Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives - New Jersey 2nd Congressional District in 2020 New Jersey Primary Election.
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Get StartedI believe that life is humanity’s most precious resource. Taking of a human life, in my opinion, is the sole providence of our Creator. In addition, modern scientific techniques have proved the innocence of convicted death row inmates. Learn more
Our missile defense, telecommunication, and infrastructure (water, energy) systems are heavily dependent on computer systems and artificial intelligence. Recent reports by the Government Accountability Office highlighted specific cyber vulnerabilities in our missile defense system and electrical grid. Recent prosecutions or alerts by our government confirm Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and other countries are actively endeavoring to exploit these vulnerabilities. I will ensure that federal agencies charged with cybersecurity protection have resources to do their job and that Congress exercises adequate oversight to ensure these agencies are fulfilling their cybersecurity duties. Learn more
Veterans returning home from deployment and exiting military service face several challenges. Veterans reentering the labor market are at a competitive disadvantage with their peers. While veterans were serving their country, their peers were furthering their education and establishing a work history. In many cases, veterans return home with physical or emotional injuries. While progress has been made in treatment of physical injuries, veterans still face considerable challenges in obtaining treatment in a timely and convenient manner. A more concerning problem is the delayed diagnosis and treatment (D/T) of emotional injuries which can have serious consequences (job loss, drug or alcohol dependency, depression, homelessness, suicide). I will support measures designed to bring veterans into educational and workforce parity with their peers. I will also support measures to ensure that veterans receive prompt D/T of all physical and emotional injuries at either a VA approved facility or a private facility of their choice. Learn more
The Armed Forces of the United States should be deployed only in those situations where there is a direct threat to the security of the United States, or where US military assistance has been requested from a US ally with whom we have a security agreement, and the security of that ally is being threatened. As soon as is practical, the mission of any US military deployment must be clearly articulated to both the American public and the military. Once engaged, withdrawal should begin only after that mission has been achieved. I support the continued presence of residual US forces in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, for the purpose of training allied forces, and for gathering intelligence on terrorist groups so as to prevent a resurgence of terrorist activity by those groups. I am adamantly opposed to “Nation building”. Learn more
I also support reentering the Paris Climate Agreement in order that the US may take a leadership role in urging other nations to take aggressive action to combat greenhouse gases and other pollutants. Learn more
Moreover, the Trump Administration is now considering weakening Obama era regulations designed to control methane emissions into the atmosphere. Methane, by some accounts, has eighty times the heat- trapping power of carbon dioxide. I support maintaining the methane-related regulations as they currently exist and will advocate for a return to the vehicle fuel economy standards sought by the previous administration. Learn more
Scientists worldwide, NASA, and other government agencies have provided compelling evidence that climate change is real and is having a harmful effect on our planet. Solar energy from the sun is absorbed at the earth’s surface and radiated out to the atmosphere as heat. Greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide) in the atmosphere capture much of this radiating heat and release much of it back to the earth, causing global warming effects such as melting ice caps, rising sea level etc. Obama era regulations designed to improve vehicle fuel economy standards, thereby greatly reducing vehicle emissions, the largest source of carbon dioxide, have been weakened by the Trump Administration. Learn more
Americans have a constitutionally protected right to own firearms, however, our children and others have a much greater right to live. In District of Columbia v. Heller, the Supreme Court affirmed the right to bear arms but ruled that this right was not absolute, and that guns and gun ownership would continue to be regulated. To protect the right to life, I support background checks for all firearms purchases; no time limitation on background checks, and “red flag” laws to protect the public from gun owners who display a proclivity to harm themselves or others. I also believe that no “weapon of war” should be available for purchase by the public. None of these measures, in my opinion, unreasonably infringe on the right of an American to own a non “weapon of war” firearm. Learn more
In regard to ACA survivability, Republicans have successfully argued in federal district court that the ACA should be ruled unconstitutional in its entirety. They argued that the Supreme Court’s affirmation of the ACA was based on the fact that the individual mandate was a “tax”, and that since the individual mandate has been repealed, the tax is $0.00. This matter is still pending in the courts. I recommend reinstatement of the Individual Mandate penalty, even if only a nominal amount, to preserve all aspects of the ACA, including the coverage of pre-existing conditions. Learn more
I have offered two proposals that address these three concerns. Under my first proposal, UIs who have not committed a serious felony would be eligible for a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA). Under the terms of the DPA, each adult UI would pay a fine for illegal entry into the US. They would also pay a separate fine if they committed additional criminal activity. The UIs would also have to perform Community Service and file all future tax returns. At the end of a three- year probationary period, UIs who abided by the terms of the DPA would be given permanent legal status. Under my second proposal, UIs that have knowledge of egregious criminal activity (i.e., human trafficking, drug trafficking etc.,) could enter into a “Cooperation Agreement” (CA) with the government. Under the CA, the UI would provide the government with information regarding criminal activity and also assist the US in the prosecution of those involved. In return for their cooperation, the UIs would be eligible for a reduction/elimination of the penalties imposed by the DPA. Learn more
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) disproportionately benefited the wealthiest American taxpayers. Households earning between $50,000 to $75,000 received an average tax cut of $870 or 1.6% Households earning over $1,000,000 received a tax cut of $69,660 or 3.3%. Learn more
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