On the Issues

Jobs & Economy

As Virginians continue to prepare for a changing economy, we need to anticipate the kinds of skills, training, and degree options necessary for evolving and emerging jobs. Understanding that the Care Economy is fundamental to other economic growth areas is a vital and necessary step. We must expand access to quality childcare, ensure that families are supported with home healthcare and elder care, and that domestic workers are compensated at the levels that they deserve for their essential services. Our workers must be given the opportunity to bargain collectively for fair pay, the benefits they deserve, and safe workplaces. A living wage is a fundamental right for workers and their families.

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Education

Education has been, and will continue to be, a top legislative priority for me. I have championed legislation and budget amendments to provide increased support for our educators and for our most vulnerable students, including English Language Learners and students with disabilities. By supporting our educators and students, by addressing target areas of inequality, protecting vulnerable populations in our schools, and dedicating ourselves to keeping our schools free from gun violence, I am working to ensure accessible and equitable education for all of the Commonwealth’s students. We also must continue to develop pathways for degree-seeking students at our community colleges and public universities while simultaneously increasing workforce career training opportunities.

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Environment

The effects of human-caused climate change are happening now, and Virginia must lead on critical environmental policies, address the concerns of the climate catastrophes that face us, and ensure that we protect precious natural resources for future generations. Key concerns that we have to tackle include reducing carbon emissions, shoring up coastal resiliency programs, protecting communities from the threats of flooding, and addressing the concerns of environmental justice.

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Families

Thriving communities are built on strong and resilient families. Ensuring that families have affordable housing, access to nutritious food, safe neighborhoods, effective transportation, and responsive health care services helps us to build stable communities. Good policy decisions include effective family leave policies, childcare resources, elder care services, well-paying jobs, and other family supports.

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Health Care

Health care is a human right. Every Virginian must have access to safe and affordable coverage, including reproductive health care, safe and legal abortion, and low-cost prescription drugs. We need to address physician and nursing shortages all across Virginia. Further, expanding access to mental health services is critically important for all families.

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Good Governance

Good governance refers to the effective management of governance structures, transparency and accountability, and increased efficiency. Elections are the foundation of our democracy and ensuring access to the ballot box is critical. We must protect and continue to build on the Democratic successes of expanding early voting and no-excuse absentee voting because the right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy. Additionally, we must protect our election technologies, ballots, and processes so that the integrity of the electoral system is maintained.

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