Hard work should pay off. That’s why I support:

• Raising the federal minimum wage for the first time in nearly 30 years.

• Closing the “salary loophole” that cheats workers of overtime.

• Eliminating taxes on tips, especially in industries that had mostly cash-based tips just a few years ago.

Local economies do well when ideas meet opportunity. As your representative, I will:

• Help our local entrepreneurs, including our veterans, apply for federally-backed small business loans to turn an idea into reality and support . 

• Support projects to improve our infrastructure, including rail and internet connectivity and port logistics.

• Fight to protect and expand the Opportunity Zone and Community Block Development Grant programs that encourage investment in our small towns.

• Advocate for fast, common sense permitting rules for bonafide clean energy projects so more of the money we spend on utilities stays here. 

• Uplift our community colleges, regional public universities, and other community partners in creating, staffing, and improving innovation hubs and pre-apprenticeship programs that help people launch meaningful careers without taking on the cost of a four-year degree.

High doctors’ bills, the inability to see a provider when we need to, and losing a loved one because of a cure that could have been developed or given but wasn’t are unacceptable and avoidable situations. As your representative, I will:

• Protect Medicare and Medicaid and fight to keep health insurance premiums affordable and coverage meaningful. 

• Advocate for federal funds to study and address the recent increase in maternal and infant mortality in North Carolina. 

• Support efforts to lower prescription drug costs and improve patient awareness of copay assistance programs. 

• Rollback cuts to cancer research and other vital programs at the National Institutes for Health and National Science Foundation. 

I will be a strong voice in making sure that wherever you live in southeast NC, you have local public schools that provide young people with a strong start. As your representative, I will:

• Protect the programs and funds that support our students with disabilities that are currently administered by the US Department of Education.

• Protect funds for Head Start, the Preschool Development Grant, Title I, and Career & Technical Education. 

• Advocate for capital improvement funds to help our schools, especially in critical repairs & renovations, which are often more cost-effective than building an entirely new building, including improving storm and flood resilience and air quality, a cost-effective way to help kids be healthier throughout the school year. 

• Restore funding to the National Center for Educational Statistics, an office that was created over 150 years ago, and the Institute of Educational Sciences, a nonpartisan agency, so we can know how our schools are performing and identify and share ideas and approaches that help all students succeed. 

• Support programs that help our young people develop their talents and passions, including fine arts, advanced mathematics and science, history and literature, and career skills so they can see how education provides a foundation for a fulfilling life. 

As a note: The federal government does not have a direct voice in picking a school’s curriculum.

Agriculture is a critical component to our lives, economy, and even national security. In Congress, I will work to ensure farms, farming communities, and farm workers in Southeastern NC can thrive by supporting legislation to:

• Strengthen local sales programs, export markets, and pathways for new farmers.

• Continue funding weather prediction and early warning systems.

• Help farmers and food processors upgrade processing and food manufacturing equipment to build out the business side of their operations.

• Keep our land working, keep our farm economy going by pursuing new opportunities. 

Folks are hurting economically right now - this is not a partisan issue.

We see it in our communities: homelessness, addiction, poor health outcomes, and lack of opportunity are on the other side of investing in affordable housing, good paying jobs, accessible healthcare options, and school funding. As a social worker, I have spent a career working to address these problems, and in Congress, I will advocate for the alleviation of poverty in our communities through: 

• Raising the minimum wage. 

• Bolstering access to healthcare, especially in rural areas.

• Preserving the lifelines that Medicaid, food stamps, and housing vouchers afford our hard working neighbors.

• Advocate against the criminalization of poverty.

Southeastern North Carolina’s natural environment is the center of our region’s charm, industry, and culture. We must be vigilant in protecting the environmental features that define our region and protect us from flooding during heavy rains. In Congress, I will: 

• Advocate for infrastructure funding to ensure coastal resilience, including infrastructure that will capture, absorb, and reduce runoff, and filter storm water.

• Support homegrown energy initiatives including solar, wind, and geothermal.

• Prioritize the clean and repurposing of Brownfield and Superfund sites.

• Ensure FEMA funding remains available and readily accessible in times of need.

Those who answer the call to serve our country, and their families, should be cared for. Homelessness, underfunded healthcare, and limited post-service work opportunities are unacceptable realities that our service members face following discharge.  In Congress, I will advocate for service members and their families by:

• Addressing bottlenecks at the VA that create long wait times by restoring funding to the VA for hiring specialists, administrative staff, and keeping facilities open.

• Advocating for family caregivers of our disabled veterans by expanding their eligibility for benefits.

• Ensuring transportation for veterans in rural areas to get to medical appointments. 

No party or politician has a monopoly on good ideas.

A “my way or the highway” attitude leaves our communities, and our country, further behind. Whether it’s making sure everyone can have a secure and dignified retirement, our community’s vital role in our national defense, cleaning up PFAS pollution, helping our farmers develop a new crop for export, or any other issue, I promise to keep listening, leading, and uniting. As your representative, I will:

• Hold a town hall in every county in our district every year. 

• Be an independent voice for our district and our communities, regardless of what the national parties are saying or what talking points they distribute. 

• Have my office devote significant time to helping you navigate federal agencies and programs. We work for you, whether you vote for me or not. 

• Advocate for reforms to reduce corruption and make Congress work better, including full work-weeks at the Capitol and back home, the option for virtual (but public) committee meetings, and disclosure by members of the government of meetings with corporate lobbyists. 

Everyone deserves dignity and peace, especially our seniors. In Congress, I will prioritize the financial and physical wellbeing of our seniors by: 

• Advocating for tax relief options for seniors on fixed incomes.

• Invest in infrastructure improvements that promote accessibility and mobility.

• Support food aid programs like SNAP that over 11 million seniors across our country utilize.

Immigration is the foundation of America. I am a firm believer in the legal pathway to citizenship, but the existing pathway is buried behind decades of paperwork, thousands in legal fees, and lack of clarity. In Congress, I will advocate for comprehensive immigration reform, including: 

• Strengthening border security by providing adequate funding for staffing, training, and modernization of technology.

• Increasing the number of judges to process asylum applications, while raising the bar for asylum claims to prevent misuse.

• Creating more pathways for legal immigration, including an earned pathway to citizenship.

• Guaranteeing counsel for children in immigration court.