What Maryland Is Asking

  • How will you navigate a polarized Congress?

    Principles:  Unity should be the goal and key!!!  I will start by leading with respect, lead in with shared facts, and write bills around outcomes—not party talking points.


    Tactics to get results:


    Coalition-first drafting: I will co-author every major bill with at least one Republican and one Democrat from day one. If we can’t agree on text up front, it isn’t ready.


    Join the do-ers: Engage cross-party groups (e.g., Problem Solvers–style caucuses) and commit to their “90% rule”—if we agree on 90%, we move the bill.


    Regular order + discharge when needed: Push committees to mark up bipartisan bills; if leadership stalls widely supported items, use discharge petitions to force a vote.


    Data over rhetoric: Require transparent scorecards (cost, benefits, implementation timeline) to keep debates grounded and shorten the spin cycle.


    Maryland first, then national: Start with district priorities that naturally cut across party lines—Bay restoration, military/veterans support, infrastructure, small-business growth.



  • Affordable Housing and Cost of Living: Given that polls show housing affordability is a top concern for Marylanders, what federal actions would you support to address the rising cost of living?

    (This is a big deal for me as I know many people who are in need of affordable housing!)

    Goal: lower monthly costs for renters, first-time buyers, and seniors on fixed incomes.


    What I’ll back:


    Build more, faster: Expand and simplify the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit; create a “workforce housing” credit for teachers, nurses, police, and trades. Tie certain federal grants to by-right zoning near transit so good projects aren’t buried in red tape.


    Lower rents now: Convert underused federal and commercial buildings to mixed-income housing with rapid permitting; provide bridge financing for ADUs/garage apartments in compliant localities.


    Help first-time buyers: Down-payment assistance for first-gen buyers; modernize FHA/VA appraisal rules; cap junk fees in mortgages and rentals.


    Cut recurring bills: Federal incentives for home energy retrofits (heat pumps, insulation) to reduce utility costs 15–30% over time; crack down on price-gouging and “drip” fees across sectors.


    Longer Mortgages: For buyers who earn less income but have good credit, banks should be able to offer longer mortgages in order to reduce monthly rates. 

  • Economy and Taxes: What is your stance on the federal minimum wage, and what economic policies would you champion to create jobs and improve the economic outlook for Marylanders?

    Minimum wage: Support a phased federal increase to $15/hour, indexed to local costs, with a predictable multi-year ramp for small businesses and a tax credit to offset early years.


    Jobs & growth agenda:


    Apprenticeships & skilled trades: Fund paid apprenticeships in construction, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy; make community-college tuition-free for in-demand certificates.


    Small-business engine: Make the small-business R&D credit refundable for startups; expand immediate expensing for equipment; streamline federal contracting so Maryland firms win more work. 


    More Incubators: Incubators can be integral to helping small business start-up. They provide budding businesses with support related to: taxes, admin, engineering, and much more.


    Modern infrastructure: Invest in roads, broadband, grid upgrades, and transit that shorten commutes and open job corridors across the 5th District.


    Innovation clusters: Support defense-adjacent tech, maritime, and advanced air mobility R&D (testing, workforce, and manufacturing) to keep high-wage jobs here.


    Tax fairness: Keep rates stable for middle-income families, protect/expand the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit, and close egregious loopholes that reward unproductive tax games.

  • Healthcare: With access to healthcare and the cost of prescription drugs being major concerns, what is your plan to ensure people can afford basic medical care?

    Commitment: No Marylander skips basic care or medicine because of cost.


    Actions I’ll support:


    Lower drug prices: Expand Medicare negotiation to more drugs; cap out-of-pocket costs and insulin nationwide; require price transparency from pharmacy benefit managers.


    Primary care within reach: Boost community health centers and rural clinics; expand telehealth parity; incentivize more nurses and primary-care providers in shortage areas.


    Keep coverage affordable: Make enhanced ACA subsidies permanent; create a public option buy-in where private markets are thin; enforce the ban on surprise billing.


    Mental health!!: Fund school-based counselors, crisis lines, and co-responder teams so people get care instead of landing in ERs or jails.

  • Environment: What actions will you take in office to mitigate the impacts of global warming and address environmental justice issues in Maryland, including protecting the Chesapeake Bay?

    North Star: Protect the Bay, strengthen climate resilience, and grow good-paying clean-energy jobs.


    My plan:


    Bay restoration at scale: Increase federal support for agricultural runoff reduction, wetland and oyster-reef restoration, and stormwater upgrades—measured by nitrogen/phosphorus reductions and water-clarity targets.


    Resilience projects: Fund flood mitigation, living shorelines, and modern stormwater systems in vulnerable communities.


    Clean energy + reliability: Accelerate grid upgrades, offshore wind/solar interconnects, and port modernization while protecting ratepayers.


    Environmental justice: Prioritize EJ grants and clean-up funds for overburdened communities near highways, landfills, and industrial sites; require community benefit agreements for major projects.


    Fund Oyster Restoration Projects: Prior to the 1950's the Chesapeake Bay waters were as clear a Caribbean. Today, due to overharvesting, the waters are certainly not clear.

  • Police and Criminal Justice: What is your approach to ensuring accountability and fairness in law enforcement while also tackling issues of public safety?

    Safety and equal application of the law are non-negotiable—and compatible.


    What I’ll work for:


    Standards & transparency: National reporting on use of force, misconduct, and traffic stops; tie certain grants to adoption of evidence-based training and policies.


    Tools that work: Body-worn cameras, modern forensics, and data-driven hot-spot policing alongside community partnerships.


    Right responder, right call: Expand co-responder models (mental-health and social-work teams) to reduce repeat 911 calls and improve outcomes. (This is huge!!! We need more funding for this!)


    Violence prevention & reentry: Invest in community violence interruption, job training, and record-sealing for non-violent offenses after rehabilitation.


    Guns: Strengthen background checks and anti-trafficking enforcement to keep illegal firearms off our streets.

  • Addressing Local Concerns: How do you plan to represent Maryland's diverse districts, which include metropolitan areas, suburban developments, and rural communities?

    Representing a Diverse District

    One district, many communities—urban, suburban, and rural.


    How I’ll stay accountable:


    Multiple local offices + mobile hours: Regular pop-up hours in each county; monthly town halls and quarterly tele-town halls!!!


    Advisory councils: Standing councils for veterans, small business, labor, agriculture, educators, healthcare, and environmental stakeholders to shape my votes.


    Constituent service first: Fast-track help with federal agencies (VA, SSA, IRS, passport) and publish response-time metrics online.


    Targeted investments:


    Metro & suburbs: transit reliability, housing near jobs, small-biz corridors.


    Rural & waterfront: broadband, farm/working-waterfront support, coastal resilience, and vocational training.


    Military & veterans: seamless transition services, spouse employment, and GI Bill optimization.



  • Core Responsibilities: What do you believe are the most important duties for a member of Congress?

    1. Uphold the Constitution and rule of law.
    2. Legislate effectively: write, negotiate, and pass laws that improve everyday life.
    3. Conduct oversight: ensure your tax dollars are spent wisely and agencies perform.
    4. Deliver for constituents: solve problems, secure smart funding, and communicate clearly.
    5. Model integrity and transparency: publish meetings, earmark requests, and voting rationales so you can see exactly what I’m doing.