Celeste Williams

Civil Rights

Ban the discriminatory and predatory practices that allow banks to earn billions in profits by charging high fees, fines, and interest rates to their most marginalized customers. Learn more

Criminal Justice / Public Safety

Ends for-profit prisons who profiteer off the incarcerated and taxpayers. Ends modern day “debtors prisons” by eliminating cash bail and exorbitantly high court fees and fines. Ends mandatory minimum sentences. Restores the federal death penalty ban. Learn more

Ends qualified immunity for police officers which is frequently used to shield them from facing civil liability for allegations of brutality and misconduct. Requires de-escalation and racial sensitivity training for law enforcement officers. Ends the federal government's 1033 Program providing military weaponry to local police departments. Learn more

Calls for external fully independent investigations when an individual is killed by law enforcement. Mandates law enforcement officers use dash and body cameras. Ends the school-to-prison pipeline by ensuring all kids have access to quality education that meets their needs; does everything it can to limit law enforcement intervention in school-based discipline; and gives schools more counselors, social workers, and nurses than police officers. Learn more

“Bans the box” by prohibiting employers from using a check box on applications asking whether an applicant has a criminal record. Learn more

Celeste supports overhauling our overly-punitive system in favor of a criminal justice system. Learn more

Focuses on preventing recidivism by requiring prisoners to be given educational and job training opportunities Restores the voting rights of citizens who have been released from prison and are living freely in the community. Learn more

End qualified immunity for police officers which is frequently used to shield them from facing civil liability for allegations of brutality and misconduct Learn more

We need to rethink our approach to public safety and focus on reforming our criminal justice system with evidence-based solutions that reduce crime and ensure justice for all. We make our communities safer and save taxpayer money by strengthening community and family services that lift people up, not by imprisoning millions of people. Learn more

Celeste believes the most effective way to fight crime is by fighting the economic inequities and diseases of despair that can lead to criminal activity. We reduce recidivism by restoring dignity and opportunities to ex-offenders who have served their sentence and deserve a second chance. Learn more

Drug Policy

Legalizes marijuana at the federal level, levies taxes on it to be used only for mental health and addiction treatment services, and expunges past marijuana possession convictions. Learn more

Education

Universal public pre-K and afterschool care through 6th grade. Full funding of the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, because every child learns differently and deserves an equal opportunity for educational success. Elimination of punitive standardized tests that don't actually measure academic achievement and punish schools and teachers unfairly. Learn more

Federal protection for teachers to guarantee fair pay, reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs for classroom and teaching supplies, and federally-mandated maximum class sizes to ensure appropriate teacher-to-student ratios Federal-state-local partnerships to create funding mechanisms for public education that don't rely exclusively on property taxes - every child is entitled to quality public education no matter the zip code in which they live. Learn more

Ending the school-to-prison pipeline by ensuring all kids have access to quality education that meets their needs; ban corporal punishment; limit law enforcement intervention in school-based discipline; and give schools more counselors, social workers, and nurses - prioritizing whole child mental, social, and emotional wellbeing. Learn more

Ensuring a well-rounded curriculum valuing science, technology, engineering, art, math (STEAM), civics, and community service, rooted in the principle of cultural representation and respect Providing federal funding for robust ESL programs for students and immediate family members Prioritizing the needs of public schools and ensuring accountability and standards for charter and magnet schools that utilize taxpayer dollars. Learn more

Making 2-year community college and vocational school free of charge so everyone can get the education and training they need to succeed Making 4-year college more affordable by: requiring states to properly fund public colleges and universities; limiting annual tuition increases; requiring transparency about the debt burden, job placement, and starting salaries of graduates by school and degree program; federal loan forgiveness for graduates who go into jobs that benefit the public good and traditionally underserved communities; and, allowing college graduates to refinance and consolidate their student loans as their financial circumstances and interest rates change. Learn more

Celeste believes that world-class public education must be available to all regardless of zip code, race, ethnicity or family income. Learn more

Celeste supports federal education reforms. Learn more

Environment / Energy

Rejoining the Paris Climate Accord Building solar power generation that will help fuel economic development and jobs in rural communities and provide clean energy to the power grid. Stopping subsidies to corporations that benefit from the destruction of our natural resources, including oil and gas companies. Learn more

Implementing a revenue neutral carbon tax and dividend, a measure supported by the bipartisan climate caucus, that would put a tax on carbon emissions by wealthy polluters per ton and then refund the profits of the tax in a dividend to Americans to offset any costs. Mitigating the damage already done by climate change through carbon capture and global reforestation projects. Learn more

Strengthening, not weakening, the Clear Air and Clean Water Acts which protect public health and safety. Investment into nuclear power and ensuring that all reactors meet modern staffing and equipment standards. Modernizing our system of levies, dikes, and dams to prevent deadly floods caused by our changing climate. Strengthen legal protections for public lands such as national parks, forests, and wildlife reserves. Learn more

Guns

Banning 3D printing of firearms. Learn more

Disarming all domestic abusers - including dating partners, stalkers, and family members - not just married partners. When abusers have access to firearms, domestic violence victims are five times more likely to die. Learn more

A federal ban on buying, selling or using high capacity magazines; since whether or not a state has such a ban is the single best predictor of mass shooting rates in that state. Learn more

Stronger penalties for gun traffickers who illegally move firearms across borders. Learn more

Implementing Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO), like the law implemented in Connecticut which has reduced firearm suicide rates by 14% since implementation. ERPO laws prevent tragedies like murders and suicides while guaranteeing due process. Learn more

Healthcare

Automatically enrolling all newborn babies into Medicare Offering job transition and re-training for the millions of workers currently employed in the private insurance sector. Learn more

Rewarding effective use of care coordination to manage chronic illnesses. Expanding access to care in rural communities through telemedicine and incentives for healthcare professionals to practice in more remote areas. Addressing non-medical barriers to care like transportation, inflexible employment, and high cost of living that make it difficult to get needed care by increasing reimbursement rates for community health worker services and telemedicine. Learn more

Creating a public non-profit pharmaceutical company that can manufacture key generic drugs here in the United States to ensure their availability, affordability, and safety. Learn more

Increasing federal reimbursement rates to healthcare providers to ensure smaller and rural hospitals, in particular, can remain open and solvent Ensuring comprehensive coverage for all that includes prescription medication, preventative care, mental health care, substance abuse treatment, chronic disease management, dental, vision and long-term care options. Learn more

Lowering the cost of healthcare by focusing on prevention and wellness, keeping people healthy and out of the hospital. Learn more

Significantly expanding access to mental healthcare by providing incentives to primary healthcare clinics that locate behavior clinicians in their offices Enabling any individual to have access to a Medicare health plan regardless of age or income. Learn more

Protecting our country against pandemics by properly funding the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and state health departments so they can track, monitor, and prevent novel viruses before they get out of control. Learn more

Lowering the price of prescription medication by allowing federal health systems to negotiate prices for prescription medication based on the international price index. Learn more

Celeste supports healthcare reform that ensures universal coverage, improves quality of care, and lowers costs. Learn more

Expand access to care in rural communities through telemedicine and incentives for healthcare professionals to practice in more remote areas Learn more

Enabling any individual to have access to a Medicare health plan regardless of age or income Learn more

Celeste believes all human beings need healthcare and financial means should not be used to deny care. No one in America should ever go broke just because they get sick. Learn more

Offer job transition and re-training for the millions of workers currently employed in the private insurance sector Learn more

Automatically enroll all newborn babies into Medicare Learn more

Creating a public non-profit pharmaceutical company that can manufacture key generic drugs here in the United States to ensure their availability, affordability, and safety Learn more

Address non-medical barriers to care like transportation, inflexible employment, and high cost of living that make it difficult to get needed care by increasing reimbursement rates for community health worker services and telemedicine Learn more

Ensure comprehensive coverage for all that includes prescription medication, preventative care, mental health care, substance abuse treatment, chronic disease management, dental, vision and long-term care options Learn more

Significantly expand access to mental healthcare by providing incentives to primary healthcare clinics that locate behavior clinicians in their offices Learn more

Immigration

Places higher value on job skills, rather than country of origin for work permit consideration. Includes a guest worker permit structure to expand legal work opportunities to individuals who prefer not to permanently migrate but have job skills needed by U.S. employers. Offers refuge to families fleeing violence, oppression, and economic hardship caused by climate change and natural disasters. Learn more

Provides a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients and residency rights for their parents Prioritizes keeping family units together Fills labor market shortages and fuels economic growth Maintains and improves the screening and vetting necessary to protect domestic security. Learn more

Wages / Job Benefits

Fighting for a livable wage that keeps up with the cost of living and includes hazard pay for essential workers during times of crisis. Ending the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers and workers with disabilities and extending the federal minimum wage to all workers. Learn more

Securing equal pay, universal paid sick and family leave, healthcare for all, and equal protections for all workers. Strengthening trade deals to benefit American workers. Protecting workplace safety by guaranteeing access to worker’s compensation, maintaining workplace safety standards, and providing necessary personal protective equipment to keep workers safe. Learn more

Enforcing existing labor laws and penalizing companies that do not follow them. Protecting whistleblowers who report unsafe conditions or unethical practices. Supporting unions which have been the backbone of the working class economy and successfully fought for protections including the weekend, the 40-hour work week, workplace safety standards, the federal minimum wage, and paid vacation and sick days. Learn more

Increase the federal minimum wage to $15. Learn more