For the People of Southeast Georgia

Congress keeps talking about cutting benefits for seniors — by as much as 23% in some projections.

Absolutely not! Many of our seniors and disabled veterans rely on every penny just to survive. Most don’t have million-dollar retirement accounts to fall back on. For millions of Americans, Social Security is their lifeline. In 2022, about 27% of recipients said it was their only source of income. Earlier studies showed as many as 40% of older Americans relied solely on Social Security in retirement.

This is one of the toughest challenges we face as a nation. I struggled with it — trying to develop a plan that’s fair and that actually works.

The Problem: We don’t have enough workers entering the job market to support the growing number of retirees. In 1960, there were about 5.1 workers paying into Social Security for every person receiving benefits. Today, that number has fallen to just 2.7 workers — and it’s projected to keep dropping. People are living longer, the baby boom generation is retiring, and as many as 40% of older Americans rely almost entirely on Social Security for their income. We need to face this problem head-on, have the courage to fix it, and protect our parents and grandparents who built this nation.

• ✅ No Cuts to Earned Benefits: Oppose any attempt to reduce Social Security or Medicare benefits. These are promises made — and promises that we will keep.
• ✅ Protect & Strengthen Solvency: Crack down on fraud, waste, and abuse. Strengthen the Social Security Trust Fund through fiscal discipline — not by raising the retirement age to 72.
• ✅ Cap Prescription Drug Costs: Support the $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage starting in 2025 — and defend it against repeal. Seniors shouldn't have to choose between medicine and groceries.
• ✅ Make It Fair for Everyone: Eliminate the Social Security wage cap for high earners making over $176,100 — that includes Members of Congress. They should pay Social Security tax on all of their wages, just like everyone else. Even Warren Buffett pays in and receives benefits — and under this plan, he’d pay fairly on all wages and salary, not on investment profits or other income. Independent estimates show this reform could raise roughly $80 billion to $140 billion per year to strengthen the Trust Fund.
  
  Other proposals have tried to fix this with carve-outs and exceptions — taxing some wages while exempting others. This plan is simple and fair: if it’s a wage or a salary, it’s taxed equally. No loopholes. No exceptions. Everyone plays by the same rules. Not bonuses or profit sharing, just wages or salaries.
• ✅ Gradual Fix, Not Broken Promises: Slowly adjust the Social Security contribution rate from 6.2% to 7.2% over ten years (0.2% every two years) — a shared responsibility between workers and employers, phased in to protect small businesses and paired with targeted relief for the self-employed — not a sudden hit. This approach ensures full benefits for future retirees and disabled veterans. That’s just 20 cents out of every hundred dollars earned — two dimes every two years — to keep our grandparents out of poverty. Using a baseline of $1.233 trillion in current annual payroll receipts, this plan adds about $199 billion per year once fully phased in. For those who are self-employed, don’t worry — we’ll ease the impact and make sure more money stays in your pocket.
• ✅ Target Cheaters: Crack down on employers who hire illegal aliens and fail to pay the Social Security payroll tax on those wages. It's tax fraud, plain and simple. Many pay under fake Social Security numbers — but many don’t. I’ll propose legislation to target these fraudsters. Stronger enforcement could recover an estimated $5 billion to $25 billion per year, with a realistic near-term gain of $5B–$15B once enforcement is in place.

Combined Annual Revenue Estimate (Fully Phased In)

• - Lower bound (conservative): $80B (cap) + $199B (rate) + $5B (enforcement) = $284 billion / year
• - Mid / realistic estimate: $110B (cap midpoint) + $199B (rate) + $10B (enforcement midpoint) = $319 billion / year
• - Upper bound (optimistic): $140B (cap) + $199B (rate) + $25B (enforcement) = $364 billion / year

What That Means for the Solvency Gap

The most respected 75-year projections show a shortfall of roughly $250 to $320 billion per year. Under the mid and upper estimates of this plan, we’d not only meet that target — we’d finally put Social Security on stable ground for generations. Even under the most cautious estimates, this plan would close nearly the entire gap and keep the program solvent well into the future. In plain terms: it protects what we’ve earned without cutting what we’ve been promised.

It’s the Only Honest Way

The only other option is to raise the retirement age from 67 to 72. Sure, that might balance the books — but let’s be real: for someone who sells insurance or has spent a career behind a desk, that might sound reasonable. For a roofer, a nurse, or anyone who’s spent decades on their feet, it’s not!

I know some politicians will attack me for proposing this — and that’s fine. But when they do, ask them one question: What’s their plan? I’m open to better ideas if someone has them. But pretending the problem doesn’t exist — That’s not a plan. That’s not leadership. That’s being afraid to make a tough decision — and it’s time to fix it once and for all.

It has to be fixed. This fix is gradual.
We can’t hurt our small businesses or the self-employed — this is a slow, steady fix so hiring and take-home pay aren’t hurt. It’s phased in over time.
We younger workers want our benefits too when we retire — we’ve earned them as well. Do you want to retire at age 72? And we don’t want to be pushed into poverty either.
I still remember grandmas who had to eat dog food out of a can — yes, that actually happened here in America.
We can’t ever let that happen again — not in our America. It’s about all of us — our families, our neighbors, our community. That’s what we fight for — that’s what America is all about.
We must act — for today’s seniors, tomorrow’s retirees, and our future generations.
No more just kicking the can down the road — because in the end, it’s our choice.

Every family in Southeast Georgia deserves more than just getting by. I’ve worked those 12-hour days. I’ve signed paychecks, cashed them and paid the bills. I know how tough it’s gotten to keep up with rising costs. I’m running to make sure people who work hard can build a good life right here at home — not somewhere else.

Our district has the talent, the work ethic, and the natural advantages — ports, rail, farmland, and people who know what it means to work hard. What we need now is someone that connects those strengths to real federal investment. As your Congressman, I’ll fight every day to bring jobs back home, raise incomes, and cut the costs that are holding families back.

We’ll work closely with local employers, chambers of commerce, and county economic-development teams to expand hiring, manufacturing, and logistics opportunities across all 15 counties.

Targeted Economic Growth Areas

• Savannah & Brunswick Ports: Expand logistics and manufacturing corridors that drive thousands of jobs across Southeast Georgia.
• Jesup & Offerman: Support mining, minerals, and advanced materials companies that already employ our neighbors.
• Waycross, Blackshear & Hoboken: Grow rail, lumber, and light-industrial sectors that can provide reliable, long-term employment.
• Hinesville, Fort Stewart & Kingsland: Build strong veteran transition pipelines and create new defense-related manufacturing jobs.

Specific Goals

• Create 5,000 new logistics and trade jobs by expanding port, road, and rail capacity and attracting new industries.
• Launch apprenticeship or trade programs in every county by 2028.
• Reduce local housing costs by 10 % using targeted federal incentives and builder credits.
• Support small businesses with SBA grants and simplified permitting to expand operations and hire locally.
• Work with Advanced Manufacturers and Pharmaceutical companies to Relocate to our District.

The cost of living isn’t just about prices — it’s about opportunity. When you raise incomes and create better local jobs, you lower costs for everyone. My plan fights inflation from both ends — higher wages and lower everyday expenses. That’s how we make Southeast Georgia more affordable for every family, every farmer, and every small business owner.

How We’ll Get It Done

We’ll leverage existing Department of Commerce grants, Port Infrastructure Development Programs, and USDA Rural Development funds to channel resources directly into our district. I’ll personally work with every county and mayor to make sure no community is left out of federal funding or growth opportunities.

We don’t need empty promises — we need results. I'll fight for policies that reward work, protect family budgets, and bring real economic strength back to Southeast Georgia. That’s how we rebuild the middle class — from the docks of Brunswick to the rail yards of Waycross and every small town in between up to Savannah. No Community Left Behind.

Businesses and families across Southeast Georgia are being squeezed by prices that make no sense. Eggs, housing, groceries — everything costs more than it should. Families shouldn’t have to choose between feeding the kids and paying the bills. Fixing inflation isn’t about fancy charts in Washington — it’s about restoring stability at home.

Here’s what a Congressman can actually do to help lower costs in Southeast Georgia:

• ✅ Balance the Budget: When Washington borrows less, interest rates come down — lowering mortgage payments, credit card interest, and the cost of everyday goods. That gives families room to breathe again.
• ✅ Invest in Affordable Housing: Partner with our military communities, local officials, and builders to bring back real starter homes — two-bedroom, one-bath homes that working families can actually afford.
• ✅ Make Home Loans Transferable: Push legislation allowing buyers to assume a seller’s lower mortgage rate. This simple change can put homeownership back within reach for thousands of Georgia families.
• ✅ Support Local Agriculture & Manufacturing: Reduce excessive regulations and energy costs so the things we grow and build right here stay affordable right here. Local production keeps prices down and jobs at home.
• ✅ Fix Supply Chains: Expand and modernize the Savannah and Brunswick ports, repair key highways, and unclog the transportation bottlenecks that drive up prices on food, lumber, and building materials.
• ✅ Enforce Immigration Laws Fairly: Ensure our laws are applied with common sense and consistency — lowering pressure on housing, healthcare, schools, and public resources so families face fewer cost increases.

The Port of Savannah is the nation’s fastest-growing container port, and the Port of Brunswick is one of the top gateways for automobiles. Together, they support over 450,000 jobs across Georgia and pump billions into our nation’s economy. But we are short money to expand it correctly. About 1.2 billion isn't there yet.

These expansion efforts fully align with Georgia’s long-term economic competitiveness strategy and strengthen our position as a national logistics leader.

With growth brings challenges. Without modern infrastructure, bottlenecks raise costs for farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses — and those costs trickle down to families at the checkout line. That’s why I’ll push for funding to:

• ✅ Expand Port Capacity: Invest in dredging, container yards, and shipping berths so we can handle larger ships and higher cargo volumes.
• ✅ Improve Road & Rail Connections: Upgrade I-95, I-16, and local highways, and strengthen freight rail links so goods move quickly from ship to shelf.
• ✅ Support Local Businesses & Workers: Ensure port expansions create good-paying union and non-union jobs right here in Southeast Georgia — not just profits for shipping giants. I’ll sit down with local workers and their unions to make sure these projects actually mean better pay and safer jobs on the ground. I've worked on both sides of that fence.
• ✅ Build Resilient Infrastructure: Modernize bridges, broadband, and utilities to attract new businesses and make our communities stronger.

By investing in our ports and infrastructure, we can reduce supply chain delays, lower shipping costs, and make Georgia the economic powerhouse of the Southeast. I will locate the money from dormant and wasteful programs that are still being funded. There are 100's of billions out there, according to the GAO (Government Accountability Office).

Did you know some of our counties are paying their police officers as little as $38,000 a year — and firefighters as low as $30,000? That’s not just below the national average — in my book, that’s just above poverty. It’s unacceptable. We ask them to run toward danger, but we pay them like they’re disposable. We need to do better.

As your Congressman, I’ll work with every county in our district to bring in the grant money and federal support needed to raise pay, improve staffing, upgrade equipment, and support the mental health of those on the front lines. If we can send billions of dollars overseas for endless wars, we can send the money home to Southeast Georgia to support our Men and Women in Blue and our Smoke Eaters.

We must stop being the training ground for better-paying districts that recruit our officers, deputies, firefighters, and EMTs away. Our first responders — our sons and daughters — shouldn’t have to leave home to earn a fair wage or to find a department that takes burnout seriously. We need to get their pay up to at least the national average and keep our best people right here in our communities.

How a Congressman Can Deliver Funding to Counties

• ✅ Federal Grants & Earmarks: Congress authorizes annual FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and SAFER Grants to help local departments hire, train, and retain firefighters and emergency personnel. A Congressman can push directly with FEMA to prioritize underfunded rural and small-town departments in Southeast Georgia.
• ✅ Community Project Funding Requests: Members of Congress can submit Community Project Funding (CPF) requests during the budget process — directing dollars to county law enforcement, EMS, and fire departments for salary support, radios and communications, protective gear, and station upgrades.
• ✅ Department of Justice (DOJ) Grants: Programs like the COPS Hiring Program and Byrne Justice Assistance Grants provide money to hire more officers, improve training, and strengthen community policing. I’ll fight to make sure smaller counties in Southeast Georgia get their fair share — not just the big cities.
• ✅ Mental Health & Burnout Support: I’ve seen the pressure these men and women are under — honestly, I couldn’t do it. I’ve been in dangerous situations, but nothing like what they face every day on the job. I’ll back funding for peer-support teams, counseling, PTSD treatment, and family resources for first responders — and work to expand similar on-the-job mental health support in other high-stress fields like our plants, rail yards, and ports. When people see tragedy and danger every day, they deserve more than a pat on the back — they deserve real support.
• ✅ Infrastructure & Homeland Security Bills: Major infrastructure and homeland security bills often include funding for emergency communications networks, coastal security, and disaster response. By serving on or working closely with the committees that oversee these funds, a Congressman can steer real dollars to local police, fire, and EMS.
• ✅ Public–Private Partnerships: I’ll encourage partnerships between counties, state agencies, and private industry — especially near our ports, industrial zones, and major highways — to co-fund new fire stations, training centers, and upgraded equipment so our first responders have what they need when the call comes in.

Every Congressman has both the responsibility and the ability to stand up for their district’s safety. Good policing and strong emergency services mean keeping every neighborhood safe — urban, rural, rich, or poor — with fairness and respect for everyone. With persistence, outreach, and the right legislation, we can make sure Southeast Georgia’s first responders have the funding, respect, and support they’ve earned — on the job, at home, and in their mental and emotional well-being.

Farming is Southeast Georgia — it’s more than a job, it’s a calling that feeds America. From onions and peanuts to pecans and poultry, our local farmers keep our nation running. But they face unpredictable weather, rising costs, and growing red tape. It’s time Washington put our farmers first — with policies that protect their livelihoods, strengthen rural communities, and keep family farms thriving for generations to come.

• ✅ Secure Farm Bill Programs & Crop Insurance: Push for a strong Farm Bill that guarantees crop insurance and disaster relief. Southeast Georgia farmers face hurricanes, floods, and droughts — reliable insurance keeps family farms from going under after a bad season.
• ✅ Expand Market Access & Trade Opportunities: Advocate for trade policies that open more markets for Georgia products like onions, peanuts, poultry, and pecans. Work with the USDA to promote the “Georgia Grown” brand abroad and fight against unfair tariffs or trade barriers.
• ✅ Invest in Rural Infrastructure: Push for federal dollars to improve roads, rail, and port access so farmers can move crops efficiently to Savannah and Brunswick. Expand rural broadband so farms can use precision agriculture, drones, and advanced logistics technology.
• ✅ Reduce Regulatory Burdens: Cut red tape on water use, labor rules, and environmental mandates that make it harder to farm. Support reforms that streamline USDA loan and grant programs for small and mid-sized farmers.
• ✅ Strengthen the Farm Workforce & Agricultural Research: Support visa reform for seasonal agricultural workers (H-2A program) to give farmers reliable labor while protecting American jobs. Direct funding to the University of Georgia and local ag research stations for innovation in pest control, crop yields, and sustainable farming practices.

From the pine forests and paper mills of Southeast Georgia to the black sand mineral mines and rail yards that move America’s goods, our district powers the nation’s economy. These industries aren’t just part of our past — they are the foundation of our future. By investing in mining, forestry, and transportation, we can create good-paying jobs, strengthen local communities, and ensure Georgia remains a leader in manufacturing, trade, and innovation.

Mining & Minerals
✅ Cut Red Tape: Streamline permits so companies like Chemours can expand faster and hire more local workers.
✅ Invest in Safety & Skills: Bring federal mine safety and training funds home to Jesup and Offerman.
✅ Secure Our Future: Keep Georgia minerals on the national “critical minerals” list to guarantee long-term demand and jobs.

Forestry & Lumber
✅ Rebuild Jobs: Champion tax incentives to help reopen, modernize, and repurpose shuttered mills in Savannah and Liberty County, while protecting Wayne County’s mill jobs.
✅ Healthy Forests = Healthy Jobs: Secure funding for reforestation, wildfire prevention, and pest control to protect our timber supply.
✅ Train the Next Generation: Expand forestry and equipment training at local colleges so young people can step into good-paying jobs.

Rail & Transportation
✅ Upgrade Our Rail Yards: Fight for federal investment to modernize CSX’s Rice Yard in Waycross and expand Savannah’s port rail links.
✅ Cheaper, Faster Shipping: Invest in short-line rail improvements to move our timber, paper, and minerals more efficiently.
✅ Protect Railroad Jobs: Ensure modernization strengthens — not replaces — skilled workers.

Cross-Industry Action
✅ Buy Georgia First: Push the federal government to purchase GA-1 lumber, paper, and minerals for schools, bases, and projects.
✅ Common-Sense Regulations: Balance environmental protection with job growth — no more Washington rules that kill local jobs.
✅ Grow Exports: Use Savannah and Brunswick ports to ship GA-1 products worldwide, boosting our economy.

Bottom Line
Mining, forestry, and rail aren’t just industries — they’re the core industries of our communities. Together, we can protect jobs, strengthen families, and keep GA-1 working.

We need welders, programmers, electricians, electronic techs, mechanics, skilled construction workers, mid-level managers, assemblers, and more. Our education system needs to focus on the real world and not just try to prepare people to go and get a two- or four-year degree. I want to see every county in our district offer trade school opportunities for its residents — hands-on practical experience that translates into real employer needs. We can do this, and as your Congressman, I'll work to:

Leverage Federal Education Funding

• ✅ Department of Education Programs: Advocate for and expand Perkins V (the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act), which directly funds trade and technical programs.
• ✅ Pell Grants: Push for expanded Pell Grant eligibility so they cover shorter-term trade certificates, not just two- or four-year programs.
• ✅ Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA): Ensure trade schools in the district are approved providers so local students and displaced workers can use training vouchers.

Expand Veterans’ Education Benefits

• ✅ GI Bill for Trades: Ensure local trade schools are certified so veterans can use GI Bill funds. Work directly with the VA to get our schools approved.
• ✅ SkillBridge & Apprenticeships: Work with the Department of Defense to connect transitioning service members at Fort Stewart and Kings Bay Naval Base to trade school pipelines.
• ✅ VA Grants: Support pilot programs that help veterans retrain in high-demand skilled trades.

Public–Private Partnerships

• ✅ Industry Partnerships: Encourage local businesses (mining, forestry, port logistics, shipbuilding, manufacturing, etc.) to co-fund training programs in exchange for workforce pipelines.
• ✅ Matching Grants: Promote programs where federal or state dollars match private industry contributions for new trade facilities or equipment.
• ✅ Apprenticeship Tax Credits: Propose incentives for employers that fund students’ trade school tuition in exchange for work commitments.

Direct Appropriations & Earmarks

• ✅ Community Project Funding: Secure appropriations for trade schools through earmarks in federal spending bills, specifically tied to GA-01 priorities like logistics, construction, and port expansion.
• ✅ Department of Labor Grants: Apply for competitive grants supporting workforce development, often awarded to regions with military bases and growing industries.

State & Local Support Channels

• ✅ HOPE Career Grant (Georgia Program): Highlight and expand Georgia’s HOPE Career Grant, which covers many technical college programs.
• ✅ Opportunity Zones & Workforce Credits: Align trade school expansion with Opportunity Zones in GA-01 so federal tax incentives bring in private investments.
• ✅ Coordination with School Districts: Fund dual-enrollment programs so high school students graduate with trade certifications.

Streamline permitting, simplify compliance, and put timelines on agencies so small businesses and farmers can focus on work — not paperwork.

If you’ve ever fought government red tape, you know how frustrating it can be. You're alone, confused, and feel helpless with the overwhelming weight of the government and its agencies. These agencies are there to help us, not hurt us and keep us down. This red tape stifles business growth, delays farmers, reduces development, and hinders residents. We are going to streamline SBA and USDA application processes.

Businesses need stable, predictable rules — not constantly shifting regulations that make planning harder for employers and workers.

District Offices & Local Access

In the past, I have used my congressperson to cut through the red tape. It’s amazing how quickly things happen when a congressman's office calls a local or federal agency on your behalf. So that will be the first objective in cutting red tape — district offices. I would like to have four to five district offices. We are a large district — 5,382 sq. miles. If you have a “RED TAPE” problem in Alma, you shouldn’t have to drive all the way up to Savannah to get help from your congressman.

We will place four to five district offices throughout the district so you can get help locally. Staffed with knowledgeable, courteous, and helpful staff members that can assist you with both local and federal red tape. We need this for our small businesses, farmers, and just regular residents. You’ll have someone immediately by your side fighting through that red tape — an advocate for you.

Oversight & Common-Sense Reform

I’m going to have oversight hearings of some of these agencies. Many of these regulations are antiquated, outdated, and just don’t make sense. For example, if a farmer wants to process his meat product and sell it in Jacksonville, FL (a high-demand market for meats), he can’t. We only have two plants in the district that process that meat for interstate shipment. Georgia has its own meat inspection program, the GMIS. If our GMIS program meets or exceeds the USDA program, our farmers should be allowed to sell across state lines without having to process through a USDA-approved plant.

We can instead:
✅ Expand and streamline the CIS (Cooperative Interstate Shipment) program so more state-inspected plants can sell interstate.
✅ Pilot reciprocity among neighboring states with equal or stricter standards.
✅ Fund technical upgrades to help small plants meet interstate requirements.

Don’t get me wrong — the USDA is desperately needed, but they can be extremely overbearing at times and cause unnecessary delays and added costs to our farmers. Oversight of this and other agencies is necessary to ease the regulations on our businesses and farmers. Agencies like NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) and the EPA have some of the most ridiculous regulations that need to be addressed. It takes, on average, four and a half years for a road or bridge to be approved for construction.

Every person in Southeast Georgia deserves affordable, accessible healthcare—no matter their ZIP code. Too many families are driving hours for a checkup or skipping care altogether because they can’t afford it. That’s not right, and it’s something I plan to change.

Our district has incredible hospitals and healthcare workers—like Memorial Health in Savannah, Southeast Georgia Health System in Brunswick, and Memorial Satilla Health in Waycross—but too many of our smaller counties like Brantley, Long, and Charlton have little to no nearby care. We must bridge that gap with smart, local solutions.

Lowering Family Healthcare Costs

Healthcare isn’t truly affordable when families are forced to choose between a doctor’s visit and the grocery bill. I’ll work to let Medicare and the VA negotiate directly with drug companies so we can lower prescription costs for everyone — not just those with the best insurance. We’ll also expand tax deductions for out-of-pocket medical expenses—including long-distance travel to doctors or Telehealth appointments—so working families, seniors, and veterans can keep more of what they earn and worry less about the next medical bill.

Rural Access & Local Partnerships

We’ll bring new healthcare resources straight into our communities. I’ll work with Georgia Southern University’s Rural Health Research Institute to design pilot programs for small-town telemedicine, mobile clinics, and preventative care. Local doctors, nurse practitioners, and hospitals will have the support to expand outreach without red tape.

Supporting Veterans & Seniors

We will expand VA Telehealth services at Fort Stewart, Kings Bay, and Hinesville, ensuring veterans and military families have same-day access to remote care. Seniors will benefit from expanded Medicare Telehealth coverage and in-home monitoring programs to prevent hospital readmissions and lower long-term costs.

How We’ll Get It Done

• Leverage HRSA Rural Health Grants and USDA Telemedicine Funds for new clinics and virtual care hubs in GA-01.
• Use Community Project Funding (earmarks) to help counties modernize their hospitals and emergency facilities.
• Partner with VA, DOD, and local universities to create Telehealth and mobile-care demonstration programs that can be scaled nationwide.

My father-in-law is 92 years old and still drives to dinner every night. He’s blessed—but too many families in our district don’t have that same access to care. No senior, veteran, or working parent should ever have to skip a doctor’s visit because of distance or cost. We can fix this—together.

We’ll start by prioritizing rural healthcare investments in Wayne, Pierce, Brantley, Long, and Ware counties, then expand across the district as federal funding grows.

Healthcare shouldn’t be a privilege—it’s a promise. As your Congressman, I’ll make sure every family, veteran, and senior in Southeast Georgia can access affordable, reliable care close to home. From the coast to the countryside, I’ll bring healthcare to you.

How a Congressman Can Deliver

AI and energy are the next drivers of good-paying jobs and lower household costs in our district. Here are ways I'll work to incorporate these opportunities:

• 1. Bring AI to Agriculture & Forestry: Secure federal grants for AI-driven crop monitoring, pest detection, and timber management — giving local farmers and loggers cutting-edge tools to stay competitive.
  
  
• 2. Expand Port & Logistics Efficiency: Invest in AI systems at Savannah’s port and regional rail hubs to streamline shipping, reduce congestion, and attract more businesses that depend on fast, reliable logistics.
  
  
• 3. Support Clean Energy Expansion: Champion investment in nuclear research, clean natural gas, so families pay less for electricity while our district creates skilled energy jobs. Invest in the expansion of our existing nuclear power plant at the Hatch Plant and work with Georgia Power to expand other plants.
  
  
• 4. Modernize Rural Healthcare with AI: Back funding for AI-powered telemedicine and diagnostics so small-town hospitals and doctors deliver big-city care without long drives to Savannah or Jacksonville.
  
  
• 5. Train the Workforce for AI & Energy Jobs: Partner with trade schools and colleges to launch federally funded programs in robotics, cybersecurity, and energy technology — ensuring our young people and veterans are ready for tomorrow’s opportunities.
  
  

With smart investments, our district can lead the way in energy independence and AI innovation, creating jobs and securing our future. Imagine the day when a farmer orders his AI tractor to harvest the fields while his AI drones are monitoring the crops for diseases and pest infestation. It's going to happen. Not in the next year or two, but in the next 5, 10, 15 years farming will be at an entirely different level.

No matter which party caused it — waste is waste. If Washington mismanages a dollar, it’s your dollar they’re wasting. Every tax dollar should be spent wisely — period!
I’ll fight to:

• Audit agencies and cut wasteful and duplicative programs.
  For example, over $149,072 was spent on soap dispensers for bathrooms on C-17 aircraft — an almost 8,000% markup.
  The U.S. military was spending $2 million a year on horses, donkeys, and mules. Why? This isn’t the 1800s — we’re supposed to be funding a modern, lethal force, not outdated expenses. These contracts are finally being canceled, but it took longer than taxpayers deserved.
  
  I want the best, most advanced military in the world — so advanced that every nation fears even the thought of attacking the United States. I want super weapons that allow our military to achieve victory with zero or at least near-zero casualties. We must focus our spending on soldiers, sailors, and airmen, not waste it on $1,200 coffee cups — which really happened.
  
  And it’s not just military waste. $12 million was spent on pickleball courts in Las Vegas. That means roughly 730 hardworking citizens of our district paid their taxes all year just so someone could play on a 20’ × 44’ concrete slab. Our federal agencies have disrespected the American taxpayer.
  
  There needs to be much stricter oversight of these agencies. The GAO (Government Accountability Office) has reported this wasteful spending to Congress since 1926. Congress has basically been ignoring these reports — it’s time for Congress to do its job and cut this wasteful spending once and for all.



• Stop the billions of dollars in foreign aid that don’t serve America’s interests.
  
  For example, we gave $12 million in foreign aid to China — why?
  We gave Serbia a $1.5 million grant for a “diversity in the workplace” program. And it goes on and on.
  
  These may seem like small numbers compared to the federal budget, but there are hundreds of these foolish programs that add up.
  
  Foreign aid is important, especially for our friends and allies who truly need support. But we spent $2 million for sex-change procedures and LGBT activism in Guatemala — That needs to be corrected.
  
  In 2023, U.S. government agencies sent nearly $100 billion of your tax dollars to foreign governments and entities. We are still working to uncover the full totals for 2024.



• Department after department has examples of unjustifiable, wasteful spending. Once something goes into the federal budget, it almost never comes out. The GAO reports it, but it’s been ignored for the most part. Agencies spend every penny they are given just so they can ask for more the next year. We don’t need another Congressman that rubber-stamps bloated budgets. I’ll work to cut this wasteful federal spending — line by line if I have to.

Improper Government Payments

Real Action — What Congress Can Do in 2027

When the next Congress convenes in 2027, several bills and reforms will already be in motion to target waste, fraud, and abuse. I’ll work to expand and enforce them:

• Protecting American Taxpayers from Wasteful Spending Act (H.R. 2597) — Requires tighter oversight and agency accountability to eliminate programs that drain billions each year.
• Budget Resolution with a Spending-Reduction Reserve Fund — Aims to cut more than $2 trillion in deficits by implementing GAO-identified waste reforms.
• Rescissions Act of 2025 — Canceled $9 billion in unused or wasteful federal funds; I’ll push for an even larger follow-up package in 2027.
• Comprehensive Waste Review Plan (H.R. 1 2025 Section B) — Begins FY 2027 with new rules to audit every federal agency and publish spending transparency dashboards.
• Citizens Against Government Waste Blueprint — Outlines twelve major policy areas where consolidation and reform can save taxpayers tens of billions.

These initiatives prove Congress can act — if it has the courage and someone like President Trump pushes them. Well I won't have to be pushed. I'm a Budget Hawk. My goal is to make these reforms law, enforce them, and deliver measurable savings to American taxpayers. Send our 3 billion dollars right back into our district for programs we desperately need.

Families deserve safe neighborhoods. I’ll support COPS grants for local departments. COPS stands for the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, a division of the DOJ. We’ll fund training, equipment, and mental-health support for first responders. Without a doubt, drugs and poverty are the main factors in crime in our district. If we expand our targeting of opioid, fentanyl, heroin, and other drug traffickers with tougher penalties, and expand treatment courts to reduce repeat offenses, we can take a big bite out of crime in our communities. Drugs have devastated families and communities across our district. We’ll hold traffickers accountable while expanding prevention, recovery, and treatment options for families fighting addiction.

On a personal note, my family knows this pain firsthand. I lost my step-son to a heroin overdose the day before Christmas Eve in 2019. On Christmas Day, we had to sit his two young sons down and tell them their dad wouldn’t be coming. I watched his mother bite her lip and holding back her tears, forcing a smile so her grandchildren wouldn’t see her break. The day after Christmas, we had to tell them the truth — their father was gone. That moment never leaves you. And my story is not unique. Thousands of families in our district have lived some version of this same nightmare. This drug epidemic is not a statistic; it has hit nearly every family in our district in one way or another.

• Work the DOJ (Department of Justice) & DHS(Department of Homeland Security, head of Customs and Border Protection) to direct a special task-force at the cartels and trafficking corridors along I-95 and the ports of Savannah and Brunswick. A lot of illegal drugs flow through our district to other parts of the country. We can be the first line of defense and have the federal government build a true partnership with our state and local law enforcement.


• Employer Second Chance programs and Treatment Courts. We shouldn't keep punishing a criminal forever. If a person has served their time, we need to allow them a second chance at becoming a productive member of society. More overdose-reversal and prevention funds for coastal and rural counties. Nine counties in our district list no treatment courts. These courts are designed to work with veterans, first-time offenders, and families as alternatives to straight jail and prison—where community service, mental health support, and drug counseling can be administered.


• Seek funding and support community policing and youth mentoring programs that work. I'll be asking our local church leaders and community churches, mosques and synagogues to get directly involved. Yes, it is perfectly legal for the federal government to fund Churches, Synagogues and Mosques programs for the betterment of the community. The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of this. The YMCA is a perfect example. By working with both secular and faith-based organizations, we maximize resources and strengthen the safety net for families, veterans, and children in need. We get the whole community involved in reducing crime and reforming those in need and made mistakes in the past. So I am asking our religious organizations to be just as involved as our secular non-profit organizations.

My father-in-law is 92. He actively votes and is in full possession of his capacities. But we do not have 27 voters over the age of 114. There are real irregularities that need fixing so every voter can trust the process. This needs to stop. We can protect every legal vote and the confidence of every voter. Making sure every American gets to vote.

Voter fraud doesn’t need to be widespread to erode confidence in our elections. Every vote should count—once—and every citizen should trust the process is fair and secure. As your Congressman, here’s how I will work to protect the integrity of your vote:

✅ 1. Support Voter ID Laws

Back legislation that requires valid identification for in-person and absentee voting on a national level. It’s common sense: we show ID to cash a check, board a plane, or buy certain items. We should expect the same security when choosing our representatives.

✅ 2. Clean Up the Voter Rolls

Advocate for regular, federally supported audits of voter rolls to remove the names of deceased individuals, duplicates, and those who have moved. Outdated or inaccurate rolls are a direct threat to fair elections.

✅ 3. Require Transparent Audits and Paper Trails

Every voting system should include paper backups and end-to-end chain-of-custody tracking. Push for legislation requiring public audits and secured voting equipment to ensure every ballot is counted—and countable.

✅ 4. Ensure our elderly get to vote.

Seniors shouldn't have to rely on one party or the other to get to the voting booth. I'll work with local election officials and individual counties to organize public non-partisan transport to the polls so our seniors can arrive and cast their votes without being coerced along the way.

Your vote is sacred. We will fight to protect it. Regardless of who you are voting for.

Our district is home to some of the most beautiful and ecologically important lands in the entire Southeast — from the tidal marshes of McIntosh County to the forests of Ware and Wayne Counties. Nearly one-quarter million acres of public and private land are already conserved — including Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), state forests, federal refuges, and protected easements.

Being your congressman gives me opportunity to work with both businesses and environmental groups to keep these lands preserved for future generations while allowing for smart, conservative expansion for businesses.

✅ 1. Fund Conservation Partnerships

As your Congressman, Support appropriations and matching grants that fund partnerships between the Georgia DNR, The Nature Conservancy, landowners, and nonprofits like One Hundred Miles. These collaborations are the backbone of how land is preserved in Georgia.

✅ 2. Strengthen Coastal Resilience

Advocate for coastal resilience programs that protect our rivers, marshlands, and barrier islands from storm damage, saltwater intrusion, and overdevelopment. Smart investment in living shorelines, wetland buffers, and habitat corridors also supports tourism, hunting, and fishing jobs in our rural counties.

✅ 3. Expand Access & Stewardship

Many of our WMAs and public lands need trail maintenance, ADA accessibility, signage, and better law enforcement to protect from poaching and illegal dumping. We will work to expand federal PILT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) and stewardship funds so our counties aren’t left footing the bill alone.

From Sansavilla WMA to the Altamaha River Corridor, we must protect these lands for hunting, fishing, hiking, clean water, and the next generation. They’re not just wild — they’re working lands for all of us.

Conservation isn’t a luxury. It’s legacy to our Children.

The hard facts are sobering: one-third of veterans report being arrested after their service—a rate much higher than that of the general population. We’ve created warriors who are unprepared for the chaos of civilian life. After spending years in a highly structured environment, many are unequipped to navigate the unpredictable, unstructured nature of everyday civilian life.

“Back here there's nothin'! Back there I could fly a gunship, I could drive a tank, I was in charge of million-dollar equipment. Back here I can't even hold a job parking cars.”
— Rambo

I’ve personally employed veterans recently honorably discharged from military service. One young man’s résumé listed him as a sniper with nearly every commendation possible, ribbons, badges, awards—but no skills transferable to a construction job. He was a great worker, but struggled to connect with others on the team. This is not a rare case. As your Congressman, I'll act.

✅ Program 1: Pre-Discharge Civilian Transition

I will work with the Department of War and Veterans Affairs to launch a six-month “cool-down” transition program. Before discharge, service members would:

• Live in regular housing
• Manage household expenses (rent, utilities, food)
• Attend civilian job skills classes
• Receive mental health counseling as needed

This could be piloted right here at Fort Stewart.

✅ Program 2: Community & Faith-Led Outreach

Every county should have a veteran outreach team made up of local organizations — churches, community centers, and nonprofits working together. We’ll apply for federal funding to train counselors, pastors, and volunteers to help discharged veterans adjust to civilian life. These programs will also serve the broader community, ensuring that faith-based and civic groups stand side by side to support our sons and daughters who have served this nation. Together, we can turn compassion into action and make sure no veteran is left behind.

✅ Program 3: International Comparison Study

Other Western nations like the U.K., Germany, and France report suicide rates in their military on par with civilian populations. The U.S. does not. I will propose funding for independent research into why—and how we can change that. Why is our active duty and vetern suicide rate so high? What is different?

Every man and woman who serves our nation (Our Children) deserves more than a parade. They deserve the support to live happy, healthy, and productive lives after service. Let’s give them that Chance. We must show compassion.

I myself have been a victim of our nation’s lackadaisical immigration policy. I had a construction company, mainly roofing, employing about 60 workers. I paid my employees good wages, covered them with insurance and workers’ compensation, made sure all theirs and my taxes were paid. A hurricane hit the area and tons of illegals came into the area undercutting my prices. Many other companies in the area used these illegals. I refused to. I tried to do the right thing. My company went out of business due to that. So I had to lay-off 60+ workers, including myself, because illegal workers undercut our prices and destroyed our ability to compete.

Many of our district’s small businesses face the same problem. They can't compete on this unlevel playing field. They are doing everything legally, abiding by all the rules and regulations and companies using illegals are undercutting them.

We’re a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants. We can be both with smart legislation.

• Support smart border security, ICE's efforts to remove the illegal criminals, and stop the catch-and-release practices that undermine a fair and consistent process. This can easily be done by congress by amending the INA, Immigration and Nationality Act, and require detention of all unauthorized immigrants pending removal, not just those with certain criminal records. This would remove judicial discretion in most cases. Congress has this power. They haven't used it.


• Our farmers and agricultural industries need guest workers. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, “To establish a uniform Rule of Naturalization” and regulate commerce with foreign nations is in the realm of Congress. The Supreme Court decisions have repeatedly affirmed Congress’s plenary (near total) power over immigration and noncitizens entering the U.S. . Congress can make it much easier for our farmers by modifying the requirements and expanding the caps on H-2A (temporary agricultural workers) and H-2B (non-agricultural seasonal workers). These are visas that are temporary. The workers must return to their home country.


• Modernize legal immigration to meet labor needs while protecting U.S. wages.

There is no greater sacrifice than that made by those who have perished defending the Constitution. I won't allow any young, out-of-touch member of Congress who believes they know better than our Founding Fathers to pass legislation restricting our rights. It took from June 8, 1789, until December 15, 1791, to pass and ratify the First and Second Amendments — two and a half years of intense debate to get the wording right, ensure everyone understood exactly what it meant, and to enshrine those rights in the Constitution for future generations. Now, some in Congress are trying to make laws that restrict speech, impose gun control, and allow the federal government to investigate religious organizations. That is unacceptable.

The First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

The Second Amendment: “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

• “A well-regulated Militia”: Refers to an organized and disciplined citizen-based defense force.
• “The right of the people”: Refers to the individual rights of every American citizen.
• “To keep and bear Arms”: The right to possess and carry weapons for self-defense and protection.
• “Shall not be infringed”: This right cannot be violated, weakened, or limited by government action.
Any interpretation that weakens those rights goes against their original purpose.

What a Congressman Can Do

• Protect Free Speech: Oppose censorship and government pressure on media or social platforms.Ensure these platforms don't restrict conservative comments.
• Defend Religious Liberty: Ensure that individuals, churches, and faith-based organizations can freely live out their beliefs without government interference or investigations.
• Uphold the Second Amendment: Oppose federal overreach that infringes upon the rights of law-abiding gun owners. Ensure state and local laws do not infring on these rights.
• Preserve States’ Rights: Keep power in the hands of the states and the people, not unelected bureaucrats in Washington.
• Strengthen Constitutional Education: Support civics and history programs that teach the importance of our founding principles.
• Protect Due Process and Equal Justice: Ensure that every American receives fair and equal treatment under the law.

As your Congressman, I will vote to uphold and defend the Constitution every single time — without compromise and without apology.

Even Chance and Jasper know China cheats. I've been to China on four occasions — once for several months, dealing directly with the people, not as a tourist. I lived among them, worked beside them, and saw life there firsthand. I've also been to several countries in Central and South America, the Middle East, Africa, various parts of Asia, and of course, Europe. I can tell you that, other than China, most people around the world want the same things as the average American — a better life for their children than the one they’ve had. China is different.

We've been too easy on China for far too long. America must lead with strength, principle, and fairness. Support policies that are tough on communist and authoritarian regimes that undermine freedom and American security, while standing beside nations that value democracy and free trade.

Our foreign policy should always put America first — protecting our workers, securing our borders, and ensuring that no foreign power, especially China, can dictate our economic or military future. At the same time, we should strengthen relationships with emerging democracies across South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia — nations that share our values and want to grow alongside the United States, not against it.

What I'll do as your Congressman

• Hold China Accountable: Support legislation that protects U.S. intellectual property, prevents Chinese control of critical industries, and stops the sale of American farmland to foreign adversaries.
• Strengthen Trade Security: Promote fair trade deals that favor American workers and small businesses, not multinational corporations or foreign governments.
• Protect Supply Chains: Incentivize companies to manufacture essential goods — medicine, microchips, and defense materials — here in the United States.
• Support Emerging Democracies: Encourage trade, education, and infrastructure partnerships with pro-freedom nations in South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
• Reduce Dependency on Foreign Energy: Promote American energy independence and reduce reliance on hostile nations.
• Defend Israel & Allies: Maintain strong security and trade cooperation with our allies to ensure peace and stability in the Middle East.
• Ensure Military Readiness: Strengthen our defense posture and maintain the world’s most capable fighting force to deter aggression anywhere it arises.

As your Congressman, I'll stand firm against Communist influence, defend our national interests, and make sure America leads the world by example — through strength, freedom, and prosperity.

Homelessness and poverty impact every community, from our cities to our small towns. This is a particularly important issue to me. I myself spent some time homeless with my son — we lived in a car. People end up homeless for various reasons.
I was fortunate and able to get out of my situation in just a few weeks. I’ll fight to ensure that every Georgian has access to opportunity, support, and a fair shot at rebuilding their life with dignity.

When my children grew up, during their teenage years, they were all required to do community service. My daughters chose cleaning roads and beaches with their friends. My son, on the other hand, chose to work at a local food center named “Daily Bread,” where people could come each day and get at least one good, hot meal. I can tell you — there are a lot of homeless people. Far more than most people realize.

Because I travel, I see it more than most. I was just in Stockton, California, a few weeks ago, and the number of homeless people is mind-blowing. Yesterday, here in Blackshear, I noticed two additional homeless men. Last weekend, I took my dogs out to the Satilla River, and we stumbled upon a number of homeless sites. It is a growing issue here in Southeast Georgia. Keep in mind, many of the homeless are veterans who honorably served this country.

We must combine accountability with compassion — cutting waste while investing in programs that truly help people rebuild their lives. That means strengthening partnerships between local governments, churches, nonprofits, and businesses to make sure resources reach the people who truly need them.

What a Congressman Can Do

• Increase affordable-housing support: Work to expand federal and state programs that fund transitional and low-income housing.
• Expand job-training incentives: Create tax credits for companies that hire and train individuals emerging from poverty or homelessness.
• Strengthen mental-health and addiction services: Push for more community-based treatment centers instead of relying solely on emergency rooms or jails.
• Partner with local nonprofits: Support grants that empower faith-based and community organizations already on the front lines.
• Cut bureaucratic barriers: Streamline federal aid applications and ensure dollars reach people—not layers of administration.

As your Congressman, I’ll focus on solutions that treat homelessness and poverty not as partisan issues but as moral responsibilities — bringing together compassion, accountability, and common-sense. “I’m not into giving handouts — I want to give everyone a hand up.”

I. Economic Landscape (Facts & Context)

• 12,029 small employer firms in GA-01 employ 118,909 workers and generate $4.1 billion in payroll.
• 92.5% of all employer businesses in the district are small firms — the true backbone of our local economy.
• Top sectors: Health Care, Retail Trade, Construction, Manufacturing, and Food Services.
• Local Employment Centers:
  • Chatham & Glynn: Retail, Health Care, Tourism
  • Ware, Wayne, Pierce, Appling: Manufacturing & Construction
  • Camden & Liberty: Defense-linked small businesses & support services
• Sources: U.S. SBA Office of Advocacy, DataUSA, U.S. Census CBP 2023

II. Core Objectives

• Cut Red Tape & Modernize Regulation — Create a Small Business Impact Review Board; simplify OSHA, EPA, and DOL reporting; expand SBA Ombudsman support for rural Georgia.
• Expand Access to Capital & Credit — Raise SBA 7(a)/504 loan limits; launch a “Rural Startup Micro-Grant”; provide one-stop access through a GA-01 Small Business Portal.
• Empower Local Manufacturing & Trades — “Made in Southeast Georgia” credit; expand apprenticeships with Coastal Pines Tech, Savannah Tech, and College of Coastal Georgia; encourage energy-efficient modernization.
• Infrastructure, Ports & Logistics Support — Invest in Savannah, Brunswick, and Kings Bay; improve broadband; strengthen storm-resilient grids; simplify FEMA recovery rules.
• Fair Competition & Trade Protection — Enforce anti-dumping; prioritize local vendors for contracts; create a “Buy American in the South” certification to level the field.
• Support for Rural & Family Businesses — Expand USDA micro-grants; protect family farms from estate-tax penalties; fund agritech loans and fast-track applications.

Every policy in this plan has one goal in common — helping families build a stable living without needing Washington to hold their hand. It’s about restoring independence and security through opportunity.

III. Workforce Development Strategy

• Launch a “Trade School for All” program connecting students and mid-career workers to technical training.
• Offer tax credits to employers who sponsor apprenticeships and internships.
• Link veterans and transitioning service members with local businesses seeking skilled labor.

Whether you’re 18 or 68, opportunity shouldn’t depend on your ZIP code or your degree — it should depend on your willingness to work.

IV. GA-01 Small Business Council

A standing advisory group — one representative per county or sector with chamber of commerce involvement — meeting quarterly to review policy and legislation affecting local businesses.

V. Reporting & Accountability

• Quarterly Small Business Health Report tracking jobs, new firms, and SBA activity.
• Monthly “Business of the Month” feature sharing local success stories.
• Biannual District Summit uniting entrepreneurs, educators, veterans, and civic leaders.

VI. Legislative Agenda: First 100 Days

• Small Business Tax Simplification Act — one-page filing for firms under $500K revenue.
• Fair Competition & Procurement Act — reserve 25% of federal contracts for local vendors.
• Rural Access to Capital Act — raise microloan caps and create fast-track loan options for rural areas.
• Workforce Renewal Act — expand training and apprenticeship tax credits.
• Regulation Reset Act — review and sunset outdated federal rules.
• Buy Local Act — keep more American dollars circulating in our communities by supporting local businesses over foreign imports.

VII. Implementation Tools

As a former small-business owner, I know the biggest obstacle is often just figuring out where to start and who to trust for help.

• District Office Small Business Help Desk — connects owners to SBA, USDA, and Commerce resources quickly.
• Online Resource Hub — simple, user-friendly guides for grants, tax credits, and training centers.
• Outreach Bus Tours — quarterly county visits to listen, answer questions, and help businesses face-to-face.

Why it matters: Small businesses are the heartbeat of Southeast Georgia — family-run shops, repair crews, farmers, tradesmen, and entrepreneurs who keep our towns strong. But rising costs and layers of regulation make it hard to stay ahead. Many of our friends and neighbors have poured their life savings into a dream — and feel Washington has forgotten them. When local businesses grow, families thrive and our communities stay stable.

This plan is about more than economics — it’s about people. We’re working together to build security, opportunity, and a future that rewards hard work again.

Our proposal — the Small Business Growth and Fairness Act — creates real opportunity through smart policy and fiscal discipline without raising taxes or cutting vital services.

How We Do It

Budget-Neutral: We redirect funds lost to waste and fraud into small-business grants and training — turning waste into work. The GAO reports over $160 billion in improper payments each year and hundreds of billions more in fraud. It’s time that money worked for the people who earned it.

Here’s what’s happening: the federal government loses hundreds of billions every year to waste, fraud, abuse, and overpayments. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports annually to Congress on how much is being lost. GAO estimates $162 billion in improper payments in FY2024, and an additional $233–$521 billion in annual fraud losses across the federal government (2018–2022 data). Over four years, taxpayers lost between one and two trillion dollars to fraud — that’s trillion with a “T.” Those are the government’s own numbers. The GAO has been reporting this information since 1926, yet no one acts. That will finally change.

The Plan in Action

The Small Business Revitalization Fund will provide low-interest loans, equipment credits, and training grants for local employers. No cuts to defense, veterans, or seniors — every dollar goes back into America’s business backbone, not bureaucracy.

Impact on Georgia’s 1st District

From Savannah to Waycross, Brunswick to Blackshear to Baxley — small businesses will finally have the breathing room to grow. That means more steady paychecks, more local contracts, and more families who can plan for the future. We’re cutting red tape, expanding opportunity, and restoring pride in local enterprise. It’s about fairness, hard work, and rebuilding the American Dream — right here at home.

“When our small businesses thrive, America thrives — and no one gets left behind.”