Equality & Opportunity
One of my priorities in Congress is to break down barriers for all people to fully participate in our economy and democracy. The Second Congressional District is an increasingly diverse place, and I am working to make sure people from all over the district can access education, exercise their right to vote and participate fairly in elections, and contribute to our communities. I strongly support marriage equality, equal pay for equal work, and other efforts that make our communities and our country places where people have the opportunity to succeed.
Some in our communities are struggling with homelessness, addiction and mental health issues. I am working to improve access to affordable housing and substance abuse treatment to help members of our communities get healthy and on the path to independence.
Accomplishments
- Support a Constitutional Amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s Citizens United and McCutcheon decisions, which have given the wealthy an outsized influence on elections.
- Introduced the America Votes Act, which would protect voters facing disenfranchisement as a result of discriminatory voter ID laws. The bill would allow voters to sign a sworn written statement attesting to their identity if they do not have the ID required at their polling place.
- Supporter of the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would ensure equal pay for equal work. Closing the earnings gap between men and women will drive economic growth and create more equal opportunity.
- Advocate for equality for members of the LGBT community. Cosponsor of a bill to provide federal recognition for same-sex married couples in all federal programs.
- Working to end workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation.
- Fought to maintain full funding for HUD-VASH, a federal housing program helps veterans experiencing homelessness access the housing resources they need to get permanent housing an onto the path of independence.
- Working to ensure local communities have resources to treat opioid addiction and prevent overdoses. With the sharp increase in heroin addiction in the Northwest, I asked the Obama Administration to provide communities with more resources to address the addiction epidemic and make the overdose reversal drug naloxone more accessible to save lives.
- Called on the U.S. to help with the international refugee crisis by accepting 100,000 Syrian refugees. The U.S. has a long and successful history of offering a safe haven to those who are fleeing violence and severe hardship.