Important Issues
As your representative in Congress, I am dedicated to working for the people of El Paso. During my first term in office I have focused on cleaning up corruption in Washington, lowering health care and prescription drug costs, defending our nation’s values, and advocating for our service members and their families.
Scroll down to see where I stand on the issues and learn how I am taking the lead to solve some of America's most pressing challenges. Civil RightsAmerica was built by diverse individuals and ideas, and we must work to ensure that federal policies reflect that reality. I believe our government should ensure that all Americans are treated fairly, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, disability, sex, or identity. I was proud to vote for the Equality Act, a landmark bill that ensures federal protection from discrimination based on sex and gender identity for all Americans. I also voted for the Paycheck Fairness Act to ensure worker protections regarding wages. Defense and National SecurityEl Paso is home to Fort Bliss Army Base, a major power projection site and strategic asset for our national defense. For many soldiers, we are the last stop before they deploy and the first to welcome them home when they return. Economy and JobsAs a border community, El Paso is dependent on trade, with about a quarter of our jobs linked to trade and the region sees about $80 billion worth of goods flow through our ports of entry. In Congress, I am committed to working to expand our economy and ensure that it benefits everyone. We must invest in small businesses, labor standards, and reform the tax code to boost job growth so that families need not worry about making ends meet. I am proud to support measures such as the Raise the Wage Act, which would raise the minimum wage to $15/hour by 2024; the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would provide equal pay for equal work; and the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, which strengthens laws that protect workers’ right to unionize and negotiate higher wages. View Issue Related NewsEducationI believe education is the surest path to success. From pre-k to college and beyond, it is imperative that Congress makes high-quality education accessible and affordable to all. We must prepare El Pasoans for the workforce and make sure that they can get jobs in this ever-increasing global economy. I am committed to ensuring that every student coming out of our public schools has the best possible education and tools they need to obtain a higher education. I am also committed to uplifting our teachers and making sure they have a salary that reflects their invaluable work.We must also address the teacher shortage that currently exists and ensure young El Pasoans are being prepared to enter the 21st century workforce. That is why I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Fellowships to Prepare the Next Generation of Teachers Act, which would provides fellowships for graduate students who are pursuing doctoral teaching degrees in the fields of STEM, special education and English language. View Issue Related News Environment and EnergyToo often, minority communities have borne the brunt of irresponsible environmental policies while also being inappropriately excluded from decision making. I believe in energy and environment policy that benefits all communities and preserves public lands for public uses. We must work together to promote research and development in clean energy, bolster nascent green energy technologies, protect wild public lands, and keep our environment healthy in perpetuity. I was proud to sponsor the Department of Defense Climate Resiliency and Readiness Act to ensure that one of the largest producers of greenhouse gasses prioritizes necessary developments in renewable technologies, builds on the success of NetZero pilots, and makes judicious use of taxpayer dollars. I also introduced the Targeting Environmental and Climate Recklessness Act (TECRA), to modernize the use of sanctions - a key foreign policy tool - to meet one of our most pressing global challenges: climate change. View Issue Related NewsGun Violence PreventionEl Paso knows far too well the consequences of our nation’s growing gun violence epidemic. On August 3, 2019, a domestic terrorist killed 23 people and injured another 22. View Issue Related News HealthcareHealthcare is a right every American should enjoy, yet El Paso County still has one of the highest uninsured rates in Texas. With out-of-pocket costs and premiums soaring, it is crucial for Congress to come up with solutions for everyday Americans. I was proud to vote in the 116th Congress for several healthcare bills, including the Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act, which would strengthen the Affordable Care Act, bolster protections for El Pasoans, and contains an amendment I introduced to ensure Navigator programs - which help Americans navigate the healthcare marketplace - meet the needs of vulnerable populations. Additionally, I voted for the Elijah Cummings Lower Prescription Drug Costs Now Act ImmigrationThe Democratic House is steadily making progress towards comprehensive immigration reform. I was glad to support the Dream and Promise Act to provide a pathway towards citizenship for Dreamers, TPS recipients, and DED holders. I also put forth my own legislation, the Homeland Security Improvement Act, that would strengthen oversight and accountability measures at DHS by creating an Ombudsman for Border and Immigration Enforcement Related Concerns. Both measures passed the House in 2019. View Issue View Issue Related NewsSenior CitizensIn my time in Congress, I have worked to protect health care benefits for all. I am proud to cosponsor bills, like the Social Security 2100 Act, that willVeteransVeterans served courageously and selflessly to keep our nation safe. It is only right that we honor our commitments to them when they return home. Supporting the El Paso VA, its clinics, and our community’s 50,000 strong veterans are a top priority for me. I am proud to have voted for the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, an effort decades in the making to bring parity in healthcare benefits to our Vietnam Veterans affected by herbicide exposure during service. From modernizing healthcare and patient records, to addressing the suicide epidemic, and ensuring women who served are fully included and supported at the VA, there is always room for improvement. That is why I was pleased to vote for the Deborah Sampson Act to improve access to women veterans’ medical care. |