Economic Development

As the global economy evolves, advanced manufacturing is critical to America’s economic competitiveness and job creation. By investing in cutting-edge technologies, modernizing industries, and empowering a skilled workforce, we can build a stronger, more inclusive economy. My experience as a military spouse, a member of a middle-class family, a Democrat, a gay man, and part of a multi-racial family drives my commitment to ensuring economic opportunity for all Americans, emphasizing equity, innovation, and sustainability.

Policy Goals

1. Modernize Industries: Foster innovation and competitiveness by equipping industries with advanced manufacturing technologies.
2. Create High-Quality Jobs: Ensure economic growth translates to well-paying, secure jobs that sustain middle-class families.
3. Promote Equity: Provide opportunities for underrepresented communities, including veterans, LGBT individuals, and racial minorities, to participate in the manufacturing workforce.
4. Strengthen Economic Resilience: Reduce reliance on foreign manufacturing by revitalizing domestic production capacity.

Policy Provisions

• Investment in Advanced Manufacturing Technology
  • Establish grants and tax incentives for businesses adopting automation, robotics, and smart manufacturing technologies.
  • Create partnerships between government and private industries to develop and deploy cutting-edge manufacturing solutions.
• Workforce Development and Training
  • Fund community college and trade school programs that offer advanced manufacturing certifications.
  • Expand apprenticeship programs that provide hands-on training in high-tech industries.
  • Ensure training programs are accessible to veterans, LGBT individuals, and people from diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Support for Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturers (SMMs)
  • Create a dedicated fund for SMMs to modernize their facilities and adopt advanced technologies.
  • Offer technical assistance to help SMMs navigate the transition to high-tech operations.
• Focus on Sustainability
  • Encourage the adoption of green manufacturing practices, including energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy integration.
  • Promote circular economy models to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency.
• Regional Manufacturing Hubs
  • Develop regional hubs focused on advanced manufacturing innovation, particularly in underserved areas and rural communities.
  • Leverage local talent to build thriving manufacturing ecosystems that support community development.

Expected Outcomes

1. Job Creation: Generate thousands of well-paying manufacturing jobs that support middle-class families and local economies.
2. Increased Competitiveness: Strengthen America’s position as a leader in advanced manufacturing technologies.
3. Economic Equity: Bridge gaps in opportunity for underrepresented groups, ensuring a diverse and inclusive workforce.
4. Environmental Benefits: Transition industries toward sustainable practices, reducing carbon footprints and environmental impacts.
5. Community Revitalization: Boost economic activity in rural and underserved regions through targeted investments.

Personal Commitment 

I recognize the critical importance of modernizing our industries, creating high-quality jobs, promoting equity, and strengthening economic resilience. My personal and professional experiences, drive my dedication to these goals. I pledge to work tirelessly to implement these provisions, ensuring a stronger, more inclusive economy for all Americans. 

Economic inequity disproportionately impacts racial minorities, LGBTQ+ people, rural residents, veterans, and military-connected families. Drawing on my lived experience as a gay military spouse, middle-class worker, and member of a multi-racial family, this policy advances an inclusive, equitable growth strategy that removes structural barriers and builds sustainable pathways to prosperity for every community. 

1. Shrink economic gaps between privileged and marginalized populations through targeted investment.
2. Promote inclusive hiring and ownership so under-represented groups gain equitable access to good jobs and business opportunities. 
3. Revitalize local economies in underserved rural and urban areas via smart public-private partnerships.
4. Expand access to education, training, and capital so disadvantaged individuals can launch careers, start businesses, and build wealth.

1. Targeted Economic Investments
   1. Competitive grants for small businesses owned by minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, and military spouses.
   2. Dedicated federal infrastructure funding—transportation, broadband, utilities—in underserved regions to attract employers and create jobs.
       
2. Inclusive Workforce Development
   1. Free or low-cost training pipelines in high-demand fields (tech, healthcare, clean energy) with enrollment preferences for marginalized groups.
   2. Employer partnerships that provide paid apprenticeships and mentorships tailored to under-represented talent.
       
3. Fair Hiring & Pay Practices
   1. Tax credits and preferential federal contracting for companies that demonstrate inclusive hiring and pay equity.
   2. Mandatory annual diversity and pay-equity reporting for any firm receiving federal funds.
       
4. Access to Capital & Resources
   1. Federally backed micro-loan and micro-grant programs for entrepreneurs in marginalized communities.
   2. Free financial-literacy, credit-building, and business-planning workshops delivered through community colleges and nonprofits.
       
5. Strengthening Rural & Urban Economies
   1. Tax incentives for firms that open or expand operations in rural counties.
   2. Community-led urban revitalization projects that upgrade housing, transit, and small-business corridors without displacing current residents.

• Reduced disparities: Narrower income and unemployment gaps across race, gender identity, orientation, and geography.
• Greater representation: More diverse ownership, leadership, and workforce participation in high-wage industries.
• Stronger local economies: Increased small-business formation, job creation, and infrastructure resilience in rural and historically overlooked urban areas.
• Improved quality of life: Better access to stable jobs, capital, and essential services for people who have long been left behind.

I am committed to championing this policy in Congress because I have lived the challenges it seeks to solve. As a gay military spouse, a middle-class worker, and a proud member of a multi-racial family, I know that when we invest in every community, we strengthen the entire nation. I will fight tirelessly to pass these provisions, hold programs accountable, and ensure no Virginian—and no American—is left behind on the road to economic security and prosperity.

Small businesses generate two-thirds of new jobs and anchor local economies, yet many struggle under layers of duplicative paperwork and slow, confusing approval systems. As a gay military spouse, middle-class worker, Democrat, and member of a multi-racial family, I see how red tape hits the smallest, most diverse entrepreneurs hardest. This policy streamlines regulations so owners can focus on growth—while preserving critical safeguards for workers, consumers, and our planet. 

1. Cut needless bureaucracy that blocks start-ups and expansion.
2. Boost sustainable growth by letting small firms operate efficiently and predictably. 
3. Safeguard people and the environment even as rules become simpler. 
4. Advance equity by tackling the distinct hurdles facing minority-, LGBTQ+-, and veteran-owned businesses.

1. One-Stop Licensing & Permitting Portal
   1. Launch a federal online hub that walks owners through every federal, state, and local requirement—industry-specific, mobile-friendly, and completed in hours, not weeks. 
2. Targeted Support for Diverse Owners 
   1. Expand grants, low-interest loans, and technical-assistance programs dedicated to minority, LGBTQ+, and veteran entrepreneurs so they can navigate rules and secure capital. 
3. Regional Small-Business Advocacy Offices 
   1. Staffed experts provide real-time, one-on-one guidance on compliance, applications, and funding—especially in rural and underserved areas. 
4. Bi-Annual Regulatory Reviews 
   1. Every two years, agencies must identify and repeal outdated, redundant, or overly complex rules that uniquely burden small firms, with public dashboards tracking progress. 
5. Streamlined Tax Filing 
   1. Pre-populated IRS forms, a digital filing assistant, and extended deadlines for first-year start-ups to cut prep time and accounting costs. 
6. Equitable Government Procurement 
   1. Transparent, simplified bidding portals and set-aside targets to ensure small, diverse suppliers win their fair share of federal contracts.

• More start-ups & higher survival rates as regulatory friction drops.
• Faster job growth and local reinvestment—especially in communities that have long been overlooked. 
• Broader access to contracts and capital for under-represented entrepreneurs. 
• Stronger trust between small businesses and government regulators.

I will fight in Congress to pass and fully fund these reforms because I know what small businesses mean to families like mine and to communities across Virginia’s 2nd District. My pledge is simple: cut the red tape, keep the protections, and open the door of opportunity to every hardworking American—no matter their zip code, race, orientation, or service record.

Rural fields and coastal waters feed our nation and fuel local economies—but aging infrastructure, climate strain, and capital gaps threaten their future. As a gay military spouse, middle-class Democrat, and member of a multi-racial family, I have seen how resilient farm and fishing families are, and how much stronger they could be with smart investment. By modernizing agriculture and aquaculture, we will create sustainable jobs, lift rural and shoreline communities, and secure a healthy food supply—while guarding the lands and waters that sustain us.

1. Jump-start rural & coastal economies through targeted public-private investment. 
2. Advance sustainable, innovative practices that boost yields and cut environmental harm. 
3. Open doors for small, minority-, and veteran-owned farms and fisheries to compete and grow. 
4. Strengthen U.S. food security by reducing dependence on imports. 
5. Build a skilled workforce ready for 21st-century agriculture and aquaculture careers.

1. Infrastructure & Clean-Energy Investment 
   1. Grants and low-interest loans for modern irrigation, cold-chain transport, hatcheries, and coastal docks. 
   2. Tax credits for on-farm solar, wind, and methane-capture systems. 
2. Support for Small & Minority Owners 
   1. Dedicated financial and technical-assistance pools for minority, LGBTQ+, veteran, and family-run operations. 
   2. Community-based workshops covering sustainable methods, digital marketing, and succession planning. 
3. Research & Innovation 
   1. Expanded USDA and NOAA grants for vertical farming, aquaponics, precision ag, and low-impact feeds. 
   2. Competitive prizes to accelerate climate-smart crop varieties and shellfish disease resistance. 
4. Workforce Development 
   1. Federally funded apprenticeships and certificate programs at community colleges focused on robotics, data analytics, and regenerative practices. 
   2. Scholarships for veterans and displaced workers to enter ag-tech and aquaculture fields. 
5. Environmental Sustainability 
   1. Incentives for soil-carbon sequestration, cover cropping, water-saving drip systems, and habitat-restoration buffers. 
   2. Federal labeling support for organic, Fair Trade, and sustainable fishery certifications.

• Thousands of new, good-paying jobs in farming, fishing, and supply-chain industries. 
• Expanded opportunities for under-represented owners and workers in rural and coastal regions. 
• Greater domestic food security and lower import reliance. 
• Measurable reductions in carbon emissions and ecosystem stress from smarter practices. 
• A highly trained workforce equipped to power the next generation of American agriculture and aquaculture.

I will champion this agenda in Congress because the prosperity of Virginia’s fields, bays, and oceans is personal to the families I meet every day. I pledge to fight for bold investment, rigorous accountability, and true equity—so every farmer, fisher, and food-industry worker, no matter their background, can thrive while safeguarding the environment for generations to come.

Education is the launch pad for upward mobility and regional prosperity. Yet in Virginia’s 2nd District—and across America—cost, geography, and outdated systems still block far too many people from that launch. As a military spouse, middle-class worker, Democrat, and member of a multi-racial family, I have seen how quality schooling and skills training change lives. This plan removes barriers from preschool through adulthood, so every learner can gain the knowledge and credentials our modern economy demands. 

1. Universal Access & Affordability – Make high-quality learning reachable for every child and adult, especially in under-served and marginalized communities. 
2. Workforce Readiness – Align K-12, community college, and vocational programs with local industry needs through apprenticeships and on-the-job training. 
3. Stronger Public Schools – Modernize facilities, boost Title I resources, and support educators to meet 21st-century standards. 
4. Support for Military Families & Veterans – Ensure portable, flexible benefits and on-base services that fit the unique rhythms of military life. 
5. Innovation & Lifelong Learning – Integrate technology, online platforms, and tax incentives so learning never stops and rural gaps close.

1. Robust Public-School Investment 
   1. Increase Title I funding and expedite grants for aging building repairs, broadband, and STEM labs. 
2. Community College & Vocational Access 
   1. Federal “last-dollar” scholarships covering tuition at community colleges. 
   2. Industry-designed apprenticeship tracks in healthcare, tech, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy. 
3. Lifelong Learning Credits 
   1. Up to $4,000 in annual tax credits for adults pursuing certificates, up-skilling courses, or career pivots. 
   2. National online course marketplace with zero-cost options for rural learners. 
4. Military-Connected Education Boost 
   1. Streamlined GI Bill transferability and stipend top-ups for spouses. 
   2. On-site college advising and remote-learning hubs at every major installation. 
5. Expanded Early Childhood Education 
   1. Universal, voluntary pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds, funded with a federal-state match. 
   2. Grants for teacher residencies, mentorships, and culturally responsive classroom materials.

• Economic Growth: A pipeline of job-ready graduates attracts investment and lifts wages.
   
• Educational Equity: Rural, low-income, and minority students gain the same high standards and resources as wealthier peers. 
• Modern Skills Workforce: Employers fill high-demand roles locally, reducing unemployment and under-employment. 
• Empowered Military Communities: Portable, quality education fortifies service families and veterans, boosting local economies.

I owe my opportunities to a solid public education and supportive mentors. In Congress, I will champion this agenda—securing the funds, forging the partnerships, and demanding accountability—so every learner in VA-02 can thrive. Together we will build an economy powered by knowledge, innovation, and equal opportunity for all.

Economic growth and social progress depend on tapping the full range of America’s talent. Yet barriers in hiring still block too many qualified people from opportunity. Drawing on my experience as a military spouse, middle-class Virginian, and member of a multi-racial family, I know that inclusive workplaces spark innovation and broaden prosperity. This policy advances clear, enforceable steps to ensure every employer can—and must—hire equitably. 

1. Promote Equal Opportunity – Guarantee that race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or economic background never limit access to jobs. 
2. Build Diverse Workforces – Make workplaces mirror the rich diversity of our communities. 
3. Drive Economic Growth – Harness varied perspectives to boost creativity, productivity, and competitiveness. 
4. Dismantle Systemic Barriers – Root out discriminatory practices and unconscious bias in recruiting, hiring, and retention.

1. Diversity Benchmarks for Federal Contractors
   1. Companies seeking or holding federal contracts must meet measurable hiring-and-retention diversity targets that align with local labor pools. 
2. Tax Incentives for Inclusive Employers 
   1. Tiered credits for businesses that adopt evidence-based inclusion plans and show annual progress on representation and pay equity.
       
3. A Stronger EEOC 
   1. Expanded funding and staff to accelerate investigations, conduct sector-wide audits, and issue proactive guidance on best practices.
       
4. Workplace Accessibility Grants 
   1. Competitive grants to help firms retrofit facilities, purchase adaptive technologies, and train staff to support employees with disabilities.
       
5. Community Outreach & Talent Pipelines 
   1. Federal support for partnerships that link underserved residents to apprenticeships, certificate programs, and career fairs in high-growth fields.
       
6. Mandatory Bias Training & Audits 
   1. All federal contractors and large employers must provide annual implicit-bias training for hiring managers and undergo third-party fairness audits.

• Broader Representation across industries and leadership ranks. 
• Lower Unemployment & Under-employment among historically marginalized groups. 
• Faster Innovation & Growth fueled by diverse ideas and experiences. 
• Higher Public Trust in businesses that demonstrate social responsibility and fairness.

I will champion this policy in Congress because Virginia’s 2nd District—and our nation— thrives when everyone gets a fair shot. By enforcing equal opportunity, rewarding inclusive employers, and eliminating hidden barriers, we will unlock the full potential of America’s workforce and build an economy that truly works for all of us.