John, on Friday we sent you an issues survey.

I've been reading through the responses, and appreciated the input from so many of you. I wanted to follow up to tell you where I stand on some of the issues most important to you in this election.

Climate and Environment: It’s not surprising that the top issue in our survey was climate change. Our way of life on Long Island is threatened by extreme weather, coastal erosion, and sea-level rise, all due to climate change. As a scientist, I'll work tirelessly to drive evidence-based policy solutions to the climate crisis. I'll advocate for advances in renewable energy, clean vehicles, and ultra-efficient buildings nationwide. New York’s 1st District also faces threats to clean water, both in our bays and in our taps. As a member of Congress, I'll fight to protect our water supply. I'll work to make sure we take action to protect against contaminants such as PFAS and dioxane that threaten our groundwater, and promote efforts to increase the use of modern septic and water treatment technology.

Healthcare: Healthcare is a human right, and I'll fight to make sure every American has access to high-quality, affordable healthcare. It is unconscionable that a country as wealthy as ours has 29 million people without healthcare coverage, and another 30-70 million who are under-insured. And it’s unfathomable that Zeldin’s solution is to repeal the ACA. That's why I'll work to lower the minimum age for Medicare and allow any individual or employer to buy into Medicare.

Economic Opportunity: Rising costs are outpacing wage growth in Suffolk County, and we must do better. That starts by sending a representative to Washington who will look out for the needs of Suffolk families, not the wealthy special interests. It starts with reinstating the SALT deduction for property taxes, which would put substantial sums of money in the pockets of homeowners. But it does not stop there -- we need to invest in policies that bring high-quality jobs to Long Island and make life here more affordable, by shoring up our infrastructure, developing the green economy, and improving access to public transportation.

Guns: The inaction on gun safety that we've seen in Washington in the wake of countless mass shootings is a disgrace. As a mother and teacher, I understand the pain and fear caused by the gun violence epidemic in our country. In Congress, I'll advocate for immediate action to ban assault weapons, ban high capacity magazines, and require universal background checks. Meanwhile, Lee Zeldin has gone in the opposite direction: he is a co-sponsor of a concealed-carry reciprocity bill that would allow gun license holders from any state to carry their guns in New York, effectively abolishing most of our protections.

Education: Every student, regardless of background, deserves access to quality education. We need to make significant investments in preschool programs, eliminate unnecessary testing requirements, and take meaningful steps to close the achievement gap that exists in too many communities. We also need to address the rising cost of college tuition and the crippling burden of student loan debt, for example by increasing Pell Grants and strengthening programs to support graduates who enter public service.

We have the platform that speaks to the concerns of Suffolk County. We will need the resources to deliver our message to all communities in the 1st District. If you're able to chip in to help fund our outreach efforts, please do so here >>

Thank you,

Nancy

P.S. To see more of my positions in further detail, check out my issues page.