DISTRICT LEVEL

Keeping our students here in the district. We have many quality schools throughout NY-21, and we should do what we can to keep those graduates living and working here. We have an intense need for more medical professionals, teachers and skilled workers. I propose grant money for those students to pledge to live and work in the district to stay here and purchase homes to put down roots and become part of the community.

We do a great job in renewable energy here in NY-21 between solar and wind power. I believe in energy independence and think the best step in combining both renewable power and clean power is building a safe nuclear power plant within the district.

High speed internet is becoming more and more important every single day. To make sure that NY-21 isn't left behind, there needs to be faster, less expensive internet service available to all residents that want it.

NATIONAL LEVEL

When this country was founded, citizens had a much easier time getting in contact with their representatives in Congress and having their voices heard. The People's House should have many more representatives - one per 50,000 residents - so that way the average American can talk to their leaders instead of only lobbyists and the rich.

The federal minimum wage is abysmal. It needs to be indexed to inflation and be enough to live on. I propose $18/hr to start.

Many people, especially those in the most rural and most densely urban areas, do not have access to good sources of banking. They go to check cashing places that have fees, or are relying on cash transactions. The United States Postal Service should be tapped to offer some banking products in order to help these underserved areas. As a side benefit, it will also help the USPS generate revenue and keep itself solvent.

There is no reason why Social Security taxes should be capped. Every dollar that the average American makes, they pay SSI taxes on. These rich elites, however, do not. The amount of income we generate from closing this loophole would keep Social Security solvent for many years.

Every American should have the right to make medical decisions for themselves and have bodily autonomy. Until a fetus is viable outside of the womb, a person's choice of what to do with their pregnancy belongs to them, and the government should not interfere. I support coding this into the law at the federal level.

Washington, DC and Puerto Rico deserve to have representation in Congress and need to be made the 51st and 52nd states.