Description of office: The US Constitution requires that the House of Representatives be composed of Representatives from each state, elected in proportion to population. There are 435 members of the House of Representatives, with 17 Representatives allotted to Pennsylvania after the 2020 census. A US Representative must be at least 25 years old, have been a citizen of the United States for the past seven years, and be a resident of the state they seek to represent at the time of the election (though not necessarily the same district). The House of Representatives is responsible for introducing and voting on bills, resolutions and amendments, and for approving the budget. Representatives also serve on various policy committees. The House may send Articles of Impeachment of elected officials to the Senate and elects the President if there is a tie in the Electoral College.Term: 2 yearsSalary: $174,000Vote for ONE.
County
Allegheny
Occupation
American politician who is the U.S. representative for Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district
Education
I graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 2009 and earned a Juris Doctor from the Howard University School of Law
Qualifications
In 2022, I was the first Black woman from my region elected to represent Pennsylvania’s 12th district. I secured $1 Billion in federal investments for Western PA, which will improve our infrastructure & transit and create thousands of union jobs. I also have leadership positions in many caucuses.
Throughout our nation’s history, we have never delivered on the promises of democracy. The legacy of slavery has carried on through gerrymandering and voter suppression, and democracy reform is the root of all issues we face today. Our region suffers from some of the poorest air quality in the nation. Environmental justice is one of our most pressing issues, which is why I’ve fought for a Green New Deal to transition to a renewable energy economy. Every child also deserves access to a first-rate, free public education despite their background. Right-wing extremists on the Supreme Court have gutted our right to abortion care. Congress must do everything in its power to restore our fundamental freedom to control our bodies and our futures.
I believe that we should end the filibuster, a tool used by segregationist Senators to oppose civil rights legislation, that stands in the way of progress today. We need to ban members of Congress from trading stocks because they should not be profiting off access to closed-door information about the companies they should be regulating. Members of Congress who trade stocks have a clear conflict of interest — they need to work for the people they represent, not for their own portfolios. I also want to enforce real ethics requirements, end lifetime appointments, and expand the federal courts so that right-wing extremists can’t sell our freedoms to the highest bidder. As I said, we also need to get money out of politics more fundamentally.
I support the Freedom to Vote Act, which improves access to the ballot for Americans, advances commonsense federal election standards and campaign finance reforms, and strengthens our democracy. I’ve also cosponsored the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2023 to protect voting rights against attacks by Republican state legislatures and right wing judges by revitalizing the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and strengthening legal protections against discriminatory voting policies and practices. By improving access to the ballot and passing legislation against discriminatory voting practices, we can protect voting rights for citizens all across the nation and make elections fair and free.
We are a pro-peace office that believes the United States has a crucial role in the world. The United States must be a global leader in fighting climate change, promoting global economic justice, and creating a more peaceful and just world for all.
County
Allegheny
Occupation
Chief Financial Officer
Education
B.S.F.S., International Economics, Georgetown Univ.; M.P.A., Economics and Policy, Princeton Univ.; M.B.A., Finance and Accounting, Univ. of Chicago; D.B.A., Management, Case Western Reserve Univ.
Qualifications
Accomplished business leader with extensive international business development, risk management, marketing, financial analysis, and strategic planning experience. Progressive leadership roles at prominent organizations, focusing on driving business growth and collaboration.
1. Loss of control of the southern border. I believe that the U.S. House's HR2 needs to become law so that the asylum loopholes are closed and there are meaningful and effective controls at the border.
2. Restoring energy independence/dominance. Congress should eliminate the restrictions placed on the energy industry, including restoring strategic pipeline infrastructure. We need permitting reform to remove the delay and uncertainty plaguing new projects and the industry needs to be free to grow while respecting environmental rules.
3. Education reform. It isn't fair that a zip code determines the quality of education a child receives. We need to implement School Choice to allow the funds to follow the child.
I think that Congress functions exactly how the Founding Fathers intended. There are legitimate policy differences between the two major parties and Congress provides a forum for these differences to be debated, developed into a consensus position and passed into law. It isn't meant to be easy and shouldn't be because the outcomes impact the lives of so many.
I believe that it is not too much to ask for voters to be required to provide a photo ID when they go to vote. This requirement exists for many less important things that we do in our daily lives. I think a photo ID requirement would go a long way to reassure voters that only legitimate votes will be cast and counted. In general I would support any measure that creates more transparency in the process between when a vote is cast and when it is counted and recorded. Such measures can included improved cyber and physical security for the voting process.
I believe that the constitution establishes a contract between the Government and the people of the USA. That contract is for those who are public servants to advocate for the interests of our country. The role of the US in responding to challenges facing the international community should be to always work toward ensuring the safety and prosperity of our nation's citizens.
