Political Perspective

---

"Assault Rifle Definition:" a rapid-fire, magazine-fed automatic rifle designed for infantry use. 

When it comes to gun safety, it’s my belief the safety of our communities and children are of the utmost importance. We have seen the effects of having easy access to assault rifles and the detrimental reality caused when in untrained and the wrong hands. 

It is not my proposal to ban all guns or the right to carry, however it is my intention to well regulate Militia and Infantry weapons, such as assault rifles. 

Another important aspect of the law I would like to enact around gun safety, is a mandatory mental health screening. Now more than ever, mental health awareness is critical when it comes to gun safety. Mental health issues could affect one’s cognitive and decision-making process. That reality combined with owning any form of a deadly weapon can be extremely dangerous and needs to be properly addressed through my proposed mandatory mental health screenings. 

Lastly, many states, including Texas do not require a license to carry a gun. It’s my belief that if we are required to have a license to drive a car, which can also be a deadly weapon. We also need a license to carry a gun. Along with the fore mentioned proposals, I will propose a federal law that any person desiring to carry a gun must be properly licensed. Coupled with a “National No Gun Sales List” like the “National No Fly List”. 

Affording our community, families, and children to be protected through gun accountability, training, safety awareness not only creates responsible gun owners but also makes us a stronger and safer collective.

I firmly believe a woman must have complete control of her body and the health choices she makes concerning her life. 

If a woman’s health is at risk while pregnant, similar to my father's mother who died during pregnancy due to complications; then I believe the woman has full right to consult her doctor and God. 

The United States Supreme Court Ruling to overturn Roe vs Wade, in my opinion, was the wrong choice. If a woman or young girl is raped, then she should undoubtedly have the right and choice to terminate the pregnancy or consider adoption if abortion is not an option. 

Nonetheless, because of my personal faith in God, I do also believe that outside of the cruel circumstance of rape; it would be a considerable act for a woman to consider moving forward with having the baby she has been blessed with. 

In 2014, I was awarded The Honorary Lifetime Membership Award, which is one of the highest honors that is bestowed by the Texas Congress of Parents and Teachers. This award is given to those who have dedicated and shown outstanding service to children and youth.  For many years it was my passion and mission to serve voluntarily of my time and resources. This work has catapulted my passion for creating a law that would cut federal education funding from any State that is using taxpayer money for private school funding. A FULL STOP! 

Many schools in America are considered Title 1 Schools; an at-risk for school achievement. I would like to propose on a federal level the PTA for Students Bill; “Parents & Teachers Assurance for Students”. 

My PTA for Students Bill will propose to increase both teacher pay and PTA involvement for working parents. This includes paid leave for parents while off work for school volunteering. Each parent volunteer will receive eight hours of the real median hourly wage or their current hourly wage (whichever is greater) for at least two hours of volunteer time per month. The designated PTA for that school will receive a minimum of $500 for each parent volunteer for that month. Public Agenda; A nonpartisan public opinion research organization, found that 65 percent of teachers say their students would do better in school if their parents were more involved, and 72 percent of parents feel that children whose parents are not involved sometimes "fall through the cracks" in school (Johnson & Duffett, 2003).

There are several potential actions that can be taken in America to reduce healthcare costs and reform prescription drug costs for senior citizens. Some suggestions include:

        1.      Promote price transparency: Implement measures to increase transparency in healthcare pricing, including requiring hospitals, clinics, and pharmaceutical companies to disclose the costs of their services and medications. This would enable consumers, including senior citizens, to make more informed decisions about their healthcare options.

        2.      Allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices: Currently, Medicare is prohibited from negotiating drug prices with pharmaceutical companies. Allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices could lead to significant cost savings for senior citizens and the government.

        3.      Increase generic drug availability: Encourage the production and use of generic medications, which are typically more affordable than brand-name drugs. This can be achieved by streamlining the generic drug approval process and implementing policies that promote competition in the pharmaceutical industry.

        4.      Implement reference pricing: Reference pricing sets a standard price for a particular drug or treatment, and patients are responsible for paying the difference if they choose a more expensive option. This approach can incentivize patients to choose more cost-effective options, thereby reducing healthcare costs.

        5.      Expand access to telehealth services: Telehealth services can help reduce healthcare costs by providing remote medical consultations, monitoring, and prescription refills. Expanding access to telehealth services for senior citizens can improve convenience and reduce the need for costly in-person visits.

        6.      Promote preventive care and chronic disease management: Investing in preventive care and chronic disease management programs can help reduce healthcare costs in the long run. By focusing on early intervention and managing chronic conditions, seniors can avoid costly hospitalizations and emergency room visits.

        7.      Support research and development of new treatments: Encouraging research and development of innovative treatments can lead to more cost-effective and efficient healthcare options for senior citizens. Government funding and incentives can be provided to promote the development of new drugs and therapies.

        8.      Enhance Medicare coverage: Expanding Medicare coverage to include additional services, such as dental, vision, and hearing, can help reduce out-of-pocket expenses for senior citizens. This can also prevent more serious health issues down the line, leading to overall cost savings.

It’s important to note that healthcare reform is a complex issue, and any changes should be carefully considered and evaluated to ensure they effectively address the challenges faced by senior citizens while maintaining the quality of care.

God put George Manning, Jr., my father and World War II Army Veteran in my life. As well as a sister, nephew, and brother-in-law that have all served with honor for our country. The level of respect and honor that I have for our veterans and military runs deep in my soul and heart. I will fight to my core to ensure that our veterans and military have the healthcare, housing and funding needed. I will protect Americans and help to keep us out of wars. Love and protection, not war!

Enemy of Justice™ - A phrase that I coined to describe a person who actively opposes or shows hostility towards the fair treatment of any human being. I will fight for equal justice while having our communities more involved in the public safety areas of concern. I will help secure targeted mental health funding for our communities because police are not and should not be relied upon as mental health professionals. We should not defund police budgets, but increase them to address: mental health, high crime areas and for protecting places prone to mass shootings like schools, places of worship and areas of discrimination.