Building care infrastructure and economic equity
What do you see as the biggest barriers and challenges facing the care work industry and care workers, and what are your top policy priorities to address those challenges?
“I support publicly funded social insurance that pays informal caregivers, including family members for the vital services that they provide. Some of that has been included in the Affordable Care Act, but there are a few flaws with how that's written. It includes voluntary enrollment, delayed benefit eligibility, and mandatory self-sustainability. So, I would also support allowing caregivers to use tax-sheltered retirement tools that are available for other workers, and also expand the availability of Social Security benefits to those who work as informal caregivers.”
"I support publicly funded social insurance that pays informal caregivers, including family members for the vital services that they provide.”
Ensuring reproductive and gender-specific healthcare
What do you see as key policy interventions to protect access to reproductive health care in the state?
“As Senator, I would work to increase funding for Title X, something that hasn't happened since 2015, and so there's a huge funding gap there, not just that exists currently, but that has built up over the years because they have not received any funding increases. I would also oppose any efforts to reinstate the domestic gag rule. Congress must also pass a right to contraception legislation in order to ensure that universal access to birth control options exists. I believe that we must continue to respect an individual's autonomy, preferences, and needs by ensuring that person-centered care remains a cornerstone of Title X's mission.”
“Congress must also pass a right to contraception legislation in order to ensure that universal access to birth control options exists.”
Ending gender-based and carceral violence
What are some of your priorities related to ending gender-based and carceral violence?
“Since 2018, we've seen anywhere from 50 to 70% reductions in victim service funding nationwide, due in a large part to underfunding of the Victims of Crime Act, or VOCA. I support restoring these funds and would vote in favor of the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act which seeks to direct access funds collected through the Fault Claims Act into the Crime Victims Fund to make up for that funding shortfall. I would also reject proposals to seek to use VOCA funds for other Department of Justice programs, and support a continued federal funding stream for VOCA funds to be used for tribal communities.”
“I would reject proposals to seek to use VOCA funds for other Department of Justice programs, and support a continued federal funding stream for VOCA funds to be used for tribal communities.”
Developing equitable & accessible government systems
How do you think the tax structure or state budget can be used to create more gender equity and reduce disparities?
“It's worth noting that the National Equal Pay Day represents an average, and that the reality is that racially diverse women don't actually achieve equal pay for the year. Previous until much later in the year, and I think, actually, Native American women reach pay equity last, and this year, I believe it's on November 19th. And so actually, for the last two years, we've been heading in the wrong direction, with National Equal Pay Day actually moving later into the year, which tells us that the gender pay gap is actually widening. In the Senate, I would work to close this gap by expanding tax credits for caregiving. Implementing more progressive tax rates. And also supporting the Paycheck Fairness Act, and Raise the Wage Act of 2025.”
“For the last two years, we've been heading in the wrong direction, with National Equal Pay Day actually moving later into the year, which tells us that the gender pay gap is actually widening.”
Other notable quotes
“I famously wrote on the sidewalk outside of Susan Collins' house that I am in full support of the Women's Health Protection Act, and was asking her to do the same. I would also support repealing the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits the use of federal funds for abortion-related services and denies many low-income folks from having full access to reproductive health services. We need to codify the right to abortion into law, and we need to ensure that everyone is allowed to make the choices that best suit their lives, regardless of their income or geographic location.”