My Priorities
1. Pass Responsible Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Our country has always been a nation of immigrants and the current system is in desperate need of reform. Eleven million people currently work and raise families in our communities without the possibility of one day becoming citizens of the United States.
2. Juvenile Justice Reform and Encouraging Youth Opportunity
As a child growing up in Pacoima, I saw firsthand the effects gangs have on our community. Having that background, I have always made gang prevention and juvenile justice a top priority. Through my work in the California State Assembly and Los Angeles City Council, I have a proven track record of enacting legislation to keep our kids safe.
3. Creating Jobs for The Valley
In California, we have one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. This is unacceptable. We need to find ways to attract businesses to open up shop in the Valley and train our workforce for the next generation of jobs.
4. A Budget That Protects the American Dream
As we work to rebuild our economy and invest in the future, we must take a balanced approach to our debt and deficit. This means investing in the middle class, making smart, targeted reductions in spending, closing tax loopholes and reducing subsidies to profitable industries.
5. Effectively Implementing The Affordable Care Act in The Valley
In 2010, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law. This law, often called "Obamacare," is the strongest, most robust improvement made in our nation's healthcare system since Medicare was passed in 1965.