Economic Expansion

As an engineer by training – I firmly believe that systems should be analyzed and re-engineered for optimization and enhancing outcomes. Our nation was built from rural investments to urban industrialism. In the last three decades – declining population, loss of manufacturing jobs, lowering prices of agriculture commodities and more recently – tariffs, have placed the rural regions of our country in economic distress. I support targeted and strategic investments in water and sewer infrastructure, broadband, agriculture innovation, biofuels, clean energy options of wind, solar, and our highway system in order to revitalize rural economies. In closing the rural-urban divide through these re-investments – we will be able to create jobs while stabilizing underserved communities and strengthen our economy. In promoting economic development, we must work closely with our community colleges for building a skilled workforce and k-12 education systems for promoting career ready graduates. Main street revitalization and access to federal incentive programs are key contributors to growing corporate and small businesses, creating 21st century jobs and securing prosperity for all Americans. The formulas we write in Washington DC should work in all areas of our Union. We are at a critical juncture in our nation where we must use our economic tools to promote job creation through ensuring a healthy environment for growth and support of small businesses. Our economic policies, tax and spend planning and regulations should be constructed in a manner that provides businesses with certainty and incentives, and consumers with confidence and more income. Tax cuts, government spending and fiscal policy should build the middle class and benefit more than the wealthy. I favor conservative fiscal principles and believe that retooling our formulas for business incentives should prioritize job creation. SB 137 – Surcharge Transparency

SB 174 – Economic Security Act of 2017

SB 236 – Efficient and Affordable Energy Rates

SB 255 –

SB 329 – Econ. Dev./Renewable Energy Credit

SB 335 – Budget Technical Corrections & Study

SB 340 – Econ. Dev./Job Catalyst Fund

SB 354 – North Carolina Healthcare Jobs Initiative

SB 170 – Remove Limits on Light Rail Funding

SB 171 – Remove Limits on Light Rail Funding

SB 172 – Remove Limits on Light Rail Funding

SB 174 – Economic Security Act of 2017

SB 592 – Small Business Access to Capital Act

*SB 615 – Rural Broadband/Infrastructure

*SB 137 – Economic Security Act

SB 310 – Electric Co-Op Rural Broadband Services

SB 315 – North Carolina Farm Act of 2019

SB 505 – Rural Job Retention Act

SB 591 – One NC Funding for Small Businesses

SB 627 – Expand GREAT Grant Program

SB 652 – Small Business Capital Improvement Account

*SB 665 – Omnibus Rural Investment Act

*SB 666 – Cybersecurity and Robotics Funds *Primary Sponsor

Environmental Stewardship

Our state and nation is rich with agriculture, eco-tourism, natural resources, including mountains, beautiful lakes, rivers, streams and coastal beaches. I support environmentally responsible growth that harnesses these resources toward promoting clean energy initiatives, fishing and wildlife protections as well as our state’s number 1 industry “farming”. I support solar and wind energy installations, broadband expansion and environmental justice for land owners. A Green New Deal Promoting Environmental Stewardship! Currently, I represent several counties in northeastern NC that experienced major impacts from Hurricanes Matthew and Florence. I learned, first-hand, the importance of providing responses to natural disasters with an organized, comprehensive and structured response that address immediate emergency needs and sets resiliency planning. The types of 100-year, and 500-year floods that we have experienced in two years across this nation is a warning to America that we must have a more proactive plan to deal with global warming, climate control and disaster responsiveness. Communication is a key component in responding to disasters. In this vain, we must continue to invest in satellite and communications technology that provide early prediction and monitoring of storm patterns in order to evacuate as many people as possible out of the eye of the storm. We must further perform analysis of climate change and implement policy and target goals for reducing emissions and carbon-power generation. Other necessary steps would be to re-locate threatening industries outside of the flood plains so that we can limit pollution to our clean water supplies that result from spillage, pond overflow, and flooding. Our local, state and federal planners must optimize engineering designs for emergency structures that withstand category 2, 3, 4 winds and stop relying on schools – many of which are in no condition to safely house residents in a storm. There must be federal, state and local efforts to audit regulations, policies and statutes with various EPA, Emergency Management and FEMA related to crisis response and modify any current practices for more optimized results. * SB 236 – Efficient and Affordable Energy Rates

*SB 257 – Steel Manufacturing Slag.

SB 447 – Energy Investment Act

SB 372 – Renewable Energy Safe Harbor

*SB 236 – Efficient and Affordable Energy Rates

SB 657 – Study Hexavalent Chromium in Groundwater

*SB 2 – School Calendar and Pay/ Hurricane Florence

*SB 3 – 2018 Hurricane Florence Disaster Recovery Act

SB 77 – Ag Disaster Fund/Certain Counties

SB 511 – EV Charging Station/Parking

SB 513 – State Clean Energy Goal for 2050

SB 648 – Support Shellfish Aquaculture

SB 651 – Polluter Pays

SB 653 – Add'l Measures for Emerging Contaminants

SB 655 – Ban PFAS in Fire Retardant Foam

*SB 663 – Agricultural Relief Act *Primary Sponsor

Education Equity

I believe it is time to bring a universally progressive, business-minded and workforce connected emphasis to K-12 education. My unique experiences as a secondary STEM educator and former school board member empower me with the understanding of optimizing stakeholder connections. If we are to regain our standings as international leaders in public education promoting career and college readiness curriculum, then we must retool our public education system. With the Federal Every Student Succeeds Acct (ESSA), we finally have the flexibility to implement an accountability program that promotes problem-based learning over high stakes testing. We can better prepare workers for the 21st century by aligning our curriculum with enhanced Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.) in companion with multidisciplinary ‘whole-child’ curriculum. We should further tailor individualized education plans that prepare every student for a brighter future regardless of their choice of learning environment (Traditional, Home, Virtual, Charter, Nonpublic, hybrid). I will work to provide a quality K-12 education for students and the resources they need to acquire this in the learning environment most conducive for their progress, with a priority on strengthening the public schools of our nation. Community Colleges with strong curriculum programs and short-term workforce training offer the optimized option for retooling our workforce and ensuring the security of America with an educated citizenry and large pool of skilled labor. We must make Community College as affordable as possible, or at minimal cost of less than $500 in tuition per term. While I am an engineer by training, I warn against having an over-emphasis on S.T.E.A.M. that discounts the need for skilled trade and fastest growing professions of personal care, wind turbine and solar panel maintenance and installation. Through apprenticeship programs – we can enhance the workforce needed for 21st century jobs and professions that do not require a four-year, Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree. *SB 5 – Public School Building Bond Act of 2018

SB 30 – Value Student Learning Act

SB 31 – Restore Teaching Fellows Program

SB 107 – Restore Masters-Degree Pay for All Teachers

SB 147 – Reenact School Sales Tax Holiday

SB 149 – Modify School Performance Grades

SB 153 – Military Retiree State Income Tax Relief

SB 154 – Charitable Fund-Raising for Nonprofit Orgs

*SB 259 – School Calendar Flex./ Certain School Systems

SB 121 – The Excellence in School Leadership Act

*SB 226 – School Calendar Flex./Certain School Systems

SB 228 – Voter Freedom Act

*SB 233 – Permit Align School/Comm. College Calendar

SB 234 – SBA Pay/Needs-Based Pub. Sch. Capital Fund

*SB 259 – Restore Master’s Degree Pay for All Teachers

SB 283 – Classroom Experience for School Personnel

SB 301 – Need-Based Scholarships/Private Colleges

SB 312 – Surplus Computers for Low-Income Students

*SB 318 – School Calendar Flexibility/PED Report

*SB 321 – School Calendar Flexibility/PED Report

SB 332 – Repeal HB 2

SB 384 – Increase Pay/Experienced Teachers

SB 409 – Need-Based Scholars/Private Colleges

SB 418 – Dyslexia Kindergarten Screening

*SB 447 – Turning TAs Into Teachers

SB 448 – Professors in the Classroom

SB 449 – Early Ed Articulation Agreement

SB 706 – HBCU Innovation Fund

SB 401 – Pilot/Sports for Students w/ Disabilities

*SB 855 – Modify School Performance Grades

SB 149 – Modify School Performance Grades

SB 301 – Need-Based Scholarships/Private Colleges

SB 418 – Dyslexia Kindergarten Screening

SB 438 – Allow Senior Citizens to Audit UNC/CC Courses

SB 439 – Funds/Eliminate NC Pre-K Waitlist Statewide

SB 442 – Study/Expand Computer Science to All Students

*SB 447 – Turning TAs Into Teachers

*SB 466 – CIHS Funds

SB 652 – Increase Access to Higher Education

SB 319 – Modify Weighting/School Performance Grades

SB 298 – Private IHE/Campus Police/Need-Based Schol.

SB 329 – K-3 Reading and Literacy Improvement Act.

*SB 389 – Surplus Computers for Public Schools

SB 399 – Rehire High-Need Teachers

SB 487 – Student Meal Debt Policy

*SB 500 – Modify Advanced Math Course Enrollment

*SB 582 – NC Comprehensive School Accountability

SB 602 – NC Hope Tuition Program

SB 654 – Charter Schools Provide Transp. & Food

*SB 661 – UNC HBCU Funding Parity/NC A&T Doc. Programs

*SB 48 – Permit Align School/Comm. College Calendar *Primary Sponsor

Equitable Healthcare

North Carolina and Congress has a duty to our citizens to provide access to health care, whether long term care and assisted living for senior citizens through Medicare or by expanding Medicaid for those who struggle and cannot afford access. According to a recent Health Insurance Org study, NC’s failure to expand Medicaid has resulted in denied coverage for over 800,000 eligible patients, rejection of approximately $40 billion dollars over the next decade, a denial of over 40,000 health care jobs that could be created and the likely more than 1000 deaths per year due to lack of access to care. Our citizens pay taxes that fund Medicaid expansion in other states. This is not right, and we can do better than this. Improved Medical Care / Healthcare for all! When elected to serve as your next US Senator, I will fight to maintain affordable healthcare for all Americans, prescription drug price controls, advancing medical research for curing cancer, HIV/AIDS, and access to Women’s Reproductive Healthcare. In addition, I am committed to improving health ratings in low scoring regions and populations in our country through coordinated strategies for improving ratings. I will work hard as your US Senator to increase access to preventative health, increase recreation access and fitness awareness and promote access to healthy food options. Nationally – we can seek more resources through Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for funding programs to address these disparities through community health partnerships. Providing more access to preventative care by closing the healthcare coverage gap through expansion of affordable healthcare for all would make a tremendous impact with reducing high costs of patient emergency care and provide early diagnosis and prevention of serious illness. Addressing food deserts and consequent lack of healthy options through farm-to-table initiatives, community gardens. USDA grants, and healthy eating public service programs. Promoting ecotourism and recreation through expanding development of walking, biking and scooter trails across underserved communities. I will also work to revise our elementary and secondary education standards of learning to include an increase in physical education requirements for students K-12, revising FDA, USDA, regulations to promote healthier national standards would also be an effort I would promote on the Hill to improve the lives of North Carolinians and all Americans. SB 152 – NC Cancer Treatment Fairness

SB 305 – Raise Awareness About Alzheimer’s & Dementias

SB 311 – DHHS Study/Maternal and Neonatal Care

SB 328 – Lower Cost of Cataracts for Seniors Act

SB 339 – Healthy Families and Workplaces/Paid Sick Days

*SB 610 – Healthy Pregnancies/Prisoners and Detainees

*SB 522 – Raise Awareness of Lupus

SB 152 – NC Cancer Treatment Fairness

SB 328 – Lower Cost of Cataracts for Seniors Act

SB 424 – Increase Funding for Behavioral Health Svcs.

SB 458 – Increase Inmate Health Care

*SB 472 – Streamline CAP/CDSA Services Pilot

*SB 483 – NC Comprehensive School Accountability

*SB 639 – Healthy Mother, Healthy Child

SB 3 – Close the Medicaid Coverage Gap

SB 439 – PED Study-DPS/Health Services/Funds for FTE

*SB 501 –

SB 558 – Enact NC Healthy Pregnancy Act

SB 601 – School-Based Mental Health

*SB 787 – Small Farms to Healthier School Initiative

*SB 658 – Prescription Drug Pricing

SB 296 – Healthy Food Small Retailer/Corner Store Act *Primary Sponsor

Equal Justice, Access, Opportunity, Protection And Reform

I firmly believe that the way our laws are written, implemented and applied have a disparate impact on poor people and minorities. While my list is not comprehensive, the following are initiatives that I seek to balance with fairness, equity, public safety and justice. I support Senator Corey Booker’s Marijuana Justice Act. Marijuana should be legalized and the prison sentences for same should be reduced or commuted commensurate with decriminalization of opioids and more compassionate approaches to victims of the opioid epidemic;

I support implementation of 2012 and 2014 Department of Justice Community Policing Recommendations and Guidelines for Implementation of School Discipline Policies that enhance nondiscrimination protections of Title IV and Title VI Protections under the 1964 Civil Rights Act

I support reinstatement of Section V of the 1965 Civil Rights Act, universal and automatic voter registration, Election Day Holiday and protection of our electoral process from interference from foreign governments

Equal Pay for Equal Work, Closing the gender and demographic earnings gaps

Common Sense gun control that bans bump stocks and assault rifles and enhances universal background checks

Gender equity and protections for LGBTQ communities from harassment and discrimination

No money bonds for misdemeanors and low level felonies in advancing the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment

Sentence restructuring for non-violent, low level drug offenders

Strengthening laws against human trafficking, opioid trafficking and prescription controls SB 3 – Close the Medicaid Coverage Gap

SB 103 – Notice to Vote Absentee Ballot W/out Photo ID

*SB 167 – Healthy Mother, Healthy Child

SB 173 – Housing Juveniles Under 18 in County Facility

SB 175 – Strengthen Opioid Misuse Prevention (STOP) Act

SB 179 – Recognize Chowanoke Tribe

SB 310 – Domestic Violence/Bail and Aggravating Factor

SB 352 – State Crime Lab Capacity Act/Funds

SB 445 – Expungement Process Modifications

SB 532 – Eugenics Amendments/County Victims

*SB 612 – Nondiscrimination in Public Employment

SB 613 – Prohibit Discriminatory Profiling

*SB 611 – The I WILL Act

SB 175 – Strengthen Opioid Misuse Prevention (STOP) Act

SB 228 – Voter Freedom Act

SB 302 – Concussion Protocol/County Rec.

SB 332 – Repeal HB 2

SB 456 – Increase De-Escalation Training for LEOs

SB 537 – North Carolina Equal Pay Act

SB 554 – Fair Redistricting/Postmark and Absentee Ballots

SB 564 – Juvenile Justice Reinvestment Act

*SB 638 – Funds to Enhance Tribal Recognition

*SB 639 – SB 167 – Healthy Mother, Healthy Child

SB 663 – The I. Beverly Lake, Jr., Fair Trial Act

SB 452 – Expand Allowable Medical Uses of CBD Oil

SB 550 – Modernization of Drug Court Program

SB 579 – The Catherine A. Zanga Medical Marijuana Bill

SB 46 – Standing up for Rape Victims Acts of 2019

*SB 184 – NC Adopt Equal Rights Amendment

*SB 209 – Hate Crimes Prevention Act

SB 294 – Make General Election Day a State Holiday

SB 455 – Equality for All

SB 464 – Full Repeal of HB2

SB 486 – North Carolina Equal Pay Act

SB 502 – "Ban the Box"

SB 544 – Establish Non-Opioid Treatment Alternatives

SB 561 – Education/Job Readiness in Prisons and Jails

SB 562 – The Second Chance Act

SB 563 – Right to Revoke Consent

SB 565 – Extreme Risk Protection Orders

SB 579 – Prison Reform Act of 2019

SB 630 – Up SHP Pay & LEO Benefits/Death Penalty

SB 656 – Const. Amendment/Repeal Literacy Test

*SB 660 – Gen. Assembly/Prevent Workplace Harassment

*SB 665 – Omnibus Rural Investment Act

SB 683 – Combat Absentee Ballot Fraud

*SB 673 – N.C. Citizens Redistricting Commission

*SB 662 – Pilots to Establish "No Money" Bail Bonds

*SB 710 – Service Worker Tax Reduction Act

*SB 789 – Gen Ass/Prevent Workplace Harassment *Primary Sponsor

Re-engineering Policies For Progress

IMMIGRATION – I support the DREAM Act without exiting the country for access to a fair, legal route to citizenship

– I support the DREAM Act without exiting the country for access to a fair, legal route to citizenship LIVE-ABLE WAGE (increasing the minimum wage) – I support a federal baseline for an incremental increase in the minimum wage, indexed with inflation to $12 by 2020 and $15/hour by 2024

– I support a federal baseline for an incremental increase in the minimum wage, indexed with inflation to $12 by 2020 and $15/hour by 2024 TAX TRANSPARENCY – I support NC’s T.R.U.M.P. Act, (Tax Returns Uniformly Made Public) filed by my colleague, Senator Jay Chaudhuri, to require all candidates who run for the Office of President of the United States to release their tax summaries prior to their names being placed on the ballot. A step further – I believe that all federal candidates should report this information.

– I support NC’s T.R.U.M.P. Act, (Tax Returns Uniformly Made Public) filed by my colleague, Senator Jay Chaudhuri, to require all candidates who run for the Office of President of the United States to release their tax summaries prior to their names being placed on the ballot. A step further – I believe that all federal candidates should report this information. TAX CODE RE-EVALUATION – Many citizens have reached out to me to complain about how much more their tax penalty increased, or how much less they received in tax returns with the 2018 Tax and Jobs Act. Once all of the data from 2018 filings are completed, I support a thorough analysis of the tax burdens on the working middle class and adjustments in tax cuts to the wealthy. I support a Service Worker’s Tax Act and have filed bills each Session I have served in testament to my belief that tip reporting in wages creates a permanent underclass in this category of workers who are overwhelming women.

– Many citizens have reached out to me to complain about how much more their tax penalty increased, or how much less they received in tax returns with the 2018 Tax and Jobs Act. Once all of the data from 2018 filings are completed, I support a thorough analysis of the tax burdens on the working middle class and adjustments in tax cuts to the wealthy. I support a Service Worker’s Tax Act and have filed bills each Session I have served in testament to my belief that tip reporting in wages creates a permanent underclass in this category of workers who are overwhelming women. I support enshrining Equal Rights for Women in our United States Constitution

As a former union member, and representative, I support the labor movement and its backbone of bargaining in interest of workers who make America work, day in and day out. SB143 – CDBG: Modify Uses to Include Scattered Sites

SB 150 – Auto Ins./Notice to Lienholder of Termination

SB 155 – ABC Omnibus Legislation

SB 177 – Modernize Physical Therapy Practice

SB 178 – Ltd. Driving/Remove Wait for First Offense

*SB 180 – 3rd Senatorial District Local Act-1

*SB197 – Adopt Bobcat as State Cat

SB 252 – North Carolina Teaching Fellows

SB 309 – 9/11 as First Responders Day

SB 313 – Increase Small Brewery Limits

*SB 314 – Give Retirees 2% COLA/Funds

SB 317 – Hypertension Awareness Day

SB 316 – Suicide Prevention/Awareness School Personnel

SB 322 – Caregiver Advise, Record & Enable (CARE) Act

SB 335 – Budget Technical Corrections & Study

SB 337 – Regulation of Fully Autonomous Vehicles

*SB 360 – Municipal Broadband Service Area

*SB 710 – Service Worker Tax Reduction Action

*SB 752 – Small Business Tax Relief

SB 446 – LEO Next of Kin Notification

SB 452 – Expand Allowable Medical Uses of CBD Oil

SB 453 – Driver Instruction/Law Enforcement Stops

SB 456 – Increase De-Escalation Training for LEOs

SB 457 – Amend Deferred Prosecution Statute

*SB 484 – PARTF Funding Conditions and Match

*SB 347 – Up Minimum Wage With COLA/Const. Amendment

SB 50 – Reinstate Earned Income Tax Credit

SB 470 – Anti-Poverty Program Funds

SB 503 – Wage Theft Act

SB 586 – Modify Film Grant Incentive

SB 615 – DACA Recipients/In-State Tuition

SB 616 – Require Paid Work Breaks

SB 617 – Tax Returns Uniformly Made Public Act

SB 628 – Day Laborer Protection Act

SB 657 – Expand Property Tax Homestead Exclusion

*SB 800 – Actually Drain the Swamp *Primary Sponsor

Gun Control