Peace

Promote Peace and Prosperity

We must end the state of endless wars, as these wars have made us less safe.

Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been killed, entire countries have been destabilized, and we are currently in the midst of an extreme global migration crisis. Meanwhile at home, there have been increasing cuts to spending on healthcare, infrastructure, education, and housing. We must center foreign policy around human rights, justice, and peace. Limiting our global armed presence in the form of military bases and investing in diplomacy, economic and cultural engagement will allow us to begin to repair the harm done.

  • We spend by far the most on our military budget, and more than the next seven countries on the list of top spenders combined
  • The Pentagon has spent $400 billion dollars on the F-35 fighter jet program, and will eventually spend over 1 trillion dollars in costs and maintenance
  • American intervention in democratically-elected governments has contributed to the migration crisis
  • The executive branch has escalated U.S. involvement in Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen, with no authorization from Congress

 

Vision and policy priorities

End funding for endless wars and military aggression

We are currently engaged in a number of wars that have no end in sight—Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Yemen, and Somalia. These wars have destabilized regions, created massive humanitarian crises, and continue to hurt our image across the world. We must end these wars, and we must avoid military-use in the future by investing in diplomacy.

  • Reduce total spending on the military and reinvest that money into healthcare, education, housing, jobs, clean energy, and infrastructure
  • Eliminate the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO), a budgetary gimmick that gives the Pentagon it’s own personal slush fund. Eliminate wasteful military programs like the F-35 fighter jet program, saving taxpayers $1 trillion dollars total
  • Scale back the number of US military bases across the world​

 

Repeal harmful sanctions and oppose all U.S. intervention into democratically-elected governments

Sanctions and economic blockades have been used to hurt the economies of countries outside of the U.S. sphere of influence. These measures hurt working people in other countries and foster animosity towards our government.

  • End sanctions and embargoes against countries, which ultimately only hurt the working families of those countries
  • Support diplomatic solutions to the conflicts in both North Korea and Iran, and avoid military conflict at all costs
  • Support the JCPOA, and advocate for a deal that does not disproportionately impose economic sanctions on the people of Iran

 

Renegotiate harmful free trade agreements

Free trade agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) were passed on the promise that they would help workers across the continent. However, the opposite happened. Jobs have left the United States, multinational corporations exploit working people and lobby against labor and environmental protections.​

  • Invest in a robust Trade Adjustment Assistance program that provides support for workers who have lost their jobs due to the impact of trade
  • Withhold support to any new or updated trade agreements unless they protect American jobs, uphold strong rights for international workers and help drive down the cost of prescription drugs
  • Require governments to prioritize policies that minimize climate pollution by including a “climate impact test” for policy making

 

Fully fund programs to care for our veteran population

We must ensure that veterans who have returned home from conflict-zones are taken care of. It is unacceptable that politicians send soldiers to fight in wars, and refuse to fund the programs they need when returning home. We must ensure that all veterans are housed, have access to healthcare, and mental health care services.

  • Eliminate homelessness among veterans by expanding the HUD-VASH program and Supportive Services for Veterans Families
  • Oppose the privatization of the Veterans Affairs healthcare system and expand funding for physical and mental healthcare for veterans

 

Support a peace that affirms the safety and rights of both Palestinians and Israelis

Stability in the Middle East depends on the establishment of a lasting peace between Palestinians and Israelis. But without justice, there will never be peace. The United States must work with the international community, and not unilaterally, to work towards a solution. I will use my voice in Congress and work with communities on the ground to center the ultimate goal of self-determination and peace.

  • Fight against efforts from the Trump administration to undermine the peace process, and support autonomy for the Israeli and Palestinian peoples to define what a solution looks like
  • Uplift the voices of Palestinians demanding an end to the occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and end the siege of Gaza
  • Oppose the killing of civilians in Gaza and the expansion of settlements into the West Bank
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