Born and raised in South Jersey, Donald is an electrician by trade and a proud union member. In Congress, he is committed to improving the lives of working families by focusing on the issues that matter most to them: raising wages and strengthening our economy, ensuring affordable access to a high-quality education, and supporting the brave men and women that protect our nation and our neighborhoods.
He knows firsthand what it’s like to be a single parent having to balance work, family life and a checkbook. Donald began his career working for minimum wage, and his on-the-job experiences shape his work in Congress. Donald has been a fierce advocate for raising wages for workers, leading the House of Representatives to pass legislation that would gradually raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025.
Our national workforce keeps our country running and provides invaluable services we often take for granted. Nobody should have to work multiple jobs or extraordinary hours to provide for their family, save for retirement or feel financially secure. As an electrician by trade, I know the best social program in the world is a job and I believe every worker must have an opportunity to succeed, which starts with fair pay. Women have made great strides in history, but it’s time they receive equal pay for equal work and the opportunity to maintain a work and family balance. We need to ensure working families have fair wages, safe working conditions, and a voice in the workplace. ​
As leaders, we must ensure that our nation’s finances are balanced and that federal spending is sensible. Our government is most effective when it has a budget in place that minds the deficit and eliminates sequestration, but also funds critical programs. We need to address the national debt by cutting wasteful spending, boosting tax revenue and investing in programs that promote growth and create jobs.
I am working with my colleagues to achieve a responsible budget that properly funds national defense, provides more resources to heal our veterans and puts people back to work as we rebuild and strengthen our infrastructure.
As the leader of the free world, we must set an example by living the principles we preach: freedom of speech and religion and freedom from persecution. We must ensure no one faces discrimination in the classroom or workplace. With a monumental year for marriage equality behind us, no one should have to live in fear because they are with the one they love. As a member of the LGBT Equality Caucus, I am working toward the extension of equal rights for everyone.
Women have made great strides in history, but it’s time they receive equal pay for equal work and the opportunity to maintain a work and family balance.
The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy and should be a simple and convenient process. My visit to Selma, Alabama on the 50th anniversary of the civil rights march over the Edmund Pettus Bridge was a stark reminder of how far we have come, but how much further we have to go in restoring the right to vote.
Finally, the voices of the people—not the bank accounts of a select few—should determine the outcomes of election and policies of the government, which is why I support increased voter participation and oppose the misguided “Citizens United” Supreme Court decision. Our overall goal should be to respect the dignity and rights of every individual.
Since the birth of our country, the cornerstone of the American dream has been opportunity. In the 21st century, access to that opportunity requires access to a high quality education system that allows students to compete in the global economy. We have a duty to provide everyone with access to a robust educational pipeline from preschool through high school to ensure that they have the opportunity to grow and pursue their full potential.
Finally, the key to achieving success in a modern economy is higher education. American students have access to the best higher educational opportunities available, including traditional four year colleges, apprenticeships and other technical training; but they deserve the opportunity to improve their career prospects without becoming burdened by debt.
We have a responsibility to future generations to leave behind an earth and environment that is clean and sustainable. This responsibility also presents opportunities to create jobs and grow our economy by inventing, manufacturing and installing clean energy technology and other sustainable solutions here in America. Environmentally sustainable policies and investments in renewable energy will reduce America’s dependence on fossil fuels and foreign oil, and help address climate change.
Access to quality and affordable health care is critical to our prosperity as a nation. Our current healthcare system focuses largely on treating symptoms, not finding cures so our priority should be funding cutting edge research. Social Security and Medicare are critical safety net programs that serve our nation’s most vulnerable, so we need to ensure their benefits meet the needs of American seniors by accurately reflecting their cost of living. Over the past hundred years, scientists have made great strides in combatting deadly diseases such as polio and the measles, both of which have been virtually eliminated in the United States. We need to support initiatives that increase investment and create opportunities for great
We must do everything we can to ensure service members, veterans and their families are cared for in return for their service to our country. Proper defense budgeting ensures our soldiers are best equipped to get the job done. Maintaining the readiness of our military also upholds our nation’s commitment to respond to security conflicts. Supporting South Jersey’s Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst not only supports our national defense system, but employs 44,000 civilians and military personnel.
I also have a personal commitment to the unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel, our strongest ally and the only true democracy in the Middle East. I am proud to serve on the Armed Services Committee as I learn about and debate the foreign and domestic threats to our nation.
Veterans and men and women in the military selflessly answered the call to serve, putting their lives on the line for our freedom and security. When they return home from duty, our veterans deserve access to the best America has to offer and the freedom of choice they fought to protect. Whether 3 days or 30, no veteran should have to wait longer than civilians to see a doctor when they are sick.
The Veterans Freedom of Healthcare Act allows veterans to get the quality care they deserve when they need it. We also owe it to our heroes to connect them with an affordable education and employment opportunities, particularly those that build on their existing skill sets. Finally, we must preserve and honor the great legacy of our service members, past and present, as a reminder of the values and sacrifice that built our nation.