★ An Economy that Works
Eastern Washington families are working hard — but too many feel like they’re falling behind. Housing costs are rising. Wages haven’t kept pace. Childcare is expensive and hard to find. Many seniors worry their retirement is not secure. An economy that works for everyone means more than a rising stock market - it means stability, opportunity, and dignity for the people who power our communities every day.
Here’s what that looks like:
Affordable Housing:
Throughout Eastern Washington housing prices and rents have risen faster than incomes. Many struggle to buy their first home. Seniors on fixed incomes feel squeezed. The root cause is our housing shortage – building just hasn’t kept pace with demand because construction costs are too high, permits take too long, we have a shortage of skilled workers, and too much land is locked up by outdated use rules.
I’ve been hosting listening sessions and town halls over the last several months.
What I’ve heard across the district is that our Representative in Congress is not working for US.
This is why I’m running to replace him.
My priorities reflect the conversations I’ve had with you.
We can cut tariffs on building materials while supporting American manufacturing, and speed the permit process by having pre-approved, standardized building plans for contractors. We can invest in trade schools and apprenticeships, which will create a work force ready to build. The federal government can incentivize local communities to open the path for more building.
Incomes That Support Families
A strong economy should reward hard work. That means expanding access to family-wage jobs, supporting unions, and local businesses. We need to invest in the industries we have in Eastern Washington – like agriculture, healthcare, education, and skilled trades – and we need to bring more manufacturing and clean energy jobs to our region. We can build opportunity here at home.
Child and Elder Care Solutions for Working Families
Families shouldn’t have to choose between their paycheck and their children or elders. Across Eastern Washington, families tell me that quality care is too expensive and too scarce. We need common sense approaches that increase access, support local providers, and give families flexibility — without adding unnecessary bureaucracy. The federal government can provide grants, low-interest loans, and tax credits to open more childcare centers and in-home care options for kids and the elderly. We can support care workers with better pay to reduce turnover, and collaborate with state leaders to streamline licensing and oversight.
Access to a Secure Retirement
After a lifetime of working, people deserve peace of mind. That means ensuring the solvency of Social Security and Medicare, strengthening retirement savings options, and ensuring seniors aren’t forced to choose between prescriptions, groceries, and keeping the lights on. Retirement should be secure and enjoyable — not stressful.
★ A National Health Policy That Puts Patients First
Healthcare isn’t theoretical to me — it has been my life’s work. I’ve led military medical facilities and civilian hospitals. I’ve balanced budgets, recruited physicians, expanded services, and fought to keep care accessible in communities that depend on it. I’ve seen what works — and what doesn’t. Too many families in Eastern Washington struggle with rising premiums, high deductibles, and uncertainty about access to care — especially in rural areas. We can do better.
Medicare for All Who Want It
Every American should have access to reliable, affordable coverage — period. If you like your private insurance, you should be able to keep it. But if you don’t have coverage, or your options are limited, or too expensive, you should have the choice to buy-in to Medicare, no matter your age. This is about expanding options, not eliminating them. Healthcare decisions should be driven by patients, their families, and their doctors — not dictated by insurance company fine print, or elected officials.
A Focus on Prevention
The best healthcare systems don’t just treat illness — they prevent it. Investing in primary care, mental health services, and community-based prevention programs saves lives and lowers long-term costs. Preventive care keeps families healthy, reduces emergency room visits, and strengthens our workforce. Smart prevention is both compassionate and fiscally responsible.
Investment in Research
Medical research has transformed lives — from cancer treatments to life-saving vaccines. We must reinvest in evidence-based research, drive innovation, and improve care for patients everywhere — including here in Eastern Washington. When we invest in real science, it adds more years to our lives, and more life to our years.
Sustainable Rural and Urban Hospitals
Rural hospitals are lifelines. Across Eastern Washington, most facilities operate on razor thin margins. When a rural hospital closes, it doesn’t just affect healthcare — it affects jobs, local businesses, and emergency response times. We can choose policies that ensure hospitals —both rural and urban — can remain financially sustainable while delivering high-quality care.
★ Supporting Agriculture and Rural Communities
Agriculture isn’t just an industry in Eastern Washington — it’s a way of life. Our farmers feed the country and the world. They take on enormous risk every season — from weather and input costs to labor shortages and shifting global markets. Farmers deserve policies that provide stability, not uncertainty. Strong agriculture means strong rural communities.
Protecting Farm Viability
Family farms operate on tight margins and long timelines. Sudden policy shifts, unpredictable tariffs, and rising input costs threaten their survival. We need stable, predictable federal policies that protect crop insurance programs, maintain access to labor, and lay out long-term trade agreements so farmers can plan for the future with confidence. Farmers want to spend their time growing crops — not navigating chaos.
Promoting the Next Generation of Farmers
The average age of American farmers continues to rise. If we want agriculture to remain strong, we must make it possible for young people to enter the field. That means improving access to capital, supporting ‘Beginning Farm’ loan programs, expanding agricultural education, and reducing unnecessary barriers for new producers. We should make it easier — not harder — for the next generation to carry on this work.
Long-Term, Favorable Trade Agreements
Eastern Washington agriculture depends on global markets. Our crops of wheat, apples, cherries, garbanzos, lentils, and so many more, rely on strong export relationships. Trade policies must be strategic, consistent, and designed to open markets — not close them. Farmers need long-term agreements they can rely on, not short-term political fights that disrupt demand and pricing.
Investment in Crop and Climate Research
Research strengthens resilience. Investing in crop science, soil health, and climate adaptation helps producers respond to changing conditions, improve yields, and remain competitive. Smart research keeps American agriculture strong and innovative. We should invest more, not less, in Washington State University, which leads the way in crop and climate research.
Responsible Water Stewardship
In Eastern Washington, water is everything. We must protect and manage our water resources responsibly by balancing agricultural needs, community growth, and environmental sustainability. That means investing in irrigation infrastructure, supporting conservation practices, and working collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure long-term reliability. Water policy should be practical, science-based, and rooted in local and tribal input, because those closest to the land understand it best.
★ Protecting Our Rights and Ensuring Safety
The first responsibility of the government is to protect the rights and safety of its people — that begins by upholding the founding principles in our Constitution. When I was commissioned an Air Force officer at 23 years old, I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution. That oath shaped my career, and my life. It now calls me to serve as your representative in Congress.
Security and liberty are not competing values. You cannot have one without the other. We must safeguard both.
A Legal and Humane Immigration Policy
We are a nation of laws — and a nation built by immigrants. We need a secure border and an immigration system that is orderly, lawful, and compassionate. We must treat people with dignity and uphold everyone’s right to due process. It is our moral and legal obligation. That means modernizing our immigration system. Enforcement should be humane, and conducted at the border by an overhauled Border Patrol - not in our neighborhoods by ICE. We need to pass the DREAM Act and create a path to citizenship for immigrants with no history of violent crimes who already live, work and pay taxes here. We can be strong and compassionate at the same time
A Strong Military for Defense, Not Offense
As a retired Air Force Colonel, I know the world is a dangerous place. We need a military that is strong, disciplined, and prepared. Our military members must understand that their duty is to support the Constitution, and know an illegal order when they see one. Our armed forces exist to defend the United States, deter aggression, and protect our allies – not for aggression, adventurism, or imperialistic impulses. The military should never be used carelessly or without clear purpose. The military is for “the common defense,” as stated in the Constitution – not for offense.
Strength means readiness, accountability, and strategic clarity — not endless conflict.
Robust Oversight of the Executive Branch
No one is above the law. The Constitution establishes checks and balances for a reason. Congress has a duty to exercise oversight, ensure transparency, and hold any administration accountable — regardless of party. Oversight is not partisan, it is a constitutional responsibility, and key to a functioning Republic.
Ensuring Congress Does Its Duty
Congress often reacts, rather than leads. Sometimes it doesn’t even react. It is Congress’s responsibility to debate, legislate, and solve problems — not to fight one another and amplify division. Representatives are elected to serve their constituents, not to serve party leadership o special interests. I will fill this role with integrity and independence, and give it the seriousness and commitment that Eastern Washington deserves.