Women’s Rights 

In America, women make up over 50% of the population. Right here in the 39th District, women contribute so much to our community, yet are constantly battling for equality. It is time that Congress protects a woman's reproductive rights, provides equal access to healthcare by fully funding Planned Parenthood, and addresses gender inequality. Gil supports pro-women policies not only because he appreciates the contribution women in his life have made, but because he understands that a woman’s value expands far beyond her relationships to men. It is time that public policy finally reflects this essential truth. Gil and his wife Jacki will fight alongside women to stand up against any misguided and misleading attacks on the rights that women deserve. Gil supports enshrining the rights of women in the Constitution by passing the Equal Rights Amendment.

Protect a Woman's Right to Choose 

Everywhere we turn, a woman's right to make decisions about her own body is in jeopardy. The Trump Administration appointed a U.S. Attorney General and Supreme Court Justice who neither believe in a women's right to choose nor support the monumental Supreme Court decisions that protect that right. Gil believes that decisions about a woman’s health are between her and her doctor. Gil believes it is imperative that Congress require insurers to cover birth control without a co-pay and protect providers and patients from intimidation or violence. In Congress, he will make sure that every woman in American can make the decision to visit a clinic without fear of any repercussion.  

As a nation, we have worked hard to establish protections for reproductive health centers and the patients who rely on those centers. Thousands of women, men, and families across America benefit from reproductive health services and they should have the right to enter a clinic to receive services without harassment or intimidation. Gil supports the enforcement of long-standing legislation, such as the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which allows the U.S. Attorney General to bring criminal penalties against anyone who interferes with patients entering one of the centers to receive services. The Trump Administration regularly supports rhetoric and policy that shows a blatant disregard for the FACE Act and other protections of the kind. Gil and Jacki care about the women and men who benefit from the services provided by reproductive health centers and will ensure that those protections are enforced. 

Fight for Planned Parenthood Funding 

The last decade has seen some of the greatest advances in health care, but it is an uphill battle for women to gain access to that healthcare. Republicans are attempting to dismantle health laws and programs that have been put in place to protect American women. Funding for Planned Parenthood continues to be threatened and attempts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) may remove key protections. Gil will not only defend the ACA protections, but he will fight to pass legislation that allows for full and continued funding for Planned Parenthood facilities.  

For 100 years, Planned Parenthood facilities have provided access to essential healthcare services including cancer screening, STD testing, family planning, breast exams, and prenatal care. This access has been crucial to both women and men throughout the Nation. Planned Parenthood facilities serve nearly 5 million people in a single year with over 650 facilities. More than 80% of the annual funding is dedicated to medical services, client services, education, and outreach, and only 3% of those services include abortions. Defunding Planned

Parenthood would mean millions of low-income individuals would be denied access to key health care services and hundreds of facilities could close down. Members of communities all around America rely on Planned Parenthood for these services; Gil will work to protect that critical funding to Planned Parenthood and oppose legislation that threatens this funding.  

Beyond healthcare facilities, women need equal access to affordable health insurance. The passage of the ACA marked, for the first time, a ban on gender discrimination in the health insurance market. Under this ban, women could no longer be charged more than men for health coverage in the individual market. This includes prohibiting coverage providers from charging extra for preventative health services, like mammograms, and classifying pregnancy as a "pre-existing condition." Gil and Jacki know the value of these protections and will ensure that Congress never repeals a woman's health care rights.  

Economic Equity

Women face many economic issues, from the glass ceiling to the floor of poverty. Gil is committed to support legislation that promotes welfare reform, livable wages, job discrimination, pay equity, access to housing, pension reform, and much more. Gil will fight to secure equal pay for women, which will benefit all women and their families. While Donald Trump thinks it is dangerous for women to leave the home and believes paid family leave hurts our economy, Gil will stand up to support legislative action on a national family and medical leave act. Equality in pay, job opportunities, political structure, social security and education are all issues that Gil will continue to fight for in Congress.

Gender Wage Gap

Motherhood penalty is a major barrier to closing the gender wage gap. When women become mothers, they tend to suffer financially. Despite the gains women have made in the labor force in recent decades, wages continue to lag behind men’s. This disparity is due to stereotypical gender norms, childcare responsibilities, bias, and limited access to male networks. To close the gender gap we need to reshape how we approach motherhood, and we need to support parents through paid family leave and affordable child care. 

In Congress, Gil would be a co-sponsor of H.R. 947, the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act (FAMILY Act). This Democratic plan would support working parents with up to 66 percent of their wages, up to a capped amount, for 12 weeks after childbirth, severe personal injury or family medical emergency. The FAMILY Act would be funded through employee and employer payroll contributions. Paid leave would help new parents keep their families on track to meet new expenses. Following a birth, mothers who take paid leave are more likely than those who take no paid leave to stay in the workforce and more likely to report wage increases. Gil believes it is unacceptable for the United States to be the only developed nation that has not designated formal paid leave for new mothers. 

In addition to paid family leave, Gil believes parents should have access to high quality, publicly funded child care. In Congress, Gil will support H.R.3773, the Child Care for Working Families Act. This bill would establish a new federal-state partnership to provide high-quality, affordable child care through age 13, and more than double the number of children eligible for child care assistance in a quality program. This bill would produce more jobs, provide people working in child care a living wage, and allow parents to either work or work more. Reducing child care costs and increasing child care availability increases employment among parents, primarily among mothers and those from low-income families.

Domestic Violence

Women are 16 times more likely to be killed by guns in America than in other developed countries. At least 52 percent of American women killed by guns are victims of an intimate partner or family member.

In Congress, Gil would support H.R. 2670, the Protecting Domestic Violence and Stalking Victims Act, which would strengthen federal law protecting victims of domestic violence and stalking by expanding the current definition of intimate partners to include those who are dating. This would prohibit abusers with temporary restraining orders filed against them from purchasing a firearm and adding those convicted of stalking to the list of those prohibited from purchasing firearms.

Sexual Harassment

In Congress, Gil will champion an overhaul of the House of Representatives Office Of Compliance and the process through which they settle sexual harassment claims. He will fight for public disclosure of such claims and the elimination of mandatory cooling-off periods for victims seeking to report sexual misconduct in the House of Representatives. Gil will champion the termination of taxpayer-funded settlements to victims of sexual harassment.

Women of Color

Gil understands that racism inflicts a double burden on women of color and that they can often be left out of the conversation on women’s rights. In Congress, Gil is committed to fighting for equal opportunities for women of color in all areas. including employment, education and reproductive rights. Women of color are disproportionately impacted by discriminatory pay practices, and in Congress Gil will combat the discrimination they face on and off the job.

Women of color have had to constantly fight for the right to have children and the right to choose. They have been policed and marginalized through welfare reform, immigration laws, and racialized myths about their bodies and sexuality. This has often prevented women of color from having children on their own terms, making it difficult for them to access child care, access paid sick leave, and to raise their children as they see fit. The Trump administration has only exacerbated their problem through efforts to cut Medicaid by more than $600 billion, cut welfare programs by $270 billion, cut teen pregnancy prevention programs by $214 million, and repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This has put at risk women of color’s reproductive autonomy and the ability of their families to succeed. Gil will support legislation that increases investments to expand high-quality, affordable child care to every eligible working family with young children. Gil will fight to ensure access to quality healthcare for all, without discrimination, including timely and appropriate care for mothers. Gil will also support the rights of women of color to decide how they give birth as parents. While medical reasons may compel doctors to sometimes intervene, women should always maintain some level of control over their childbirth and delivery.

Conclusion

We need to inspire girls in our country and support women, not discriminate based on sex or gender identity. Promoting a diverse and fair workforce will only contribute to economic growth. In Congress, Gil will fight for women’s rights and promote the welfare of all women. Gil will fight to expand opportunity for women, he will confront violence against women, push for pro-family policies, and defend a woman’s right to control her own body.

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN AND PUBLIC EDUCATION

90% of children in America attend a public school. We need a strong public education system that gives every student the opportunities they deserve.

Unfortunately, many of our schools struggle to get by financially under the current financial plans. Now, Republicans in Congress, President Trump, and Betsy DeVos only want to slash education funding further. President Trump’s dangerously unqualified Education Secretary Betsy DeVos even supports eliminating the Department of Education. Instead of cutting education, we should be investing in education in order to transform and modernize our educational system for the 21st century economy.

Gil and Jacki know how important our educational system is to the development of our students and future leaders. Education is an issue they are very passionate about, so passionate, that Gil even returned to school to earn a Master's Degree in Urban Education Policy from Brown University.

Gil and Jacki have seen first hand how schools in underserved communities are continually challenged to provide their students with top quality education as they continue to be underfunded. Gil and Jacki have tried to fill the gaps in some of these communities by supporting a variety of programs that support student learning and development. Their goal has always been to provide opportunity where opportunity often doesn’t exist, and help kids achieve their full potential.

Gil understands that when you provide students with the tools they need to succeed, anything is possible. He will work to ensure that all students have the educational opportunities they deserve no matter where they are from or what their background is.

Gil will fight to increase per pupil spending in our K­12 education system, fight to ensure that all students have access to affordable higher education, and fight to revamp our student loan system to bring down costs. Gil will fight for our kids in Congress.



Invest in Early Childhood Education

The evidence is clear: investing in early education increases the likelihood that children, will become more successful students and more productive adults. We should be investing more in these programs, not cutting them to provide tax cuts for billionaires. We also need to invest in summer learning programs to help students from underserved communities keep on track with their peers and prevent them from falling behind when school starts in the Fall. Gil will fight for increased investment in programs that support the cognitive development of students throughout the education process.

Fully Fund Title I and IDEA

Ed Royce and politicians in Washington have cut federal funding for education over 25% since 2011. That not only is wrong, it is shortsighted. We need to invest in education, an investment in education is an investment in the future of America.

We must ensure all children have an equal opportunity to a great education. Washington dysfunction leaves vital programs underfunded. Title 1, which serves children of low­income families, has a $37 billion shortfall, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has a shortfall of $18 billion. It is unfair that the federal government continues to cut programs like IDEA, but they mandate states continue to follow the federal regulations This has left our school districts to sacrifice and cut funding to other programs as they try to meet their budgets. Gil will fight for our school districts here at home, making sure they are fully funded, and able to provide all of our children the quality education they deserve.

Give Every Child the Opportunity to Flourish in STEAM

America’s economic future depends on successfully training our students in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM). We need to prepare our kids for the job of tomorrow. We need to transform our educational system for the future to fit the 21st century.

Over the last decade, STEAM jobs have grown at a rate that is nearly twice as fast as non-STEAM jobs. By not properly preparing our kids for these jobs we’ve let them down. In order to reverse that trend, we need to fully fund STEAM programs to make sure we train our children successfully and maintain America’s role as a world leader in innovation.

Investing in STEAM education is particularly important for the 39th District given that we have long served as the center for aerospace manufacturing and development in the United States, and Gil will work to make sure we maintain our leading role as we transition into the new economy.



Attract and Retain Great Teachers

There is no substitute for a great teacher. We want our kids to have careers, not just jobs. We must support the people who are on the front lines in preparing the next generation of innovators.We need to give our teachers more input and more control over the teaching process. We need to better equip teachers with the right tools for a 21st-century classroom and we need to provide them with continuing education and training so that they can better prepare our kids.

Teachers play a critical role in the development of our children and the future of America, but, too many teachers are underpaid and overworked. We need to provide them with better job security, because too many teachers go from year to year wondering if they’ll have a job.

We must improve working conditions so that we are able to attract and retain the highest quality teachers. We must recognize teacher achievement and work to retain our best educators.

Provide Affordable Higher Education Opportunities to Everyone

We know that 99% of job growth since the financial crisis has gone to workers with at least some college education. 72% have gone to workers with at least a Bachelor's degree. These numbers show the importance of providing higher education opportunities to everyone. This is why more than ever, higher education is so important to every student.

­ We need to make college tuition free for motivated students. We need to create more access to higher education for everyone.

­ A great education should not come with great financial liability. Students today are saddled with debt and high-interest rates from loans that hardly cover the cost of tuition. We need to re­work student loan programs so that they are more beneficial to students, and not the banks.

­ Gil will fight predatory lenders, and for college tuition to be tax deductible, so that students can further their education without drowning in debt.

­ We need to increase the American Opportunity Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit. These tax credits should reflect the actual cost of a college education.



Fund the Every Student Succeeds Act

ESSA was a bipartisan bill signed by President Obama that gives control back to the states and local school districts over educational standards. This bill was enacted to correct the flaws in No Child Left Behind and increase the support to both teachers and students. President Trump and Betsy DeVos are refusing to fund this law, which is causing many of our students to fall further behind.

One component of this bill provided college and career counseling, which we know is greatly needed, but President Trump and Secretary DeVos refuse to fund it. Gil will work to ensure we provide all funding necessary for our students, schools, and teachers to succeed.

LGBTQ

This decade has seen more advances in LGBTQ rights than ever before. The Supreme Court in Obergefell v. Hodges gave all Americans the fundamental right to marry, regardless of sexual orientation. We repealed Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, allowing LGBTQ service members to openly serve in our U.S. Military. And we passed the Shepard and Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act which, for the first time, included language that protects sexual orientation and gender identity into the federal hate crimes law. In California, we banned conversion therapy on minors, a state law that has been upheld twice in court. But the LGBTQ community in America still faces many challenges.

In schools all over the nation, LGBTQ youth are still bullied because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, often forced into conversion therapy. Violence and discrimination are aimed at people in the LGBTQ community everyday. And transgender service members are in constant fear of being discharged for openly serving in the U.S. Military. Gil will work to establish programs and pass legislation that promotes safe school environments. Gil supports a federal ban on conversion therapy for minors. Gil believes that it is time to pass comprehensive federal non-discrimination policies that protect every American from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Gil will support the bi-partisan legislation that will protect transgender service members from discharge as a result of their gender identity. In Congress, Gil will fight for full legal protection for the LGBTQ community.

Protect the Rights of LGBTQ Youth

We have seen that LGBTQ youth are more likely to be subjected to bullying and violence in schools which puts them at an increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. A national survey showed that 8 in 10 LGBTQ youth were harassed in school. That number is too high. It is imperative that our schools provide a safe environment for LGBTQ youth to learn and grow. Gil supports programs that provide educators with the tools that they need to protect students from harassment. He knows we need to also provide schools with the resources to succeed in school and in their futures. Gil believes that educators throughout the country must work together to identify best practices for providing a safe school environment. Every student should feel safe when stepping into a classroom to learn.

Archaic practices, such as conversion therapy, should never be forced on minors. Gil supports legislation, such as the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act, which puts a federal ban on conversion therapy for minors. Our country needs to follow in the footsteps of states like California, Nevada, New Jersey, and all the others that have banned this controversial practice state-wide. For years, Republicans in Congress have blocked attempts to pass the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act and other conversion therapy restrictions. Gil will work with his fellow members of Congress to show the success of similar legislation in California and promote the need for a federal ban on conversion therapy for minors.

Pass Comprehensive Federal Non-Discrimination Policies

When President Obama signed an executive order prohibiting discrimination against federal contractors who identify as members of the LGBTQ community, our nation took a big step towards social equality. Gil will build on the progress of the Obama Administration by expanding that non-discrimination policy to protect all employees, students, and consumers in America. When Congress introduced legislation to ensure that tax payer dollars are prohibited from being used to discriminate against the LGBTQ community, Ed Royce voted against it, showing yet again that he opposes equality for LGBTQ Americans. Gil supports a comprehensive federal non-discrimination policy that includes protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Every American should be given the opportunity to pursue the American Dream, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. That means that every American needs equal access to the services and benefits in this country.

Currently, dozens of states lack a comprehensive non-discrimination policy, leaving millions of Americans open to discrimination when seeking employment and educational opportunities, purchasing a home, and even securing goods and services. Ed Royce has repeatedly voted against legislation, such as the Sexual Orientation Employment Nondiscrimination Act, which would have extended protections against discrimination nearly a decade sooner. Gil knows that a comprehensive federal non-discrimination policy is the only way to close the gap and give every American equal access to the opportunity to achieve the American Dream.

Support Transgender Americans

Although we have made strides in protecting the rights of the LGBTQ Community, the rights of transgender individuals are constantly being attacked by Republicans across the country. Since 2015, over 100 anti-transgender bills have been proposed all over the United States. Those bills restricted access to public facilities, such as restrooms, by defining gender as the gender listed on a birth certificate. Republicans made attempts to restrict transgender students from fully participating in school and even ban transgender service members from defending our freedom. Courts and legislators have been successful at blocking all but 2 of the many bills that have been proposed. Gil will fight to repeal any law that discriminates against transgender Americans and he will block any future attempts to implement a discriminatory law. Gil supports legislation that aims to provide equality to transgender Americans, not take it away.

While states like North Carolina have passed legislation that restricts restroom access for transgender individuals, the Trump Administration is trying to impose bans on transgender participation in the military. Ed Royce and his fellow Republicans are attempting to dismantle the progress that our nation has made over the last decade with out of touch policies and rhetoric. The repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was a long overdue step towards equality for the LGBTQ community, but the Trump Administration continues to threaten those successes and strip transgender individuals of the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. Gil stands behind the federal court’s decision to block Trump’s transgender military ban. Gil will ensure that his fellow veterans are afforded equal access to VA benefits regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. Gil will stand alongside the LGBTQ community and push for the priceless rights and equality that is owed.

Americans do not trust their government. This was a problem before Trump that has only gotten worse. Too many families are falling behind while our elected officials are only focused on raising campaign funds, living large or scoring a political point. This is a problem because our challenges will only get harder as new technologies change the job market for millions of Americans, but we do not have elected officials either capable or willing to fight for those who rightly feel left behind.

I am running where I grew up because I am concerned about my community and country. I know how Congress and the Executive Branch work – I served in leadership roles in the Senate, House, and the Obama administration. I learned how to pass good laws and stop bad ones. And, while we need this experience to stop the Trump agenda – what we need most are new voices who will fix our broken government and restore trust.

Our system is functionally pay-to-play and members of Congress operate in the dark while making decisions that are making things so much harder for too many of us. Ed Royce was a part of the problem, but this is about more than just replacing him with a Democrat.

To pass good laws that address the challenges faced by families across the 39th Congressional District, we need to make Congress work again. Here are my ideas on fixing Congress:

Fix How Campaign Finance Works

Money is destroying American politics. Whether its special interests like the NRA using their resources to block gun control or the parade of millionaires trying to buy and influence elections across America, our democracy is in real danger.

• Repeal Citizens United – This must be the top priority of Congress. While it will take years for a constitutional amendment to pass, the process must start immediately. Citizens United opened the floodgates of unregulated money in our system by corporations and special interests.

• End Dark Money in Politics – While Citizens United opened the door to unlimited money inpolitics, this doesn’t mean this money can’t be regulated or lack transparency. All donors and money spent to influence elections must be disclosed. Every Democrat must take a pledge to oppose any dark money spending on their behalf – we must show leadership otherwise we are no different than Republicans. I oppose any dark money used on my behalf in June and ask my Democratic opponents will pledge the same.

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• End the Self-Funding Circus that has become Democratic Politics – We can’t put a “For Sale” sign on our elections and tie party support to the highest bidder. A wealthy candidate for office should have to raise funds and build an operation like everyone else. This shows people beyond your consultants want you in office. Self-funding candidates should pledge to only match their personal donations at the same rate they would otherwise be able to raise from grassroots donors within their district.

• Cap Individual Donations and Corporate Donations the Same – The maximum for a corporate PAC is $5,000 in a primary. For an individual, the maximum is $2,700. This is backwards. Corporate PACs contributions should be capped at the same rate as individuals. I have pledged to not take PAC money from the oil and natural gas industries because I worked in clean energy and saw their undue influence. We must level the playing field.

• Establish a Public Financing Match Program – Candidates meeting a certain threshold – say $200,000 raised – should be able to participate in public financing match. While I am not wedded to the base line number, there should be a minimum threshold that pushes the candidate to do the work of raising money and shows community support. At the same time, a job requirement ofrunning for Congress shouldn’t be that you are a millionaire or have a handful of wealthy donors.

• Ban on Contributions from Government Contractors – If you are receiving a contract from the federal government, you should not be able to finance the campaigns of those who fund these contracts. We spend so much money funding special interest projects when we really need to be funding our schools, roads and public safety. Banning these contributions will keep government honest and is critical as we face tighter budgets in the coming years.

• Ban PAC Trips – An open secret to get around rules prohibiting private interests from funding congressional travel are PAC trips. Members of Congress in both parties will hold destination weekends where wealthy donors and lobbyists pay for a weekend getaway with the Member of Congress. The Member of Congress and their family receives a few nice meals paid for by their donors and a free vacation. This is wrong on so many levels and must be banned.

  Fix How Congress Works

  Congress is fundamentally broken and needs new rules to restore public trust. We are well past replacing Republicans with Democrats as the needed fix. We need steps to hold Congress accountable and make them responsive to us.

• Establish Congressional Term Limits – No one should spend a generation in office, which was the case with Congressman Ed Royce. We need a government responsive to changes in our community. If elected and re-elected, I pledge to serve no more than 5 terms (10 years) in Congress. If you can’t make improvements to our country in 10 years, you have no business collecting a check from taxpayers. While there are examples of Members of Congress who have served for 20 years and contributed immensely, there are also dozens more examples of Members of Congress who literally do nothing other than show up to work, yet have the advantage of incumbency to prevent challengers. We can’t do this anymore – our country and economy are changing too rapidly for Congress to serve as a retirement home.

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• Ban on Member or Member Spouse Lobbying or Family Enrichment – Too many Members of Congress are enriching themselves and their family. Public service should be about helping your community, not becoming a millionaire. There should be a 10-year ban on lobbying for any Member of Congress, their spouse and their children on the federal level. We also must fix our campaign finance laws to ban any spouse, child or family-owned enterprise from being paid by a candidate for federal office. There are prohibitions on using congressional funds to pay family members, but many Members of Congress get around this through their campaign accounts.

• No Secret Settlements – Members of Congress must be prohibited from using tax dollars to settle sexual harassment or any workplace discrimination claims. Likewise, no campaign funds should be used for these settlements. If a Member of Congress is forced to settle a claim, the claim must be made public. Voters deserve to know if their Congressman is harasser.

• No Budget, No Pay – In any other job, you don’t get paid if you fail to do your job. The sameshould go for Congress. If Congress fails to pass a budget and spending bills - which is now the norm in DC - they should not be paid until an agreement is reached. Likewise, if there is a shutdown, Members of Congress should be held responsible for paying the cost of maintaining their offices out of their personal bank accounts until an agreement is reached. Taxpayersshouldn’t foot the bill for incompetence and Members should not be reimbursed.

• Make Schedules Public and Hold Monthly Townhalls – While I can’t mandate this acrossCongress, I can lead by example. My schedule will always be made public because I believe in a transparent government. Voters should know who I am meeting with and when. I will also hold monthly town halls throughout the district to make sure everyone knows what government is doing and how we can fix it.

• Allow Tele-Voting – Members of Congress should be allowed to vote remotely, which will enable them to meet with constituents before key votes, instead of lobbyist, congressional leadership and special interests. Backroom deals have undermined families in the 39th district and across the country. We have the technology where Members of Congress can vote where they live– let’s use it so Congress is connected to communities.

• Cut the Size of Congressional Staff by a Third – As a former Chief of Staff, I saw firsthand how much we waste taxpayer dollars on oversized staffs who functionally do all the work for the Member of Congress, so he or she can just focus on fundraising. If you are in Congress, you should be competent enough to read legislation yourself and decide on how to vote. Some of thegreatest legislative accomplishments in our nation’s history were driven by Members of Congresswith very small staff. The growing bureaucracy in the legislative branch is only meant to make sure lobbyists can have their meetings taken, which, in turn, opens the door to campaigncontributions. Congressional offices shouldn’t be a vehicle for fundraising. Staff should be focused on helping constituents, not serving lobbyists or doing the work for the Congressman.

• End Congressional Pensions – For decades, Congress has failed to ensure our seniors have a secure retirement and now Republicans are trying to cut Social Security. Congress is willing to cut Social Security because their retirement is already covered by the taxpayers. If Members of Congress were forced to rely on Social Security like the rest of us, you can bet that they will make sure the program is solvent.

We are blessed to live in Southern California, which is rich in natural beauty and a constant reminder of the importance of environmental stewardship. In the 39th district, we have open spaces across our community that must be preserved. We also have a burgeoning clean energy sector that is leading the fight against climate change. As Californians, we stand to be disproportionately impacted by climate change. Whether it is the increased threat of wildfires or the negative impact of droughts, we are on the front lines and need leadership ready to fight for our environment on day one. I am running to be a champion for our environment and to help us reach our still untapped potential when it comes to clean energy innovation.

Save Our Open Spaces in the 39th District: Whether listening to the will of our voters and preserving Coyote Hills, keeping Tres Hermanos available to everyone or preserving the hills above Yorba Linda Blvd., our open spaces are a community treasure. We have a long history of open spaces throughout our community, but, as areas have been developed, we are losing our natural beauty. The reality is that onceland becomes developed, we don’t get it back and the next generation misses out on hiking the trails and having the needed escape from busy urban areas. While I am not opposed to development and support addressing our housing shortage, we can do this without removing the hills and open spaces that make our community a destination.

Protect Our Beaches from Drilling: In January, the Trump Administration announced its plan to expandoffshore drilling on California’s coast. Our coastline sets our state apart from the rest of the world. In Congress, I will use every means available to block attempts to open drilling on our beaches and will work with policymakers in the state to slow any efforts to drill. Whether it’s through litigation orrestricting funds for implementation of Trump’s plan, we must stop this extreme attempt to destroy our coast.

Fund the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): We all remember the days of smog alerts and, while we have made progress, we cannot let Republicans undermine the EPA. The EPA has helped transform the air we breathe and the water we drink for the better. Under President Trump and climate denying Scott Pruitt, there is an active attempt to dismantle this organization and take us back to days where going outside or drinking tap water can make one sick. We should not allow what is happening in places like Flint to occur anywhere in America in 2018 and beyond. Whether its undermining Obama-era regulations or cutting funds for enforcing environmental protections, the mission of the EPA is under attack. In Congress, I will fight to make sure the EPA is fully-funded and we are holding Scott Pruitt accountable.

Transition to 100% Clean Energy: We have the technology today to begin the transition to 100% clean energy. The biggest hurdle we face is politics. The Koch brothers and fossil fuel industry have overpowered Republicans and even some Democrats at the expense of our environment and economy. This is why I have pledged to reject any donations from the oil and natural gas industries. I have also pledged to do all I can to move our nation towards 100% clean energy. This means transitioning away from fossil fuels and investing in the next generation of jobs.

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Lead on Clean Energy Innovation: According to the non-profit Solar Foundation, there are over 100,000 solar jobs in California. This includes thousands of solar jobs and small businesses throughout Orange, Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties. Solar is creating middle class jobs throughout our district. Across the country, the solar industry already employs more people than coal and natural gas. Combined with a rapidly growing energy storage sector and growth in electric vehicle adoption, our state is leading on clean energy innovation and we are just getting started.

The key is making sure we have smart policies that encourage competition, deployment and job creation. This starts by removing Trump’s anti-competitive tariffs on solar panels as well as steel and aluminum. While we must encourage American manufacturing, the use of tariffs is an outdated solution that only serves to drive up the costs of solar panels. Instead, we should look for targeted incentives to encourage solar and battery storage manufacturing and deployment to help these industries compete and promote American leadership in clean energy innovation. The fossil fuel industry enjoys millions in subsidies that, along with their political influence, creates an uneven playing field, which hurts our ability to lead. It’s time we correct this and promote the industries and technologies that represent our future.

Promote Clean Energy Adoption: As noted earlier, the technology is here to build a clean energy future. The challenge is building political will. We can do this if we focus on solutions encouraging local adoption. Here are my ideas for building a clean energy future:

• Green School Infrastructure Bank – Earlier this year, the City of Anaheim Public Utilities announced a partnership with the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District to build shadestructures over schools’ parking spaces and picnic tables and cover them with solar panels that generate energy for the utility. The schools will receive a lease fee for use of their campuses. This is the type of program Congress should be encouraging. In Congress, I will introduce legislation to establish a green school infrastructure bank funded by matching public and private dollars to promote the deployment of solar, wind and battery storage to power our schools. This fund will support projects that provide energy to our schools, which will enable schools to sell excess power back to the grid and utilize their energy cost savings to fund our schools.

• Veterans in Clean Energy - Modeled after the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Ready Vetsprogram, I will draft legislation to create a job training partnership between our military, community colleges, apprenticeship programs and the clean energy sector to train veterans for jobs in clean energy. Today, the U.S. solar industry employs 13,000 veterans of the armed forces, a figure which represents 9.2% of all solar workers in the nation, exceeding the percentage of veteran employment in the overall economy. As clean energy adoption expands, we have an opportunity to help those who served once more serve our nation by leading the fight against climate change. It is critical we make sure local training resources are available to train our veterans for these jobs.

• Community Solar and the Post Office – The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) maintains more than 25,300 leased spaces in its facilities inventory nationwide. These facilities encompass thousands of acres and unutilized roofs that could be the site for solar projects. I will introduce legislation to promote using USPS facilities to provide solar power in the communities they serve. Solar produced at the facility can be used to power the USPS, which will lower their operating costs, and excess power generated can be used for community solar projects that power surrounding neighborhoods.

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• Electric Vehicles Adoption – According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, cars and trucks account for nearly one-fifth of all U.S. emissions – emitting around 24 pounds of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases for every gallon of gas. These emissions are also a leading cause of respiratory illness. While electric vehicle adoption continues to grow as cars become more affordable, we do not have sufficient infrastructure to support purchase of these cars. We also have incentives that promote foreign manufacturing over domestic suppliers. In Congress, I will propose inclusion of funding for electric vehicle charging stations in any infrastructure bill. I will also work to fix the electric vehicle tax credit to apply to make sure American manufacturers are not disadvantaged and we are promoting middle class adoption of electric vehicles.

Budget and Plan to Adapt to Climate Change: Climate change is real and it comes with significant costs. We have already seen these costs in Puerto Rico, Houston and South Florida as a result of massive and unprecedented hurricanes. We must put a price on climate change now, which means we must begin to budget for our response to natural disasters made worse by climate change, as well as prevention;otherwise, we will continue to absorb “unexpected” costs, which will be a drain on our budget. AsTrump’s tax reform severely tightens our federal budget, we must double down on adaptation programs inorder to avoid the high costs of catastrophe.

In Congress, I will introduce a matching grant program geared to support state and local climate adaptation efforts. For the 39th district, these funds can help with efforts to wildfire prevention efforts in our hills and canyons already underway by our local fire departments. Funds can also be used to address droughts that will likely be the new normal in the coming years. We must increase water conservation efforts, supporter waste water treatment and water recycling and invest in rebuilding our aging water infrastructure. Climate change is already causing catastrophic financial burden which will only get worse, we must begin making these investments for the future now.

Sam Jammal is a civil rights attorney who worked for President Obama, served in the U.S House and Senate and worked in clean energy, Sam has the experience we need to fight for families in the 39thdistrict. Sam has been endorsed by Democracy for America, Climate Hawks Vote, CHIRLA Action Fund, Dolores Huerta, the International Longshoreman and Warehouse Union Local 13, 63 and 94, the Painters and Allied Trades District Council 36 and former Obama Administration officials. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Sam4Congress to learn more or visit www.sam4congress.com.

We all can picture the image — a white picket fence, nice green lawn and a two-car garage. Owning a home is a defining feature of making it in America. It’s what we all aspire to have.

Today, for an entire generation, this part of the American Dream is slipping away. Millennials — those born between 1982 and 2004 — lag behind in home ownership compared to previous generations. A recent Harvard study found millennial home ownership hit a historic low of 31% in 2015.[1]

There are a number of factors behind the decrease in millennial home ownership — student debt, delayed job market entry, etc. — but it’s not just millennials seeing a decrease in home ownership. Across the board, the nation’s home ownership rate for all ages fell to 62.9%, the lowest in 50 years. In California, where there is a severe housing shortage, home ownership rates lag even further behind at 54.6% — the 3rd lowest rate since World War II.

In Orange County, according to a study by the Association of California Realtors, you needed to make $157,950 a year to own a median-priced home this past summer.[2] The median sale price in Orange County in July was $785,000. As noted by the Orange County Register, the county’s minimum home buying income is almost twice the $83,450 annual income threshold that the 2017 U.S. Housing and Urban Development guidelines categorizes as low-income for a family of four.[3] Los Angeles County fares better with a minimum qualifying income of $103,070 and a median sale price of $566,240.

When you consider that the median income in California’s 39th Congressional District is $81,183, buying a home is out of reach for a large percentage of families in our community. But it’s no longer just purchasing a home that is pricing out families — rent is also too high. For six straight years, rent has increased in Southern California.[4] In Orange County, the average rent for a vacant unit is $1,799. In Los Angeles County, average rent is $1,775. With so few of us are getting raises at work, you have to wonder, “How does anyone — homeowner or renter — get by?”

With numbers like these, it’s no surprise the U.S. Census reports that 38% of those between 18–34 live with their parents. I love my parents and moved home myself in 2015 when I first moved back from DC, but this isn’t how our economy is supposed to work. The American Dream — or even just a taste of it — has become unaffordable.

While some will try to cast this aside as a generational issue, our housing crisis is a drag on our overall economy that must be addressed. According to the McKinsey Global Institute, $53 billion is lost in consumption spending because of housing costs.[5] This means people are tightening their belts and not spending at our restaurants and small businesses.

The reality is that there is no short-term fix or single solution. While much of this will require leadership from state and local government to balance development with congestion concerns and the preservation of a community’s character, there is a federal role.

My foremost federal role will be to use my convening power as a Member of Congress to bring together our community to discuss issues like the cost of housing and homelessness and identify federal resources that combined with local and state solutions will help address these issues. It’s also to make sure our community is heard. Too often — whether it’s regarding Coyote Hills in Fullerton or Tres Hermanos in Diamond Bar and Chino Hills — the voice of our community is being ignored at the expense of developers. I will use my platform to raise community voices.

I will also work to improve federal policy. Reversing the decline in home ownership starts with reversing Trump’s tax reform. In our district, thousands of families will see a tax increase as a result of changes to the mortgage interest deduction last year. We must restore the previous deduction level to prevent penalizing home ownership. Given our high housing costs, more families are reliant on this deduction than in any other state.

We also should look at tax reform as an opportunity to create incentives for first and second time home buying. For a lot of families, their “starter home” has become their permanent home because the jump is too steep to the next level of housing. The growth of the housing market is limited by the lack of upward mobility that we have seen years past. It makes sense to encourage home buyers to upgrade as well empty nesters to explore additional options — which is virtually impossible when their mortgage payments are significantly lower than the cost of an apartment.

Lastly, we must continue to expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, which is responsible for millions of affordable housing units across the country. Affordable housing is essential for building communities and this credit has a record of success. We can’t solve our homeless crisis without real investments in affordable housing. Even more problematic, too many Americans are working full-time and unable to afford housing. We have families on the brink of homelessness due to rising housing costs.

In addition to making sure our tax code focuses on preserving and encouraging home ownership, we need to invest in infrastructure. Congress has consistently passed the buck on improving our roads and bridges. Anyone who spends a morning or afternoon on the 91 or 57 freeways experiences firsthand our need to upgrade our infrastructure. When thinking about infrastructure, we shouldn’t just limit ourselves to making sure our roads are paved (though critical given the poor conditions in Northern Orange County especially). We also need to invest in public transportation to reduce congestion and identify how we will avoid adding more congestion as a result of new development. Livability and sustainability must be a part of the equation as we try to address the housing shortage. We cannot just build and expect communities to absorb the new congestion without a plan.

Finally, we must have a viable home building industry. Part of the problem we face is that supply is not meeting demand. Data by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the number of home building companies shrunk between 2007 to 2012 by 50%.[7] This is a problem because even if the state issued housing bonds or the federal government doubled down on infrastructure, we may not have the workers to do the job. We can address this, in part, by making sure these small businesses have access to capital so they can scale to meet demand. Revitalizing the home building industry also requires having a workable immigration system because so much of our construction industry relies on an immigrant workforce.

One day — hopefully in the near future — I would like to be a homeowner. Home ownership was a part of my family’s American story. As working class immigrants, my parents were able to purchase a home on the border of Los Angeles and Orange County on salaries that could barely afford rent these days. Our home provided my parents the financial flexibility to support my education. We can’t allow the next generation to be a renters-only generation. We need new ideas and outside the box thinking to make sure that the American Dream is still a possibility.

These are some of the approaches I would have our federal government take to address this issue, but I want to hear your ideas on how we can solve our housing crisis. Email me at sam@sam4congress.com.

[1] http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/research/improving-americas-housing

[2] http://www.car.org/marketdata/data/haitraditional/

[3] http://www.ocregister.com/2017/05/15/income-needed-to-afford-an-orange-county-house-now-at-154120-a-year/

[4] http://www.ocregister.com/2017/02/09/average-asking-rent-hits-1800-a-month-in-orange-county/

[5] http://www.mckinsey.com/global-themes/urbanization/closing-californias-housing-gap

[6] http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-mortgage-tax-deduction-20170828-htmlstory.html

[7] http://eyeonhousing.org/2015/09/us-government-number-of-builders-declined-50-between-2007-and-2012/

I am focused on the issues that directly impact our lives. I understand the significance of family and the importance of creating a safe and secure future. We care about tomorrow and often wonder what kind of world our children will live in, and the legacy they will inherit from us who work hard every day trying to make a difference for ourselves and our loved ones.

These are the reasons why it is so important that we make the right choice in choosing who will represent us, as our voice in Washington D.C. I have stepped forward and offered myself to serve you because I can be the voice our District needs. My firsthand experience with the flaws in our healthcare and healthcare administration has granted me the knowledge and tools to improve the system. Who would know how to improve the management of medicine better than a physician? I will push for the development of alternative energy to address the serious issue of climate change. I will support the implementation of new gun laws so our children won't have to be afraid to go to school. I will fight for your opinions in Washington D.C. and be the change we need.

We are going to shape the future and lead the way towards progress. I will work with you to make sure that our government is working for us and pays close attention to what we have to say and listens to what we decide is important.

I will make sure that your voice is heard. Stand with me and speak out against the old ways of politics, empower yourself and together we can make a difference. Whether you are a registered Republican, Democratic, Independent, or any other political party, it does not matter. What matters is that you want to make a change.