I firmly believe in upholding the right to abortion as established under Roe v. Wade.

Currently, it’s not safe to be pregnant in Tennessee. Women’s lives and livelihoods are in crisis. We must have the freedom to make our own healthcare decisions without government interference. I will work tirelessly to protect and expand access to reproductive healthcare, including abortion services, IVF, and contraception, ensuring that every individual can control their own bodies and futures.

We must fight for safety of our communities and protect our kids from the current #1 killer of children in Tennessee.

Gun violence is a public health crisis that demands urgent action. I will advocate for evidence-based gun safety measures to encourage responsible gun ownership including universal background checks, closing loopholes, waiting periods, safe storage laws, and regulating high-powered, semi-automatic firearms and high-capacity magazines.

Every family deserves the dignity of meaningful work and the opportunity to not just survive, but thrive.

I will champion policies that support affordability, including the child tax credit, affordable housing solutions, to protect and expand dignified work and provide robust support for small businesses. This includes enhancing access to affordable childcare, and equitable opportunities for income growth. By addressing income inequality and providing the resources necessary for financial security, we can ensure that everyone has the means to make ends meet and build a better future.

Healthcare Access:

Healthcare is a fundamental right, not a privilege reserved for the wealthy. Every American should have access to high quality, affordable healthcare. However, Tennessee leads the nation in medical bankruptcies and 70% of Tennesseans hold medical debt.

No one should have to choose between medical care and food, rent, or paying their bills. That’s why I will work to ensure that every Tennessean can receive the care they need without financial hardship. No one should go bankrupt because of illness or injury.

In Congress, I will support legislation that will lower the cost of prescription drugs and healthcare premiums. I will fight for a public option, strengthen the Affordable Care Act, and address the growing mental health crisis facing our children. I will advocate for doctors who seek to provide the care they are trained and licensed to give.

LGBTQIA+

We have an obligation to protect the civil rights afforded to those within our LGBTQIA+ community: To protect them from discrimination, ignorance and intolerance. This includes fighting against discrimination in all forms, securing marriage equality, and promoting inclusive healthcare policies that address the unique needs of the LGBTQIA+ community.

I have fought against discrimination of the LGBTQIA+ community and I will work to create safe and supportive environments in schools, workplaces, and communities, so that everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, can live openly and authentically without fear of prejudice or harm. Every one of us has the right to be who we are and to love who we choose. In Congress, I would strongly support Tennessee’s LGBTQIA+ constituents and work to pass the Equality Act for civil rights protections regardless of sex, sexual orientation or gender identity.

Civil Rights

Civil rights protections must be safeguarded. Equity, diversity, and inclusion matters to ensure that everyone can be their authentic selves and contribute to their communities and to Tennessee overall. Discrimination of any kind must be fought because it holds back all of us when Tennesseans aren’t able to be safe and accepted in our state. Integrated communities are more empathetic, accepting, innovative and peaceful.

I have fought for equity as Chair of the Metro Human Relations Commission and will continue to fight for this in all my capacities. We have to be vigilant against the constant and unceasing attempts to roll back civil protections and equitable programs, by the Supreme Court and Congress. I support the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2023 and legislation like it that aim to protect voting rights and prevent states from further deteriorating voting rights.

Foreign Policy

CHINA: China has one goal, to prop up their economy, off the backs of the American consumer. Their practices, including the theft of intellectual property and trade secrets, threaten American industry, manufacturing, and jobs. I applaud the recent U.S. tariffs on China, which are essential to the protection and growth of local manufacturing like the new $2.3B General Motors car battery plant in Spring Hill.  

In addition, China is the world’s leading climate polluter. Their practices have made them the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases.  We must ensure their cooperation to address climate change. Further, we must put an end to the threat that China poses to our democracy and the human rights of those who stand in contrast to their authoritarian beliefs.  

UKRAINE: Putin is a threat to democracy, to world stability, and to state sovereignty. The way that he has attacked a truly democratic nation with the aim to control it violates international law. I’ve been shocked at how Congress has dragged its feet in support of Ukraine, but that it was finally approved. The US must continue to support Ukraine to not embolden Putin’s aggressive agenda that threatens our NATO allies. 

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR: The one thing I have heard from both Jewish and Muslim communities is their deep concern for the innocent men, women, and children who have lost their lives in this war. As I’ve said from the beginning, there is no path to peace without a ceasefire. The hostages taken by Hamas must be brought home and the obliteration of Gaza put to an end. Netanyahu and Hamas can do this and the United States, as well as the rest of the international community, must do everything in its power to steer them in this direction.