wars I & II, and the Civil War. Combined, we have over 150 years of military experience.

You can count on me to make sure our government treats veterans with the care and respect that they deserve.

I will fight to:

• Stop the privatization of veterans’ healthcare.
• Expand outreach & funding to eliminate veteran homelessness.
• End the veteran suicide crisis.
• Implement stronger employment assistance programs for veterans.
• Reduce the time & paperwork for medical benefits determination.
• End deportations of veterans who have honorably served.
  

GUN SAFETY

When I attended school, we had fire and tornado drills, not ones for active shooters. We need to do a better by our children.

Schools aren't the only place Americans feel unsafe. Houses of worship, shopping centers, and live performances have become frequent targets for domestic terrorists. 

Guns are also abused to deadly effect by other violent criminals, such as domestic abusers. People whose lives may otherwise be saved use them to make an irreversible decision.

I'm a gun owner who's committed to protecting the rights of all responsible adults to own firearms. As we do this, we must also keep deadly weapons out of the hands of violent people looking to cause folks harm.

I will fight to:

• Renew the Assault-Weapons ban.  As a Veteran, weapons of war should not be available to the public. I will work to renew this ban.
• Require background checks for all gun sales.
• Require Violent History checks.
• Raise the minimum firearm purchasing age to 21.
• Implement red flag laws.
• Require safety training, insurance, and license for all gun owners.
• Prevent domestic abusers, terrorists, and violent criminals from owning firearms.
• Require safe gun storage. H.R.748 Ethan's Law will ensure safe gun storage to prevent accidental shootings.
  

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Criminal justice reform

It is past time to legalize marijuana under federal law. If adults have the right to consume alcohol and tobacco, they should have the right to consume cannabis.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is leading on this issue, legalizing medical cannabis in 2021. The federal government can learn from the example of the EBCI and many other state and local governments.

Regarding our justice system more broadly, we must address the many inequities that lead to mass incarceration, the victims of which are disproportionately people of color.

I will fight to:

• Create economic opportunities in the cultivation and use of cannabis for rural farmers, low-income communities, and small businesses.
• Invest tax revenue from marijuana sales into education and healthcare.
• Fund medical cannabis as a treatment option for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• End the death penalty.
• End cash bail in court systems.
  

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