Nathaniel Hawkins

Civil Rights

In the last several years, the Supreme Court and courts across the country have dismantled and destroyed important aspects of the Voting Rights Act. This has opened the doors for Republicans to pass discriminatory voter suppression laws and exacerbate already glaring inequalities in our system of representation. I am committed to dismantling the legacy of racism, xenophobia, and misogyny so that all people can live with peace, security, and dignity. As a member of Congress, I will bring much-needed representation and change to the House of Representatives and shine a light on the issues that all people of color face at the hands of systemic racism and inequities. Learn more

Nearly half of Trans and non-binary youth in the U.S. seriously considered suicide in the past year and 24% of youth in the LGBTQ+ community reported being physically threatened or harmed. We must protect our students and children of the LGBTQ+ community from targeted persecution from their legislators and school boards who should be advocating for them. It is of the utmost importance that the LGBTQ+ community have the same rights, protections, and freedoms that all Americans are entitled to. Learn more

Defense / Veterans

We must ensure that VA hospitals provide nothing but outstanding care for our service members. As of 2019, Ohio has a veteran population count of 774,935 service members. Among other states, Ohio is ranked 6th in veteran population. So many of our fellow Ohioans, including my father who served in the United States Marine Corps, have served this nation. Now it is our country’s duty to honor & serve them. Learn more

Drug Policy

Mass incarceration and the school-to-prison pipeline create the means to take money out of American taxpayers' pockets, and consequentially abuse and exploit the incarcerated population. These are our young people and our future. Just recently an investigation into the juvenile detention system in Ohio was made public and the findings were shocking. Our young people deserve better. Far too often the criminal and juvenile justice system punishes rather than rehabilitates those who serve time. I am committed to passing legislation that will truly reform how we treat those suffering from addiction, and how we use incarceration as a time to rehabilitate our citizens rather than punishing them. Together we will end the Opioid Crisis in Ohio. Learn more

Education

I support new, forward-looking, and comprehensive investments from the federal government in early learning opportunities, effective 21st-century public schools, and freedom to pursue an education free of debt. In addition, Congress must do more to support and fund teachers and education professionals, so they can work with dignity and support our students' education successfully. Lastly, we must ensure our educational commitments to students last through college, any student who wants to go to college and get their degree should be able to graduate without a lifetime of debt and shouldn't be made to choose between giving themselves an education or affording basic living expenses. Learn more

Environment / Energy

We are failing future generations if we do not transition from fossil fuels to truly renewable energy sources. Advancing progressive climate policy can be made possible by supporting community solar energy projects, grid-enhancing technologies, and many other green projects. We as a nation must promote the broader use of renewable energy sources such as wind, hydroelectricity, geothermal, and solar power in everyday use. Not only will this save our planet, but building and operating these new green energy sectors will create thousands of jobs for American workers. Learn more

We owe it to future generations to control carbon pollution, reduce hazardous air pollutants, and prevent water contamination from toxic waste materials. We can set up a greener future for our country by improving and introducing new public transportation systems such as subways, trolleys, public bus lines, and electromagnetic high-speed railways. These implementations, with the help of creating new “Green Spaces” to reduce urban temperatures, will drastically improve the quality of life of the people in our communities. Together we must take the necessary measures to protect our children & future generations from the deadly impact of climate change. Learn more

Government Reform

I am steadfastly committed to serving as a voice for everyday middle- and lower-class families. I believe strongly in putting people over profits and expanding voter access to the ballot box for all underrepresented citizens of the United States. I will work across party lines in Congress to ensure fairness in our democratic voting process, and to ensure that citizens of the 8th district have their voices heard in Washington, D.C. We must remind lawmakers that we are not just numbers on a spreadsheet and that the choices our Representatives make have real life or death consequences for their constituents at home. Learn more

Guns

-Create magazine capacity restrictions. Learn more

We must also invest more resources into mental health services if we are truly going to ever have a chance at curbing the amount of gun violence that we experience in America. Nearly 2/3 of all gun deaths are suicides. Making sure that there are mental health resources available for people who are in crisis and their families will make a tremendous impact. Putting into place these levers and avenues for people to get help will save lives, decrease gun violence, increase public safety, and keep more people with their loved ones. Nathaniel is committed to passing common sense gun solutions that will make a truly meaningful difference in the lives of our children and the lives of all Ohioans. Learn more

-End the corruption and hold of the gun industry over legislative processes. Learn more

-Require licenses & permits. Learn more

-Red Flag Laws. Learn more

-Mental health evaluations before purchases. Learn more

-Install waiting periods to obtain licenses. Learn more

-More robust background checks. Learn more

-Stop people who have committed domestic violence from purchasing firearms. Learn more

-Funding and support for local community violence intervention programs. Learn more

-Ensuring that U.S. courts enforce licensing revocation for gun dealers and manufacturers who break the law. Learn more

Healthcare

Congress must act to stop price-gouging in the prescription drug market and require the expansion of the already ongoing negotiation of drug prices between pharmaceutical companies and the federal government to cover more medications. Requiring health agencies to issue annual reports on how they've reduced administrative burdens and eased program enrollment processes, including through measures such as: streamlining applications, reducing unnecessary paperwork for social programs, reevaluating work requirements, and reducing the frequency and difficulty of recertification requirements. Taking these actions while also ensuring robust competition in the American pharmaceutical marketplace and instituting much-needed safeguards to prevent lifesaving drugs from being removed from the market is a duty we have to the citizens of this great country. Learn more

Health care is a human right -- and the refusal of the United States to fulfill this basic need for millions in our country is a failure of leadership and basic humanity of the highest order. I believe in passing the Medicare For All Act to guarantee health care to all people living in the United States or another Act like it. It’s long past time to take the for-profit motive out of our healthcare system and ensure that every person has access to the care and treatment they deserve. Failing to stop Big Pharma from working over American families is a public health crisis that is being caused by the greed & ignorance of pharmaceuticals, lobbyists, and politicians who were swayed to remove obstacles so they could make trillions of dollars. Learn more

Housing

There is a housing crisis in our nation. Every day, the burden of excessive rent and housing costs prevents Ohioans from attaining the financial stability they need to live their lives. It prevents them from doing things like starting their families, buying homes, opening small businesses, planning for their futures, and living comfortable lives. For us to fully realize housing as a human right and not just a privilege, we must institute national tenant protections including rent stabilization, restricting evictions without cause, and a tenant right to counsel during eviction proceedings. Additionally, federal grants should be conditioned on reforms to exclusionary zoning laws that local governments often use with nefarious and racist purposes to keep certain types of housing and people out of their neighborhoods. Learn more

Immigration

I support a complete overhaul of our immigration system — including a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants in the U.S., and due process in our immigration system. Many of our own families came to America as immigrants from other parts of the world. They came here seeking opportunity, freedom from oppressive government, safety for their families and the hope that their children and descendants will have a better life. People entering the United States today do so for the same exact reasons as our ancestors. Our immigration system must prioritize dignity, fairness, and opportunity for immigrants seeking a better life in the United States. In keeping with our history as a nation of immigrants, humane & fair immigration reform is of the utmost importance. Learn more

Infrastructure / Transportation

For too long, our country’s transportation system has prioritized automobiles over more community-friendly modes of transportation. The result has become a massive system of complex roads packed with millions of emission-emitting vehicles. Not to mention highways that frequently find their paths along historically black and brown neighborhoods. To build a better, safer, and more sustainable tomorrow, we must end our car-centered transportation for more sustainable, efficient, and competitive transportation. Making investments in transportation modes such as bus systems and railroads. These investments in infrastructure will provide returns back to our communities ten times over the cost to implement them. Learn more

Social Services

Services & programs for the Disabled are lacking. Pre-K-12 schools and programs need more support and funding to ensure all their students’ needs are being met. Some children are lucky to attend a great school that really cares for their disabled, special needs, and handicapped communities. However, it is far too common for children with differences elsewhere to be neglected, abused, and have no way to tell their parents or guardians what is happening. In Congress, I will ensure that children with differences and disabilities will always have a voice and receive the quality of care that they deserve. Learn more

We can end systemic inequity in the Social Security Program by taking several steps. Eliminating the five-month waiting period to receive disability benefits; and enacting caregiver benefits. Taking these steps while also helping low-income workers and their families by setting the minimum benefit at 25% above the poverty line will give citizens on fixed income greater financial independence and increase consumer confidence. Learn more

Taxes / Budget

I support legislation that will repeal the income tax on social security. Social Security deductions are not pre-tax deductions from our wages, so to tax Social Security income when we retire is over-taxation that we are all subject to. Upon retirement, our seniors rely on their monthly checks to cover the essentials of living. Passing legislation to stop this double taxation will free up more money to support the challenges of our elderly citizens being on a fixed income and meeting basic expenses. To cut Social Security benefits for anyone who has paid into the system would be a failure of leadership to the highest degree and essentially the government-sanctioned robbing of the American people. Learn more

Wages / Job Benefits

Every American deserves to work with dignity, be free from harm in the workplace, and be fairly compensated for their time spent away from their families. Learn more

In addition to bringing back Ohio manufacturing, our government must invest in public work programs such as repairing dilapidated highways, bridges and building light rail systems. Also improving public facilities such as hospitals, schools, and recreational centers would create jobs for many Ohioans while also improving our communities. As your Representative in Congress, I am fully committed to closing the wealth gap by supporting a living wage, fighting to expand labor protections for all workers, and bringing jobs back to Ohio. Learn more