Candidate Q&A
Why are you running?
I have grown increasingly frustrated and disappointed with the extreme positions and lack of cooperation among government officials. As I watched the news and saw the gridlock, I kept thinking “there has to be a better way.” As the daughter of tenant farmers, I understand the economic challenges families face. As a graduate of EIU with a degree in Clinical Psychology, I understand the crises Americans face related to mental health and addiction. As a former ambassador for the Illinois Soybean and American Soybean Associations, I understand the challenges facing farmers and the agricultural industry. I spent 30 years in Government Affairs working on the front lines negotiating to expand critical, community-driven improvements and access to healthcare for the people of Illinois and neighboring states. I developed a proven record working with both parties to compromise and pass legislation. I understand the challenges when the parties are polarized. I have experience breaking through the gridlock. I want to work with Congress to pass legislation that addresses kitchen table issues facing middle income families, the unstable markets for farmers, and the struggles of small businesses in rural communities. I’m running to create a better way of addressing the problems Americans face.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing your constituents and how do you plan on addressing it?
Constituents in the 15th district are struggling to pay for everyday necessities like housing, groceries and healthcare. They are facing job loss, stagnant wages, and instability in the healthcare, manufacturing, and agricultural sectors. The district represents 31% of Illinois’ total agricultural sales and farmers are facing another difficult season due to tariff policy, low crop prices, and high production costs. The largest employment industry in the district is healthcare and rural healthcare is facing a crisis with hospital closures and provider shortages leading to reduced access to care and worse outcomes. Manufacturing is the second largest employment sector in the district, and it has suffered from volatile tariffs and supply chain chaos leading to reduced investment and hiring. Constituents need a representative in Congress engaged on these issues and willing to work within the Republican Party and negotiate across the aisle to deliver policies that address these needs. The current Congresswoman’s lack of focus and absence on the issues facing the district is leading to greater reliance on government services and social programs, dwindling population in the district, and lack of policy to support agricultural stability, business growth, and a standard of living that supports the middle class.
What is one unique challenge your district faces and how do you plan to address it?
The first and most effective way to bring immediate relief to the people in the district is to request Community Project Funding for communities and initiatives throughout the district. This is the most pressing issue being ignored by the current officeholder and can be addressed immediately with little effort as all members of Congress are entitled to these funds. Unfortunately, units of local government and organizations have been unable to access funding due to Miller’s longstanding refusal to participate in this funding mechanism on their behalf. Only recently, when faced with primary challengers, has she had a “change of heart” on this issue. Funds can be used by communities for a variety of projects including improving water systems, wastewater treatment facilities, roads, bridges, resources for fire departments and first responders, eliminating blight and remediating hazardous structures, along with addressing other public safety and infrastructure needs. Additionally, funds can be used by non-profits for community needs like health, education, and social services like food banks. I would immediately apply for funding distribute the millions of dollars the district has been entitled to but not receiving for six years. This will save the taxpayers money by using federal resources to improve the communities in the district instead of taxpayers using local resources and local tax dollars for eligible federal projects.
What do you think federal immigration reform should look like?
Immigration reform should focus on border security, increased funding for technology to detect drugs coming into the country, additional personnel and judges to process immigration and asylum cases, an expansion of pathways for legal immigration, and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and “Dreamers.” For instance, District 15 has farmers who rely on seasonal workers and a path needs to remain in place for these seasonal workers to come into the country. Properly funding and staffing the system in terms of personnel and technology, reduces backlogs and delays, improves efficiencies, and takes pressure of both the government and those seeking to become citizens. Reform should include a review of the tactics being used to arrest immigrants. All laws need to be followed and enforced or civil society breaks down. If our nation departs from the established rule of law, harm will continue in ways beyond that which we are witnessing. When due process is denied one individual in this country, we are all denied due process. I believe we should all follow the laws of the nation whether we are immigrants trying to become citizens, natural born citizens, or law enforcement.
How should Congress address the rising costs of health care?
There needs to be a combination of extending subsidies, increasing competition, enhancing transparency, and regulating prices. I believe there should be an extension of the ACA tax credits, at least until another system is in place, to prevent significant premium increases and loss of coverage for millions. There should be a move to increase the number of drugs subject to Medicare negotiation, capping out-of-pocket costs, and updating systems monitoring fraud and abuse in a preemptive manner. Exploration of site neutral payment reforms for Medicare (hospital versus doctor’s office) should occur. We should also move toward more transparency in pricing by hospitals and insurers to assist patients in accessing the most affordable healthcare. We should also begin shifting payment to rewarding providers for keeping patients healthy rather than reimbursing for performing procedures (a value-based system). The system should also seek avenues to reward economic savings to patients for assuming responsibility for their own preventive healthcare and healthy lifestyles when appropriate. Finally, we should reduce regulatory paperwork that interferes with patient care.
What approach would you take on tax policy and what is your top priority?
The goal should be an approach that will balance long-term economic growth with equity through a tax code that is simple, transparent, and stable. The priority will be to manage expiring key tax provisions from 2025, so the code remains competitive for businesses and sustainable long-term. A strategy should be pursued that will reduce tax rates for individuals to encourage investment, and an expansion of refundable tax credits for low- and middle-income families. With the high national debt, policy must shift towards paying for tax cuts by closing loopholes e.g. limiting the deduction for corporate debt.
Is the House currently using its oversight powers in the way it should be? What areas of government need more or less oversight?
No. The House is not using its oversight powers in ways that serve the citizens, uphold the Constitution, or hold officials accountable for corruption and abuse of power. They are not closely enough monitoring federal agencies and are not using their Constitutional authority to monitor and challenge everything from altering Congressional funding to the enforcement of subpoenas. The House should use the tools it has available like subpoenas for testimony and documents, when necessary and enforce them through contempt of Congress or civil action if cooperation fails. Investigation of overreach by the executive branch should always be checked as that is what our founders fought for. I believe there is considerable waste and fraud within government agencies and the House should again use its broad powers for oversight and management in a way that reduces waste, uncovers fraud, and assists in the efficient and effective management of federal resources and employees.
What is the most pressing foreign policy issue facing the country and what role should the House play in dealing with it?
The defining crisis today is the severe strain on key alliances caused by chaotic and volatile tariff policies. These ongoing trade disputes are not only causing profound strain on historical alliances, undermining both economic and security partnerships, but they have put an unnecessary strain on middle class Americans. Congress already has authority to set tariff policy pursuant to Article 1, Section 8, of the Constitution. Over the years, it has delegated that power to the Executive branch under well-defined emergency circumstances beginning in 1962 and has steadily relinquished responsibility to both Republican and Democratic presidents. However, the current Congress has further ceded that responsibility to the current administration with little oversight or pushback and the farmers in the 15th district have become collateral damage in what has now become a trade war between larger entities. The challenge for farmers lies in navigating the future where tariffs have eroded the reliability of key agricultural markets. Congress needs to step in and exercise its constitutional authority over trade to mitigate the economic harm caused by the tariffs on American farmers and consumers and mend strained relationships with key allies.
How do you view AI and the role the government should play in its regulation?
AI is a powerful tool as long as government acts as a guardian to ensure it is trustworthy and beneficial focusing on safety, transparency and accountability without hampering innovation. AI companies should be held accountable at every level and human oversight is crucial with clear rules on how the data, particularly sensitive personal data of citizens, is used. High risk applications such as in healthcare should be subject to an extreme level of oversight, regulation, security, and accountability. There should be mandatory safety testing of models both before and after they are released to the public. AI companies must be mandated to uphold ethical, secure, and responsible standards throughout the entire AI lifecycle from data center build-out to generative outputs.
How would you describe the current state of your party and what changes or new approaches would you like to see your party adopt?
The current climate of intense political polarization has driven both parties toward ideological extremes, resulting in legislative gridlock and paralyzed policymaking, leaving constituents underserved and lacking essential resources to live the quality of life they desire. The polarization and extreme positions are leaving older traditional Republicans and Democrats feeling politically homeless and younger generations are becoming disillusioned regarding politics in general. We need to start listening to one another as “Americans,” with shared future and a better world for ourselves and our children; not as “Democrats” or “Republicans.” My party needs to start listening to the people it represents and acting in ways that improve the quality of life for our constituents. We need to focus more on our common bonds as Americans and stop focusing so much on what divides us or separates us as partisans.