A strong economy is an economy that benefits everyone. A strong economy is one where there are no billionaires if there are people living in poverty, where small business owners thrive and where entrepreneurs get the support they need to build their own small businesses. A strong economy should show wage and income growth for people at all levels of the organization. We cannot judge a strong economy solely on the price increases of homes, technology, cars, or the stock market while wages stay too low to make ends meet. A strong economy will be built when we focus on economic justice. When we see working families with more money in their pockets, pay equity for women and people of color, and when people living with disabilities have equal employment and equal pay, that is when we will have a strong economy.
Click here to learn more about the specific Economic Justice Policies Lorena will be championing.
We live on a planet that we hope will continue to provide for us, our children, and our children’s children. We hope that the air is breathable, and the water is drinkable. We hope that we will have fresh food to eat and to be able to see the sunrise and sunset over the rolling hills, or the towering mountains, or the majestic plains. Unfortunately, we are faced with a dying planet because of our actions. Since the industrial revolution, we have had our ambitions set on bigger, better, faster, and more, without considering the consequences of our actions. Even after evidence of what might happen came to light, we remained on track to have the biggest, trucks, tallest buildings, busiest metropolitan areas. It is time for us to act against the climate crisis. Environmental justice must be at the forefront of every solution we work towards as we combat the climate crisis.
Click here to read Lorena’s robust Climate Action plan
Healthcare is a basic human right. Only when we are healthy both mentally and physically are we most productive. And everyone should have the right to high-quality healthcare without the barriers of cost, or of physical access. We should never have to deny ourselves treatment because our deductibles are too high, or we can’t afford the prescription costs, or because we live too far away from adequate services. We should never have to file bankruptcy because our medical bills are out of control. We deserve high-quality health care for everyone. We must adopt a single-payer healthcare system.
Click here to read Lorena’s detailed healthcare policy plans
Our education system in this country should be as highly prioritized as our military. If we fail to educate our youngest generations we fail our country’s future and leave our nation at risk.
Please click here to read Lorena’s plans to improve education in the U.S.
People deserve unrestricted access to services that support their reproductive and sexual health including contraception, abortion, and sterilization services should they choose to use them. Income, geography, race, gender, or where you work should not be a determining factor for which services you can have access to.
Please click here to read Lorena’s plans to ensure we have Reproductive Justice in the U.S.
We need to strike a balance in our immigration system that is rooted in dignity, respect, and opportunity. We must clear a path to citizenship for the immigrants that currently live in the US and protect the right of families to remain together.
We must work closely with industries that rely on foreign labor to ensure they have access to the workforce they need while we offer a streamlined and quicker process for foreign workers to apply for work visas.
We must abolish ICE and implement a new system with the mission of processing asylum requests, work visas, and visitation visas.
Pass the Dream Act!
Develop a foreign policy plan that will support Central American countries grow their economies and their independence from foreign aid.
Work with a broad coalition of countries that are and will be facing major climate change disasters to develop a global migration plan
One of our nation’s greatest threats to our public health is gun violence:
36,000 Americans are killed by guns each year—an average of 100 per day
100,000 Americans are shot and injured each year
In 2017, gun deaths reached their highest level in at least 40 years, with 39,773 deaths that year alone
Gun deaths increased by 16% from 2014 to 2017
Americans are 25x more likely to die from gun violence than residents of peer nations (France, Canada, UK, Japan, Germany, Australia)
10 States with the highest gun death rates have some of the weakest laws in the nation
Researchers estimate that gun violence costs the American economy at least $229 billion every year, including $8.6 billion in direct expenses
Women in the United States are 21 times more likely to be murdered with a gun than women in other high-income countries.
Gun violence is the second-leading cause of death among children overall and the first leading cause of death among black children
In 2018, a student’s risk of dying in a school shooting reached its highest level in at least 25 years. 60% of teens say they are worried about a shooting occurring at their school
We must take swift action to curb gun violence by implementing data-driven gun safety regulations.
Repeal the Dickey Amendment and encourage and fund gun violence research and solution implementation
Require licensure and education on handling guns
Address root causes including bullying, and poverty
Universal background checks for EVERY gun sale
Mandatory Theft Reporting
Extreme Risk Protection Orders
Assault Weapon Ban
Ban bump stocks
Limit bulk purchases of firearms
Close loopholes that allow domestic abusers and people on terrorist watch lists to obtain guns/Disarm Domestic Abusers
Federal buyback program for all military-grade guns
Self-determination provides the Indigenous Peoples the right to be sovereign nations to freely pursue their economic, social, and cultural development like all other peoples. However, a 1903 Supreme Court ruling gave Congress the power to change or nullify treaties to limit tribal jurisdiction and to impose federal and state requirements upon the governments of Indian Tribes without tribal consent.
We must reinstate true tribal sovereignty
Provide more supports for Tribal nations to make sure there is accessible healthcare, mental healthcare, high-quality education, and nutrition on the reservations.
1 in 5 voters nationwide are disabled. We must strengthen protections for people living with disabilities to ensure equity for all.
End all exceptions in wage laws and workplace protections for individuals with disabilities
Expand Social Security, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Social Income (SSI) to a living wage
Remove barriers to individuals who can’t afford a lawyer to help them apply for SSDI
Update the American with Disabilities Act to close employer loopholes
Ensure All New Construction is Accessible
Pay Family Caregivers and Expand Caregiver Hours
Federalize Workers Compensation
Guarantee long-term care at home as a right to all Americans under Medicare for All
Make it illegal for individual’s possessions’ or property to be kept by the assisted living facility
Pass a National Death With Dignity law
Ensure Opioid Pain Management Protections for those with chronic and debilitating pain
Increase employment and educational opportunities for persons with disabilities
Fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and vocational education programs
Expand funding for Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs)
Develop and Implement Educational Training on Disability and Accessibility for industries, including but not limited to, doctors, construction workers, educators, government employees and service industry members
Work for the U.S. ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Improving Research and Funding for Rare Diseases
Labor Rights are the foundation of this country’s economy. We must affirm that Labor Unions have been and will remain crucial to the success of Working Individuals and Working Families in the United States and abroad. We must also protect Labor Unions’ role in our societies and pass legislation that secures the rights of Workers to organize, join/form a union, and to collective bargaining.
Work against all National Right to Work (for Less) legislation
Support the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) and Work with organized labor to strengthen it, if needed before reintroducing it in 2021
Raise the National Minimum Wage to at least $15/hr with continual adjustments with cost of living
Readjust and Re-calculate the Federal Poverty Line to match today’s costs of living
Establish Living Wages, based on regional cost of living
Work to expand Workplace protections for LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and Undocumented Workers- they are equally important and equally deserving members of the US Workforce
Support a Trans & Fluid/Non-Binary Inclusive Equality Act
Strengthen protections for people living with disabilities in the workplace to achieve job security, and enforce pay equity
Implement a corporate CEO earnings cap to secure fair pay- This creates a cap on how much more the highest earner can earn compared to the lowest earner
Invest in vocational & tech schools and apprenticeship & craftsmanship programs
End All Forced Arbitration
Create Just-Cause Employment Protection
Enact Fair Scheduling Requirements
Work to Create Legislation that Requires Codetermination on Corporate Boards- Insure Workers receive equal compensation to other board members
Codify Best Value Procurement Procedures for all Federal Contract
Codify Apprenticeship Utilization Requirements for all Federal Contracts
We also need to support a Green New Deal that puts the just transition of Workers at the forefront of moving our economy to Green Energy. We need to support transitioning Workers who currently work in Oil & Gas related industries to Green Energy and other industries, making it possible for them to continue doing the same kind of work in new sectors.
Incentivize and create infrastructure programs for Green Energy projects that have analogous work for Oil & Gas Industry Workers
Such as transitioning Pipefitters and Boilermakers into Geothermal Energy Jobs (where they can continue to fit pipes and make boilers)
Priority hiring and zero cost training for those currently in the fossil fuel sector and communities that have been historically underrepresented in these fields
Develop retraining and priority hiring programs (for those interested in retraining) and training programs for new workers for the 20 million jobs that will be created in the renewable energy sector
Offer transition funding for individuals who are facing challenges in field transition
Provide severance pay for workers that are unable to find an equal paying job
Provide severance pay for those who are unable or who choose not to learn a new trade due to their proximity for retirement
While the LGBTQ community has yet to reach full equality in the U.S., recently the rights of this community have been rolled back. We cannot allow discrimination to be cloaked in religious freedoms or because of a lack of understanding of this community. We cannot tolerate the discrimination that the Trans Community in the military face and codify non-discrimination in our military. We must ensure that the full weight of protections and freedoms that are enjoyed by many, extend to this community as well.
Support a Trans & Fluid/Non-Binary Inclusive Equality Act, or any similar legislation that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in all areas such as employment, housing, education, and public accommodations
Pass national legislation requiring LGBTQ+ inclusive public school curriculum in sexual education and history teachings
Support the Safe Schools Improvement Act
Support the reimplementation of the 2016 guidance on Title IX of the Higher Education Act
End Gay Panic Defense
Eliminate Anti-Discimination Law Exemptions for US Military
Work to support and expand Workplace protections for LGBTQ+ Workers
Support the The Mental Health Services for Students Act, or any similar legislation that would increase access to evidence-based comprehensive mental health programs for youth in local schools and communities
Support banning mental and behavioral health policies and practices that do not affirm LGBTQ identities and people, including the use of “conversion therapy”
Support the Prohibition of Medicaid Funding for Conversion Therapy Act, or similar legislation that prohibit payments under the Medicaid program for conversion therapy
Support efforts to make PrEP or other HIV prevention medications more affordable and accessible for high-risk populations, including telePrEP
Support requirements for insurance carriers to cover comprehensive, medically-necessary, transition-related care as determined between patients and their providers, including procedures that have historically been considered ‘cosmetic’ by insurance companies
Support the LGBTQ Data Inclusion Act
Support the LGBTQ Essential Data Act
Trans, Fluid, & Non-Binary Rights
Support a Non-Binary, Third Gender option for federal identity documents, including social security cards and passports
Support removing the red tape (surgery, doctor’s note, and/or court order requirements) for transgender and non-binary folks in having federal identity documents that reflect their authentic selves by allowing self-attestation to update gender
Provide easier pathways for name and gender changes on all federal documents
Repeal the Transgender Military Ban
Support requirements for insurance carriers to cover comprehensive, medically-necessary, transition-related care as determined between patients and their providers, including procedures that have historically been considered ‘cosmetic’ by insurance companies
Ban Intersex Mutilation
End Misgendered Imprisonment
We in Colorado are lucky to live in a state with one of the most accessible voting systems in the country. Yet, voter suppression must be stopped in all parts of the country because EVERY VOTE matters.
Set voting access standards across the United States
Eliminate the electoral college to make sure that in our presidential elections, every vote is counted
Re-institute pre-clearance in the Voting Rights Act
Many Americans still face inequities and injustices because of their race, gender, who they love, their disability, where they come from, the language they speak, or their religion. Many marginalized communities still lack access to healthcare, good paying jobs, housing, and quality education. People of Color face disproportionately higher conviction rates and are sentenced to the death penalty at higher rates. People living with diverse physical abilities are often unable to participate because of a lack of meaningful engagement. We must ensure that our hiring practices and enrollment practices are equitable and inclusive and that our justice system is not disproportionately affecting People of Color.
End the War on Drugs
Legalize marijuana on a federal level
Legitimize the sex work industry so we can provide true oversight and protections for sex workers, and so they can benefit from their work
Support more small business and entrepreneur programs for communities of color
Pass a Trans Inclusive Equality Act
Hold companies that violate the Lilly Ledbetter Act accountable
Require new housing developments to have at least 20% affordable housing (individual states can increase this)
Reinstitute pre-clearance in the Voting Rights Act
Our foreign relations have been severely strained since the current administration took office. We must act peacefully and swiftly to rebuild trust within our global community, and reduce dangerous tensions with Iran and North Korea.
North Korea: De-escalate tensions in North Korea by pursuing a comprehensive denuclearization agreement, increasing humanitarian aid, and progressively reducing sanctions.
Iran: Re-commit to the nuclear denuclearization agreement, reduce sanctions, and prohibit preemptive military action.
Yemen: Stop all U.S. military support and arms sales to countries participating in the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen’s civil war, and invest more in humanitarian aid and rebuilding.
Israel: Support the creation of a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, support H.R. 2407, the Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act.
Central America: Eliminate CAFTA-DR and develop an equitable trade agreement that promotes fair wages, protects unions, and eliminates the regions economic dependency on the U.S.
Tariffs: Tariffs should be prohibited from being used to intimidate countries into bending to the will of the U.S.
Trade Agreements: Any and all trade agreements must include worker protections, fair wages, and promote economic development fro all parties included.
End the war on drugs and begin implementing effective treatment for addicts
Criminalizing drug use is not solving the problem- we are only enforcing highly expensive and ineffective solutions to a problem that should be dealt with as a public health problem, not a criminal problem
Eliminate private prisons, because no one should be profiting off of crime
Focus more on preventative measures like work-placement programs, mental health services, and housing reform
Demilitarize Police
Require police force transparency to address police misconduct and provide a more just process to report police misconduct
Legalize marijuana nationally and expunge all marijuana records
Decriminalize sex work
Ban All Cash Bail
Ban Solitary Confinement
End the Death Penalty Nationally
Work to Eradicate the School to Prison Track in Communities of Color
A major barrier to ensuring people-centered policy is campaign finance. People running for office become beholden to the big corporate dollars that finance their campaigns. We, as a public, also lack transparency in who or what is funding a campaign due to the allowances for dark money via PACs. This limits accountability and the publics’ ability to have oversight over conflicts of interest.
Support for H.R.1, the For the People Act
Overturn Citizens United
Prevent any campaign activity from keeping their donor lists private including PACs and super PACs
Candidates must also release conflict of interest disclosures when running for office
Stricter enforcement of the ban on coordination between candidates and PACs
Public-funded campaigns
Require sitting president to nominate FEC commissioners withing 90 days of a vacancy.
Accountability and transparency are vital to the effective operations of our U.S. government. The executive branch is not above the law, nor is the supreme court. We must instill term limits in Congress to ensure that we elect people who are committed to serving the people above themselves and their own job security.
Greater restrictions on conflicts of interest for legislators
Full disclosure of investments and properties owned by government officials
End lifelong severances for former members of congress
Greater restrictions to disclosures on the “revolving door” between public and private sectors
Require annual debt spending audits including the Department of Defense (DOD)
Streamline the Lobbyist registration system to one easy to access system for the public
Full disclosure of conflicts of interests; investments, and property owned by lobbyists
Judgeship Term Limits
Abolish the Electoral College
Abolish ICE
Eliminate interest on federal loans because the government should never profit off of the people
Reparations
Downsize military size and spending
Net Neutrality is necessary to ensure Internet Service Providers (ISPs) treat all internet traffic fairly. That way, they cannot dictate which sites people use through the throttling of bandwidth, which happens when ISPs slow the speed of their internet service. ISPs being able to do this would add a barrier to entry on the internet marketplace for small businesses forced to pay a surcharge in order to not be throttled, create an incentive for ISP parent companies to choke content that isn’t theirs, and potentially, hurt candidates who support regulation of ISPs, as they would have an incentive to throttle traffic at those candidates’ websites. In California, throttling has already put lives in harm’s way, when Verizon throttled the bandwidth of Santa Clara County Fire Department during a wildfire. Since most ISPs are, in effect, regional monopolies, pure market competition is not enough to incentivize them to treat it fairly on their own. For that reason, internet service providers must be regulated with Net Neutrality rules, and specifically, they need to be regulated under Title II of the 1934 Communications Act. This will ensure that the FCC has oversight of cable companies, and how they treat internet traffic.