Many parents say raising children is unaffordable, especially in today’s economy. Too many families must choose between rent and childcare, pursuing a career or raising their children, and investing in their children or sacrificing elsewhere. These tough decisions are unnecessary and harmful. They are the direct result of failed policy in the United States. We must invest in our children, and that means investing in America’s families.

The American Dream. What a beautiful concept. And I hope you can pursue your American Dream. To achieve the American Dream, however, each American must feel safe in their life, relationships, and everyday encounters. Safety is essential. It is a critical component of our nation’s success, and we must continue to invest in safer communities. And yet, while you read these thoughts, violence against women remains a global public health crisis and human rights violation. 

Great women have shaped the United States. And we owe much of our identity to some of these incredible humans. Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, the multitude of First Ladies, and so many more. And despite these outsized impacts upon our society, our elected leaders are still largely ignorant on the topic of women’s health. It is past time we stop ignoring this topic and begin to actively address it. 

Back in July, we were told this bill would fix everything. This administration repeatedly said it is focused on reducing the cost of health care for Americans. Yet, it has delivered the largest cut to essential health programs, including Medicare, in US history. Critics warned us, but most people didn’t have 1,000+ pages of free time to comb through what was actually in it. I have been revisiting it because, as we moved into 2026, provisions are starting to kick in and parts of the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” are no longer theoretical.

At its core, I believe rural America is a diverse and often misunderstood region. Rural Americans have become marginalized by systemic economic neglect, corporate consolidation, and a widening political divide. And we must work to move past these stereotypes and reinvest in these communities through direct support. 

Congressional Republicans claim this bill is about election integrity, but the reality is much darker. The SAVE Act is a dangerous attack on a fundamental right, the right to vote, that will create major barriers to voter registration and threaten more than 20 million eligible voters in 2026. The SAVE Act is not just another voter ID bill. It is about voter registration and, at its core, would require every American to prove their U.S. citizenship with inflexible requirements and specific documentation, such as a passport or birth certificate, to register to vote. 

I support the Second Amendment. It is your right to bear arms. And as we all know, with great power comes great responsibility. We all have an obligation to be responsible gun owners. As a responsible gun owner, the rising rate of gun violence and mass shootings should concern you. In fact, the U.S. Surgeon General declared gun violence a public health crisis.

Here’s a simple truth—things haven’t felt “normal” for a while. Life under this administration is fear, chaos, uncertainty, and distrust. This beautiful Democracy is being tested. We are breaking treaties, kidnapping a foreign leader, and having two government shutdowns in four months. Our elected leaders refuse to work across the aisle. ICE is out of control. Thousands of people are implicated in the Epstein Files. The media is dividing people and distracting them from the scandals rather than reporting on them. The political climate is heated. And Americans are growing tired of watching the news.