Issues

Successful federal healthcare policy builds on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and blends public and private approaches to address accessibility, quality, transparency, and costs.

We must both introduce measures to stabilize private insurance markets, such as offering subsidies to middle-income earners to make coverage more affordable, and incentivize insurers to participate in underserved communities. The latter is particularly important for rural Coloradans, who know too well the difficulty of receiving adequate care. We must look to sustainable paths forward that increase overall access to care and especially support rural and independent providers.

At the same time, we must work to control costs and improve efficiency. This means incorporating elements of value-based care and encouraging healthcare providers to focus on patient outcomes rather than the volume of services rendered. In parallel, the government should be able to negotiate prices with pharmaceutical companies for medications covered by federal programs like Medicare.

By combining elements of public assistance with market-based mechanisms and prioritizing cost containment and quality improvement, we can make meaningful strides toward a more accessible, affordable, and effective healthcare system for all Americans.

As a Veteran, I will use my time in Congress to build on my work as a non-profit leader to provide a holistic support system that recognizes and honors the sacrifices made by those who have served their country, their families, and caregivers while ensuring their well-being and successful integration into civilian life.

I believe a successful federal policy would emphasize a “no wrong door” philosophy that prioritizes comprehensive support across the many facets of a Veteran’s life. This includes healthcare, education, employment, and social services. A “no wrong door approach” emphasizes meeting the Veteran where they are instead of forcing the Veteran and their family to navigate the complicated web of benefits that exist at the state and federal level.

First and foremost, we need to emphasize strengthening the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system to ensure timely access to high-quality medical services for Veterans. We need to focus on reducing wait times, expanding mental health services, and addressing the specific healthcare needs especially impacting Veterans, such as traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Moreover, private and/or community care plays an important role, but it is inherently a government function to fulfill President Lincoln’s Promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.

Education: We need to enhance access to vocational training, higher education, and career counseling services. We must consider expanding the GI Bill to cover a broader range of educational programs and providing additional support for Veterans transitioning to civilian careers while also holding predatory academic institutions accountable when they overpromise, underdeliver, and over charge for their services.

Employment: It is paramount that we incentivize businesses to hire Veterans and create programs to assist Veterans in translating their military skills to civilian job opportunities. Veterans are problem solvers and make ideal entrepreneurs. As such, a key avenue for this is supporting entrepreneurship among Veterans whether through small business loans, mentorship programs, or access to resources for starting and growing businesses.

Homelessness: I have worked on initiatives to combat Veteran homelessness; we need to build on the successes of over 80 communities nationwide who have effectively ended Veterans homelessness. Ultimately, homelessness is a symptom of a larger problem and only when we help the Veteran address the underlying cause of homelessness can we set them on a pathway to long-term success.

Housing is an issue that transcends any one of local, state, and national government and thus requires action at all levels. Solutions therefore begin at a local level, starting with responsible and sustainable zoning practices. At the federal level, housing affordability policy must balance the needs of both renters and homeowners while promoting sustainable solutions to the housing crisis.

To address the immediate challenges faced by renters, we need to expand rental assistance programs and increase funding for the construction of affordable housing units. Local tax incentives for developers to build affordable housing, as well as grants to local governments to revitalize distressed neighborhoods and create mixed-income communities, are all areas that will help maintain the character of the community we love while ensuring our children and grandchildren can afford to stay here.

For homeowners, we need to tackle the rising cost of property insurance, while creating programs supporting first time home buyers. The GI bill made home ownership a reality for many Veterans—including myself—and at the federal level I would consider similar programs for first time homebuyers who participated in federal service programs, such as city year.

By combining targeted support for renters and homeowners with efforts to increase housing supply and address regulatory hurdles, a new federal housing policy could make meaningful strides toward addressing the affordability crisis and promoting equitable access to safe, stable housing for all Americans.

Climate change is real and requires immediate action. I believe the economic incentive to address climate change is as strong as the moral one. By taking action, we will support American jobs, reduce energy costs, and increase our energy sovereignty… it is a no brainer.

In Colorado, such a policy could have significant impacts due to our state's reliance on outdoor recreation and natural resources. Measures to protect and preserve the state's iconic landscapes, such as Rocky Mountain National Park and the Colorado River, could bolster tourism and recreational opportunities while safeguarding ecosystems and biodiversity.

We need a roadmap as we transition toward clean energy sources, such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power, that includes incentives for clean energy investment, research, and development. Tax credits for renewable energy production and funding for infrastructure improvements to support a more sustainable energy grid provide a clear starting point.

As part of this roadmap, we must include measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from sectors such as transportation and wider industry. These can entail renewed focus on fuel efficiency standards for vehicles and incentives for companies to invest in clean technologies and practices. Investment in natural infrastructure, such as wetlands and forests to mitigate wildfires and erosion, further enhance resilience and adaptation efforts.

Transitioning towards cleaner energy sources could benefit Colorado's burgeoning renewable energy industry, creating jobs and economic growth while reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. I believe a common sense-based federal policy on climate change and the environment could have positive implications for Colorado by fostering environmental stewardship, economic prosperity, and resilience in the face of a changing climate.

Federal labor policy should establish labor standards and balance the needs of workers and employers while fostering a competitive environment that supports the growth of labor unions.

As a community we should emphasize the role of unions in workforce development and upskilling by promoting partnerships between unions, employers, and educational institutions. Unions can play a vital role in providing training programs, apprenticeships, and career pathways that equip workers with the skills needed to succeed in a rapidly changing economy. Investing in workforce development initiatives led by unions would enhance the quality of the labor force and promote economic growth and innovation.

Too often, qualified union workers are underbid by sub-standard contractors resulting in costly overruns of both time and tax dollars. Federal contractors need to be held accountable and need to get the job done on time and on budget. Creating fair labor standards will help unions AND reduce costs.

To increase the competitiveness of labor unions, we need to protect collective bargaining rights and prevent employer interference in union activities. In Congress, I would consider revising labor laws to make it easier for workers to organize and negotiate for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.