Rights & Freedoms

We are being challenged as a nation in losing our freedoms and inalienable rights - life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

Regardless if you agree or not with certain individuals or ideas, we should always be free to open discourse and challenge those ideas. We are too diverse as human beings to all have the same perspectives and life experiences. We must embrace these differences and have the willingness to listen, learn, and grow from such diversity of thought. Censorship is never the answer.

Every American has the right to protect and defend themselves. The right to bear arms shall not be infringed, and I will fight for second amendment rights.

The Constitution guarantees every American the right to due process. Government surveillance and bulk data programs should never come at the expense of our constitutional liberties.

We must stand up for freedom and liberty for all, together.

Congressional Accountability

There's a reason why the approval rating for Congress is so low. There is a great lack of transparency and accountability from members of Congress who are to serve their citizens.

With long-term incumbencies, politicians have increasingly become out-of-touch representing the need and voices of their constituents. We need to put an end to the 'career politician' and impose term limits. I will work to push legislation to limit the amount of time a member may serve in the U.S House of Representative and the Senate. And if I am honored to be your representative, I would hold myself accountable in limiting my time served.

No member of Congress should ask for a pay increase until they better maintain taxpayers money and balance the budget.

Government Spending & Debt

The national debt is over $31 trillion dollars and climbing. Within the next 10 years, the interest payment alone on the debt is projected to cost taxpayers 1/5 of the federal budget. That's OUR taxpaying dollars. It's frustrating!

Record inflation is digging into the paychecks and harming everyday Americans. Congress devaluing the dollar by injecting trillions of more dollars into the economy has consequences. This is unsustainable, especially for those on fixed incomes and in the lower-middle class where the increase of the costs of goods hit the hardest.

The U.S. Congress must take ownership of their constitutional duty and maintain the purse of the nation, not the Federal Reserve, and balance the budget.

We cannot afford another two years of tax, spend, and print policies. I will work to end the reckless spending of your tax dollars in Washington, DC.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure is a critical economic and social function for our nation. For Maryland's 5th district, transportation has always been one major issue. We need to make sure we effectively invest in making sure our roads, bridges, energy, and even drinking water, are maintained and built for the future.

We need to ensure we have sufficient broadband internet access, to perform the tasks needed.

MILITARY BASES

Our district has a proud tradition of active military, veterans, and corporations supporting our national military structure. I wholeheartedly support our people, facilities, and corporations to ensure our national defense.

We must continue to ensure sufficient infrastructure is maintained throughout our local military bases. Funding to support conventional capability in personnel and material, as well as unconventional capability in the form of cyber security, is a must.

Maintaining our data integrity and enhancing server security is a major component to ensure our sensitive intellectual property is protected, while making sure we have the strongest and most technologically advanced military to protect our citizens, property and sovereignty.

Our local military bases assist in establishing lifelong communities and a strong economy with a public/private partnership.

Immigration

The Biden administration's handling of the borders has empowered the cartels and made America unsafe. We are a country of laws and we must secure our borders.

Immigration laws have been one area in Congress that has seen all talk and no solutions.

Another example, DACA was enacted under an executive order on a temporary basis in 2012 by President Obama. It has been 10 years and Congress has not been able to come to an agreement on an immigration reform bill to send to the president’s desk. Congressional inaction has led to DACA recipients to remain in limbo. It is Congress’s duty to legislate and vote for any changes to immigration law.

The only way we will get any sort of meaningful reform is to create a bipartisan solution. It has to be a multi prong approach that increases security and conditions at our borders, processes the legal backlog of applications to allow those who wish to enter our nation legally, and determines what to do with the multitude of undocumented individuals within the country.

We live in the greatest nation on Earth. It's no wonder why so many wish to immigrate here seeking the American Dream and a better life. Legal immigration is a huge benefit to our nation.

Education

Being fortunate to work in education, I am amazed at the ambition of students wanting to be constantly challenged to learn, develop, and succeed in whichever fields they wish to pursue. It is critical that we continue to prepare our students for the future.

We need to restructure (or eliminate) Common Core. Vocational training and financial literacy should be promoted in secondary schools.

The current strain and stress on teachers and students from federally mandated testing should be removed as well. There is a common theme with teachers I discussed this topic with across the district that; too much testing that takes away too much time from them to teach to their students. Federally mandated testing should be utilized to alter or adjust education standards, and not provide funding based on pass/fail scores.

Parents have the right to choose among all educational opportunities for their children, including home schooling, public schools, and private schools. A student’s zip code should not be the deciding factor for the quality of education they receive and where they attend school. And families should have more of a say in the type of education that best meets the needs of their children, especially those on IEP programs.

Improving our infrastructure to ensure all students have access to broadband internet access is a must.

Consumer Protections

Smart devices and the Internet of Things has made life very convenient. It's never been easier to communicate with friends and find information instantly. However, big tech companies are involved with massive amounts of bulk data collection, and have been leveraging smart devices and apps to track, collect, and sell large amounts of our data to third party companies without us knowing.

How often do you have a conversation with a family member, only to find an ad about something discussed located on an app or website you later visit? What data and information is being collected and sold by our devices and apps? Who 'owns' that data? Then add the other concerns of data breaches, spying, manipulated search and ads based on AI; it makes the consumer vulnerable.

While I'm not a fan of government regulation, bulk data collection has become a commodity and the consumers are being exploited. We need to hold these companies accountable and transparent on the information they record and profit on consumers. Purchasing a device should not force you to forfeit your freedoms.

Foreign Policy & National Defense

National defense is one of the utmost functions of the federal government. We must continue to make sure we have the strongest and most technologically advanced military to protect our citizens, property, and sovereignty, in hope we never have to use it.

The U.S. Constitution mandates that Congress has exclusive power in declaring war. Congress needs to assess the sacrifices and commitment we are willing to make prior to voting for and declaring war.

We have been involved in the Middle East, and other areas in the world, for many years, and cannot continue to fight endless wars. We spent nearly $50 billion to Afghanistan alone every year while involved in that war, meanwhile our national debt continued to skyrocket. That funding could be used here toward healthcare, education, or even reduce the debt.

Healthcare

Since the passing of the Affordable Care Act, over regulation has led to sky rocketing costs and lack of options for health insurance coverage. Consumers should have choice in health insurance.

Transparency in health care costs will open a competitive market; increasing quality of care while lowering costs, will benefit consumers.

Environment

The Chesapeake Bay, Potomac, Patuxent, and other local waterways are a huge economic and environmental benefit to our area that we need to ensure are protected. It's no secret that a lot of the Bay's pollution comes from surrounding states and that is something that needs to be addressed at a federal level.

We can do our part individually, and locally, to protect the environment. We all want to live in a clean environment and breathe clear air. We are stewards to the health of the Bay and the tributaries which feed into it. Environmental conservatism is important in our district and a healthy ecosystem leads to huge economic opportunities.

American ingenuity and competitiveness can play a key role in addressing the environment. Doing so while embracing the free market will encourage innovation, energy independence and modernizing our infrastructure, while reducing emissions and promoting a healthy environment.

Food waste is a contributing problem to greenhouse gas emissions in America. Studies have shown that 30-40% of food grown and manufactured in the United States ultimately ends up being wasted. We need to support businesses and suppliers who identify opportunities to distribute surplus inventory to local food banks.