PRIORITIES

  • Illinoisans are working harder than ever to pay the bills, keep a roof over their head, and support their kids, but affording a good life just keeps getting harder. I saw it as a kid growing up in a working class family, working my way through college, and I see it now in my neighborhood and the conversations I have every day with my constituents.

    As Trustee of Hanover Park, I was able to lower water bills for working families and invest in good-paying union jobs - because when we invest in people, we all succeed. It’s why I’ll fight to:  

    • Strengthen our essential national social programs, including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

    • Put more money in the pockets of middle class families by fighting to repeal the billionaire tax giveaways and lower taxes for working Illinoisans. 

    • Secure good-paying union jobs and protections and invest in apprenticeships and job training programs that put more money back in the pockets of working families.

    • Advocate for the reversal of Trump tariffs, which make working families pay more, hurt small businesses, and cause economic upheaval. 

    • Foster a next-generation economy by making emerging innovations accessible, equitable, and regulated, including digital assets and cryptocurrencies.

  • I got my healthcare as a kid through Medicaid, so to me, Republicans’ attacks on our healthcare are deeply personal.

    In Congress, I’ll fight back as Republicans rip away healthcare from over 300,000 Illinoisians to fund tax breaks for billionaires. But we can’t stop there. We must recognize the failings of our current system.

    People would rather take an Uber to the hospital than take an ambulance for fear of the healthcare bill they’ll receive. What does that say about us?

    Healthcare is a human right. And in the wealthiest nation on Earth, there is no excuse for working-class people to pay more for health insurance than every other developed country. It’s why I will proudly sponsor the Medicare for All Act, which is the fundamental change we need to lower costs and get people the healthcare they need.

    Ensuring that no one is denied treatment due to financial hardship is not only the right thing to do, it makes good economic sense. Universal healthcare allows people to prioritize prevention and early intervention treatments over expensive emergency care. In the wealthiest country in the world, there is no excuse for working-class people to pay more for health insurance than any other major developed country on Earth. 

    In addition, I’ll fight to protect access to life-saving healthcare, particularly for our LGBTQ+ community, and ensure that access is not incumbent on employment status, race, gender, sexuality, or disability.

  • As an elected Trustee in the Village of Hanover Park, I supported pro-worker policies that ensure taxpayer funds used for publicly funded projects only go to qualified contractors, protect union workers' rights and benefits, and keep them safe on the job. In my role as a Regional Director for Senator Durbin, I worked hard to support legislation that protected union workers’ benefits and promoted safer working conditions.

    Strong unions help reduce income inequality and ensure that economic growth allows all to prosper. They are an essential collective voice advocating for workplace safety, job security, and fair treatment. 

    All these benefits were at their strongest when union membership was at its highest and the labor movement was at its strongest. Due to Right to Work laws, corporate union busting, and the outsourcing of jobs overseas, much of the progress unions helped achieve on behalf of the American workforce is being reversed.

    I am running for Illinois’ 8th Congressional District to be a part of a new generation of working-class leaders ready to fight for workers’ rights and organized labor:

    • In Congress, I will co-sponsor the PRO Act, which would strengthen workers' rights to organize and bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.

    • The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 since 2009. In the 16 years since, the purchasing power of the dollar has dropped by over 50%. We must raise the minimum wage to $17 an hour and eliminate payroll loopholes like the tipped minimum wage.

  • Today, I have fewer rights than my mother did. The Dobbs decision to overturn 50 years of women’s right to an abortion has had devastating consequences, and women have lost their lives as a result.

    In Congress, I will fight any national abortion ban that gets proposed and hold the line on the remaining protections we have. I will also fight the Trump administration’s efforts to undermine reproductive healthcare for our military service members and ensure every Illinoisan gets the care they need.

  • America was built by immigrants and our economy depends upon them. Northern Illinois would not be the strong, vibrant cornerstone of the Midwest without the contributions of generations of immigrants that made us who we are.

    As the daughter of immigrants, the fight for a fair and just immigration system is personal to me. It’s what allowed so many people, like my parents, the chance at a life filled with possibility. It’s why, after I won my election to the board of trustees in Hanover Park in 2021, I was proud to introduce and pass a Welcoming City ordinance that reaffirms our commitment to the Illinois Trust Act, ensuring Hanover Park is a safe and welcoming place for people from all walks of life.

    On the national level however, the current administration has weaponized our immigration system, circumventing due process and the rule of law to deport innocent people regardless of their legal status. This is immoral, unjust, and must end.

    In Congress, I will fight for a pathway to citizenship for all immigrants, work to streamline the immigration process to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, and protect birthright citizenship.

  • American foreign policy must reflect American values. And when the Executive Branch fails to live up to those values, Congress must hold them accountable.

    Our tax dollars are supporting an unjustifiable humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Children are starving to death due to a sustained aid blockade, and tens-of-thousands of innocent lives have been lost. Israel has the right to defend itself, but the Trump Administration has failed to hold Prime Minister Netanyahu accountable. What’s happening in Gaza is immoral and it is the responsibility of Congress to act.

    • In Congress, I will advocate for an immediate ceasefire and the safe return of all hostages.

    • I will support efforts that combat antisemitism, islamophobia, and hate.

    • I will co-sponsor the Block the Bombs Act, which would withhold the transfer of offensive weapons to Israel and demand compliance with US and international law.

    We must remember that our greatest foreign policy asset is diplomacy and foreign aid, and that investments in humanitarian assistance and development can prevent conflicts before they start and reduce the need for military intervention. We cannot bomb our way to peace.

    For years, we have also witnessed the Russian invasion and occupation of Ukraine - a complete violation of international and humanitarian law. We must continue to stand with Ukraine and support its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

    Finally, I would ensure that Congress does its job and demand the immediate restoration of USAID, which was illegally and unconstitutionally dismantled. Trump and Elon Musk's reckless actions have wasting American taxpayers' money: medicine sits in warehouses, low-cost nutrition for children is being withheld, and America's reputation and good name have been damaged.

  • Safe communities are healthy communities. Safe neighborhoods allow families to thrive, businesses to grow, and schools to operate without fear. Investing in public safety means not only supporting law enforcement, but also funding mental health services, community programs, and emergency response systems.

    As an elected trustee in Hanover Park, I was proud to work with our local Police Department to create a village-wide Doorbell Camera Safety Initiative, which provides doorbell cameras to residents free-of-charge. 

    After the horrific mass shooting in Highland Park on July 4th, 2022, I introduced an assault weapons sales ban in Hanover Park and as a Member of Congress, I would proudly support the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025.

    As a local elected official, and now as a candidate for Congress, I also believe a strong federal commitment to local safety initiatives empower communities to build trust, resilience, and long-term stability.