Qualifications
What training, experience, and characteristics qualify you for this position?
I have served since 2019 and am proud to have been the voice for my working-class community. During my time, I have served on committees: Calendars, Transportation, and Human Services among others.
Healthcare
Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the nation. What steps would you take as a state representative to ensure access to affordable healthcare, including mental health services, for residents who are currently uninsured or underserved in your district?
I will vote to expand Medicaid and have advocated to expand Medicaid since my election. I have always been open to incremental expansions to health care and have voted for the few bills brought to the floor under Republican leadership. For instance I voted for HB 12 that extended postpartum Medicaid coverage for eligible women from 2 months to a full 12 months.
Education
What measures would you support to ensure adequate state funding for public schools and accountability for taxpayer funds used in voucher or education savings account programs?
I would return local control to ISDs, ending the takeovers! Taxpayers should be able to vote for their local ISDs and parents should participate in the governing of their school systems. Property taxes have ballooned because the State Government has abdicated it’s responsibility to fund public education. Now Greg Abbott has a scheme to fund private and for profit schools with state dollars that will let our public schools die.
Issues
What are the two most pressing issues unique to your district, and what specific, measurable actions would you take to address them during your term?
The cost of living in my working class neighborhoods is unbearable and crushing families that have fought hard to build a life for themselves. The draconian enforcement of Trump’s unconstitutional immigration crackdown is breaking families apart, worsening an already fragile economy, and killing Houstonians like Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. The Texas State government has been complicit with bill like SB4 and SB8. I will fight for legislation to benefit working families, like a $15 minimum wage, expanding renewables to lower energy prices, and end big corporate tax breaks in exchange for low paying jobs. We must repeal SB4 and SB8 and stop demonizing the immigrant communities that are interictal to our culture, communities and economy.
