Issues

Health care costs in Utah are rising—up to 20%—with the average Utahn spending $5,000 a year out-of-pocket, beyond insurance premiums. Jennifer Strohecker, Utah’s Medicaid Director, put it plainly: “Investment in preventive health care dramatically improves health outcomes and reduces costs. Every dollar spent on prevention saves $5.60 down the line.” Even with insurance, Utahns are struggling to afford healthcare due to the state of our healthcare system putting profits over patients.

While Utah has begun to shift toward preventive care, it’s not enough. We must expand these efforts—especially in rural communities—by growing community-based care, strengthening local access, and protecting Medicaid from political interference. Prevention isn’t just good policy—it’s smart economics.

When I get to Washington, I will expand programs that bring preventative care closer to home—especially for our rural communities. Access shouldn't depend on your ZIP code. I’ll extend the existing $10,000 tax credit—currently offered to psychiatric providers in underserved areas—to include primary care physicians, pediatric medicine providers, and dentists serving in outpatient settings. These frontline providers are essential, and we must invest in their ability to serve where they’re needed most.

I will protect Medicaid from being buried in massive budget bills and shield it from political games. I will push for transparency and accountability by requiring the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to submit quarterly reports to Congress detailing enrollment, service usage, and coverage effectiveness. Medicaid is a lifeline for millions—and I’ll ensure it remains strong, sustainable, and focused on the people it was designed to serve.

I will end the monopolization of our healthcare and prescription drug systems that put profits before patients. It's time to put people first and restore fairness, competition, and affordability to the care every American deserves.

We must be bold, strategic, and intentional in strengthening K–12 education—especially when it comes to supporting students' emotional well-being. Utah ranks dead last in per-pupil spending at $9,552, far below the national average of $15,633. That’s not fiscal responsibility—it’s a failure to invest in our children.

The American School Counselor Association recommends a student-to-counselor ratio of 250:1, yet Utah’s stands at nearly 500:1. As a pediatric psychiatric nurse practitioner, I’ve seen firsthand the toll this takes on students, parents, and teachers. When students are emotionally dysregulated, they deserve to stay in school and have access to a qualified counselor. While Utah ranks high in academic performance like math and reading, families are calling for change—greater support services, curriculum transparency, and modernized approaches that meet today’s challenges.

When I get to Washington, I will increase and strengthen public education funding—specifically to improve teacher-to-student and counselor-to-student ratios. This investment is critical to reducing absenteeism, tardiness, and the financial burden on parents who are forced to find alternative childcare when their child can’t remain in school due to emotional dysregulation. Every child deserves the support to stay in school and succeed.

I will support the Department of Education while reaffirming that states have a key role in shaping education to meet the unique needs of their communities. We must move away from a one-size-fits-all national model. Curriculums must reflect the diversity of learners—because not every child learns the same way, and not every student will choose college. K–12 education should prepare students for real life, with skills like public speaking, financial literacy, and practical knowledge about taxes and loans. I’ll champion curriculum transparency by requiring all learning materials to be posted before the school year begins—so parents know exactly what their children are being taught and can be active partners in their education.

Utah is facing a housing crisis that’s driving up the cost of living and pushing families to the brink. Home prices have far outpaced income, leaving many unable to afford a home. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey, over 300,000 Utah households are cost-burdened—spending more than 30% of their income on housing.

A severe lack of housing supply has fueled skyrocketing prices, and it's threatening our workforce. The jobs Utah needs most—construction, skilled trades, nursing, automotive, and food service—can’t be filled if workers can’t afford to live here. If we don’t act, we risk losing the very people who keep our communities running.

Right now, the VA in Salt Lake City has halted inpatient mental health care and reduced critical services due to sudden, reckless cuts to federally approved budgets. These cuts come at a time when support for our veterans is more urgent than ever. In 2021, veterans accounted for 13.2% of suicide deaths among adults in Utah, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

We cannot turn our backs on those who risked everything for us. They fought for our lives—we must fight for theirs. Making government efficient doesn’t mean cutting the people who care for our veterans. It means being smart and strategic about where we make cuts—and that should never be at the expense of those who served.

To improve the efficiency and integrity of veterans’ health care, I will push for all VA healthcare systems to be held accountable on the federal level by reporting on the impact of any program cuts—specifically proving that such cuts do not harm the care veterans receive. These reports must include a breakdown of patient-facing positions eliminated versus cuts made to leadership or administrative roles.

My legislation will ensure that if funding adjustments are necessary, they will not come at the expense of frontline care. Instead, resources will be redirected to critical areas—improving transportation to and from appointments, increasing the number of case managers to help veterans access services, and ensuring adequate staffing of nurses, physicians, and support personnel. Our veterans deserve high-quality, evidence-based care—not bureaucratic sacrifice.

Our youth are in crisis. I see it every day—in my friends’ children, and in the kids I care for as a mental health provider. Anxiety is now one of the most common and debilitating mental health disorders among children, robbing them of the chance to grow, connect, and thrive.

One major contributor: unchecked cell phone and social media use. In Utah and across the country, we’re seeing how constant phone access in K–12 classrooms disrupts learning, damages social development, and exposes kids to bullying, exploitation, and harmful content. The more time they spend online, the less equipped they are to regulate emotions, build healthy relationships, or feel safe in their own skin.

Therapy and medication can help, but they are not enough. We must act with urgency to implement prevention-focused solutions—ones that protect kids, empower families, and create school environments where children can be present, resilient, and truly flourish.

When I get to Washington, I will put partisan politics aside and make the bold decisions others won’t to protect our children. I will introduce legislation to ban cell phone use in all K–12 schools, with the ability for pertinent exceptions deemed necessary with collaboration between teachers, parents, and school officials.

I will also pass legislation restricting access to social media platforms, through VPNs, to individuals aged 16 and older. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok will be required to implement government-issued ID verification for age compliance. This isn’t about control, censorship, or government overreach—it’s about keeping our children safe. Washington has a responsibility to protect the next generation, and I will start by protecting the children of Utah.

Utah is home to some of the most stunning landscapes in the nation—from the Wasatch Mountains to the red rock arches of the south. Our national parks, wild open spaces, and world-class skiing aren’t just scenery—they define our way of life. These lands connect us to nature, bring us peace, and create joy for generations.

I will not stand by while that joy is threatened by late-night deals and backroom bills to sell off our public lands. Utah’s lands belong to the people—not to special interests.

When I get to Washington, I will fight to restore funding for the vital resources that protect our public lands and keep them safe. I will increase staffing for wildland firefighters, National Park Service rangers, and public land service workers. I will also strengthen and expand conservation funds to protect the lands where Utahns hike, bike, fish, hunt, and camp.

In early 2025, the Utah Legislature passed HB 267—signed into law by Governor Spencer Cox—which strips collective bargaining rights from public sector unions, including those representing teachers, firefighters, and other essential workers. The law prohibits public employers from recognizing unions as bargaining agents or entering into collective bargaining agreements.

This effectively silences workers’ voices in negotiating fair wages, benefits, and safe working conditions. Collective bargaining is a cornerstone of worker rights, providing better pay, stronger benefits, safer workplaces, and greater job security. Undermining it puts the well-being of Utah’s public servants—and the communities they serve—at risk.

 We’ve abandoned our farmers and ranchers, leaving them to face skyrocketing costs and devastating losses. Between 2017 and 2022, over 153,000 farms were lost due to rising operational expenses. To the hardworking farmers of Iron, Washington, and all of Southwestern Utah—our government may have forgotten you, but I haven’t.

In Washington I will stand by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and vote no on any bill that destroys America's ability to unionize. Utahns deserve to have their voices heard to improve workplace safety, benefits, and pay! 

Partisan disagreements are inherent in a democracy, but we need resolutions that reflect what Congress was designed to do: bring both parties together on matters that uphold and protect the nation. It's time to restore that purpose in Washington.

I’m proud to be a moderate Democrat—and I’ll carry that pride to Washington. I refuse to participate in the toxic “one side must always win” mentality that dominates our federal government. That mindset doesn’t serve the people—it paralyzes progress. When policies are constantly roadblocked by partisan gridlock, no one wins. I’ll work across the aisle to get things done and put people before politics.

I will deliver on what the people want and deserve—clear, straightforward legislation. While many in Congress have grown comfortable with the status quo and endless gridlock, I have not, and I will not. From day one, I will champion a new standard:

It’s time for Congress to work for the people—with transparency, simplicity, and accountability.