Priorities
Make Long Island More Affordable
Before I left for my last deployment, one hundred dollars could fill an entire shopping cart. Today, I am lucky if it covers a couple of bags. Life on Long Island has become unaffordable. Health care feels out of reach, education is harder to access, and childcare costs are through the roof.
Too many young people are told that higher education is the path to opportunity, only to graduate buried in debt with fewer chances to get ahead. I am still paying off my own student loans, and I know how hard it is to build a future when debt follows you long after graduation. That pressure makes it even harder for young people to stay on Long Island and put down roots.
I saw the cost of living take its toll early in my life. When I was growing up, my family felt the impact of Long Island’s rising costs firsthand, as we were forced to leave because staying was no longer affordable. That experience stayed with me. No one should have to choose between staying close to family and being able to afford a decent life.
Long Islanders are working harder than ever and still falling further behind. Affordability is about fairness, opportunity, and respect for the people who make this region work. I will fight to make Long Island a place where working families, young people, and seniors can not only stay, but build a real future.
How we accomplish this
- Lower everyday costs by cracking down on price gouging in groceries, fuel, and housing-related essentials.
- Expand housing supply responsibly by supporting federal incentives for transit-oriented development near LIRR stations, while protecting suburban neighborhoods from overdevelopment.
- Reduce student debt burdens by expanding income-based repayment, protecting Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and refinancing high-interest federal student loans.
- Support working families through expanded Child Tax Credits and childcare affordability programs so young families can stay on Long Island.
- Hold corporations accountable for buying affordable housing and price gouging.
Invest in Infrastructure
Long Island’s infrastructure is aging, our transit system is strained, and our coastlines remain vulnerable. We’ve never fully recovered from Hurricane Sandy, and rising sea levels continue to threaten our homes, businesses, and local economy.
I’ve seen the impact of these failures up close as a first responder, when storms knock out power, flood streets, and disrupt daily life, it’s working families and small businesses who pay the price. I’ve watched neighbors and communities struggle to recover while promises of rebuilding drag on and critical projects are delayed. Infrastructure is about safety, stability, and whether our communities can withstand what comes next.
We need a fighter in Congress who will bring home the resources necessary to modernize our infrastructure, protect our communities, and plan for the future. Strong infrastructure means safer neighborhoods, a stronger economy, and a Long Island that’s prepared for the challenges ahead.
How we accomplish this
- Bring federal infrastructure dollars home to modernize Long Island’s roads, bridges, rail, and power grid.
- Strengthen storm resilience by fully funding coastal protection, flood mitigation, and grid hardening projects left unfinished after Hurricane Sandy.
- Modernize transit to improve LIRR reliability, reduce commuting costs, and support local economic growth.
- Prioritize shovel-ready projects so Long Island isn’t stuck waiting while federal dollars sit unused.
Protect Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and Affordable Health Care
Programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security are the backbone of health and retirement security for millions of Americans who paid into them over a lifetime of work. This issue is personal to me. My parents rely on Medicare, and I’ve seen firsthand how much that stability matters for families who did everything right and just want to age with dignity.
I also know how broken the system can feel even when you are insured. I have stood at the pharmacy counter myself and been shocked by the cost of prescription drugs. Prices like these force people to make impossible choices. Too many families are one illness or accident away from a financial crisis. Seniors worry about affording care after a lifetime of work, and people with disabilities and chronic conditions deserve stability, not uncertainty. I believe health care should provide peace of mind, not fear, and I will fight in Congress to protect and strengthen affordable, reliable health care for every family.
How we accomplish this
- Oppose any cuts or privatization of Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security while weeding out fraud and abuse.
- Lower prescription drug costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate prices and capping out-of-pocket expenses.
- Expand Medicare to cover dental, hearing and vision.
- Protect coverage for pre-existing conditions so no family loses care because they get sick.
- Strengthen community health centers to expand access to care close to home.
- Fix surprise billing and insurance loopholes that leave families paying thousands they never expected.
Keep Long Island Safe
Keeping Long Island safe has been a lifelong commitment for me. I started volunteering as a firefighter while I was still in high school, learning early what it means to show up when others are in danger and to put your community first. That experience shaped how I think about public safety and the importance of strong, well supported policing and emergency services that work together to protect our communities.
In Congress, I will fight to make sure our first responders have the federal support, funding, and coordination they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. Public safety depends on police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and dispatchers working together, and on leaders in Washington listening to those on the front lines. I believe real safety comes from collaboration, accountability, and trust, and from solutions that strengthen communities, prevent crises before they happen, and ensure Long Islanders feel secure at home and at work.
How we accomplish this
- Fully fund first responder grants for staffing, training, equipment, and mental health support.
- Improve interagency coordination so police, fire, EMS, and dispatch can respond faster and more effectively during emergencies.
- Invest in prevention and preparedness, including disaster response planning and community-based violence prevention.
- Support accountability and professionalism that builds trust between first responders and the communities they serve.
- Listen to the front lines, policy should be shaped by those doing the work, not politicians guessing from Washington.
Support Our Veterans
At 17, I enlisted in the Army National Guard, where I served overseas as a controller and Black Hawk helicopter pilot. I know the work and dedication it takes to serve our country to the fullest. Veterans deserve more than words. They deserve action. Like many veterans, I have relied on the VA for my own care. At the Northport VA, I have seen firsthand how dedicated staff work tirelessly under immense pressure. The doctors, nurses, and support workers are doing everything they can, but they are stretched thin, overworked, understaffed, and asked to do more with less. Veterans feel that strain when appointments are delayed, services are harder to access, and care becomes more difficult to navigate.
Too many veterans also struggle to access mental health care, especially when they need it most. No one who has worn the uniform should face trauma, PTSD, or the stress of reintegration alone. Supporting veterans means making sure mental health services are available, timely, and treated with the same urgency as physical care. It also means helping service members transition back to civilian life with job training, education opportunities, and support for their families. In Congress, I will treat veterans’ issues with the seriousness they deserve by fighting for strong VA staffing, accessible mental health care, and real support for veterans as they build their lives after service.
How we accomplish this
- Fully staff and fund the VA, including the Northport VA, so veterans get timely, high-quality care.
- Expand access to mental health services, with faster appointments and crisis care treated as urgent, not optional.
- Cut VA bureaucracy so veterans can navigate benefits without fighting paperwork for years.
- Support transition programs that connect veterans to good-paying jobs, apprenticeships, and education.
- Honor service with action, ensuring veterans and their families are supported long after the uniform comes off.
