WHY I’M RUNNING
I’m running to change the way decisions are made in Washington D.C., to bring our fair share of resources to small businesses, create green jobs, invest and strengthen families through neighborhood transformation. I’ve been approached by many in the past: friends, clients and community leaders to run for office, but I’ve always declined. This time, I heeded their calls. I realized that our country is experiencing one of its worst crises ever. The district needs a strong, committed, and experienced leader . A leader who can bridge the cultural gap and bring our diverse constituencies together to transform our neighborhoods and uplift our respective communities.
HEALTH CARE
As a former employee of Jackson Memorial Hospital and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I fully understand the importance of quality health care and as such, I have long been an advocate for adequate and affordable health care for all Americans. I was in Washington the day before President Obama signed the landmark health care bill. I participated in a rally in support of the bill. Although the bill is a great step forward, it still needs work. As your congresswoman, I pledge to work with President Obama for a strong Public Option because as he stated, “It will provide more security and stability to those who have health insurance…and it will lower the cost of health care for our families, our businesses and our children.”
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION
I support programs aimed at renewing our economy and our social well-being. I’m in favor of legislation that proposes an economic recovery based on clean energy, funding for employment and training opportunities, tax credits to small businesses (the basis of our economy), assistance to low income families, neighborhood revitalization, technology innovation, infrastructure improvements and full support for small businesses. I’m excited about the new possibilities of reinventing our economy through weatherizing and energy-retrofitting of every home and building in our state. We need to rebuild our infrastructure (which will provide more jobs), create green jobs and provide more affordable housing instead of providing more tax breaks to the wealthy.
EDUCATION
A good education is the door to our children’s future. Access to quality education is a right. I support plans to fund education at all levels, including elementary, secondary, and post secondary education. The funding will supplement early childhood programs and services as well as education for students and low-income families. Appropriate funding will prevent hundreds of thousands of estimated teacher layoffs, allocate resources for school repairs and improvements, and increase financial assistance for college students.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
The current housing crisis has undermined our economy and decimated our communities. South Florida has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the U.S., leaving our families and communities vulnerable. There can be no stable communities without a stable housing sector.
To prevent future housing crises, I propose to regulate banks and other lending institutions to prevent unethical lending practices and fraud in the finance industry. I want to ensure that consumers have access to clear and easy to understand rules and lending standards.
COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM
I support comprehensive immigration reform that trailblazes with a sensible and fair path to citizenship because legalizing hard working families will have a positive impact on our economic recovery and growth. Giving green cards to undocumented immigrants will protect our National Security. We’ll know who the immigrants are and where they are at all times. Lastly, giving green cards to undocumented immigrants will help protect our borders. Immigrants with green cards will work, start businesses, and make long term investments and plans for the future. Most importantly, they’ll send a flow of remittances to their families at home, thus encouraging them to stay and contribute to the development of their native land versus coming to our shores. Comprehensive Immigration Reform makes strong economic, humanitarian, and political sense.
THE DREAM ACT
I support The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (The “DREAM Act”). I’ve championed the DREAM Act for several years now, organizing locally and nationally as chair of the Florida Immigrant Coalition and a mentor/supporter for young organizers at Haitian American Youth of Tomorrow and Students Working for Equal Rights. The DREAM Act would allow undocumented students who arrived in the U.S. as children and graduated from our high schools the opportunity to access higher education. In most occasions, our tax dollars paid for their twelve-year education. Most have a strong work ethic and value education. They are our valedictorians, student government, and club leaders. When it is time for them to access higher education and eventually give back to society, we deny them this basic right. It is smart to let these aspiring engineers, teachers, doctors, nurses, scientists, organizers continue their education. Our country needs them. I will continue to fight for the DREAM ACT when I represent you in Congress.
IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN
I oppose the war in Iraq and, once elected, I will work with like-minded members of Congress to bring our troops home, with their families, as quickly and as safely as possible. As for Afghanistan, I believe that we should identify our motives and goals in that country, develop an effective and efficient action plan to achieve those goals, and plan a timetable for troop withdrawal.
WORKERS’ RIGHTS
I support workers’ rights to organize and the Employee Free Choice Act, an important piece of legislation to help create good jobs and turn our economy around. Our workers are the backbone of the middle class. More and more jobs are paying less, cutting back on healthcare, or foregoing benefits altogether. This situation hurts all of us. The Employee Free Choice Act would give workers a stronger voice in their jobs and in their future — an important step in making sure our economy works for all of us.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Domestic Violence is a serious problem that impacts every segment of our community. Every sector in our society has seen an increase in the number of domestic violence cases. In Congress, I’ll work to strengthen existing laws. I will support and sponsor federal laws that prevent insurers from denying health coverage to victims of domestic violence.
DOMESTIC MINOR SEX TRAFFICKING
Trafficking children in the United States into the sex trade has been recognized by the U.S. government under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2005. Like Domestic Violence, it is a growing problem that is harder to detect because it involves the exploitation of children. I will review the “Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000” for possible amendments to reinforce prosecutions and strengthen existing outreach services that target the most vulnerable: our littlest immigrants.
JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM
Although the Juvenile Service Departments of Dade and Broward have model programs that have received national recognition, I support reforms aimed at crime prevention for both boys and girls. We are the most powerful nation in the world. I support juvenile justice reforms that invest in gender specific programs and policies to reduce arrests. I believe that a public health approach should be used to develop community efforts to address and prevent youth crime and violence in general.
REPRODUCTIVE CHOICE
I believe strongly in a woman’s right to make educated medical decisions regarding her reproductive health. The health of women is one of my top concerns. Congress must do more to combat diseases that affect women. I will sponsor legislation that supports educational initiatives, promotes awareness and improves access to quality women’s health care.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
I propose working hand-in-hand with the international community on issues that affect us all as global citizens such as: human rights, natural disaster relief, HIV/AIDS and other pandemics, terrorism, the environment, and global financial security. As a member of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, I’m and will continue to be a strong proponent of “Smart Diplomacy” as a way to forge better ties with world nations and work toward World Peace.
