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Agriculture
noun | ag·ri·cul·ture | art and science of cultivating the soil, growing crops, and raising livestock Farmers are the original environmentalists and our state’s economy relies on the crops and livestock they produce. Family farmers are an investment in the future of food production and conservation. They rely on generations of experience conserving land, water, and other resources critical for sustained production. The monoculture agribusiness goes virtually unchecked, decimating the land, and relying on taxpayer-funded subsidies. These handouts allow mega agricultural corporations to underprice family farmers, forcing them out of production. ↳ Agriculture produces $76 Billion in economic activity in North Carolina. ↳ There are 8,000+ fewer farms in North Carolina than in 2007, while the average size of farms has increased by 15 percent. ↳ Family farms make up 86% of all farms in North Carolina. ↳ Farm bankruptcies in our state increased by 33% in the last few years. ELIMINATE FOOD DESERTS While this fight continues, food deserts (areas where healthy, fresh food is not readily available) are increasing, not only in the traditional rural areas, but in urban and suburban areas across this district. Smaller IGAs are going out of business and dollar stores are popping up everywhere. These dollar stores cut into a grocery store’s potential profit margin. When a larger store’s cost to profit ratio drives business placement this means the dollar store laden food desert is passed over. This leaves an ever-increasing population without access to healthy, fresh food. In Congress, Pam will… └ Foster innovative practices like surplus food sharing programs └ Restrict dollar stores in areas of food insecurity, thus restoring a balance that encourages grocery store placement └ Evaluate public transportation system solutions and increase access to local farms and their offerings STAND UP FOR OUR FARMERS PRIORITIES As our Congresswoman, Pam Genant will defend farmers and work to grow our state’s agriculture economy. Pam believes that we need consistent policies that accommodate the uncertainty our family farmers deal with and the diversity of our state’s products. Farmers need to be supported as they continue their environmental efforts and sought out for their innovative farming and conservation practices. Pam also understands the importance of a coherent policy on trade and tariffs that will keep markets open to our farmers. Pam believes we should… └ Incentivize conservation practices in farming. └ Ensure that farmers have a seat at the table and an economic incentive as we address the climate crisis. └ Expand access to markets for North Carolina grown products. └ Increase assistance from USDA, FEMA and other agencies during times of natural disasters and other threats. └ Fight trade policies that harm North Carolina farmers. LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD Pam Genant is a proponent of equity. As one of the most diverse states in the nation, North Carolina is home to a significant number of Black farmers, critical to the agricultural economy. She believes that we should level the playing field for Black and minority farmers by expanding access to financial resources for equipment and ending discriminatory policies at the federal level that limit opportunities. └ Minimize large corporate farm subsidies. └ Provide opportunities for family farms to modernize to keep up with large agribusiness. └ Incorporate a plan for transportation of goods for small farms, leveling the playing field for the family farmer. └ Ensure that the Department of Agriculture pursues policies to increase protections and expand access to resources for small family farms, with emphasis on minority farmers.
Budget
noun | bud·get | the amount of money that is available for, required for, or assigned to a particular purpose The budget outlines our country’s priorities, but more than that it says what we care about. Pam Cares About People! We need to remember that our priorities are the citizens, the average Americans that make up the backbone of this nation. These hard-working families deserve priority status. In Congress, Pam Genant will work hard to advocate for district 14 and ensure the federal budget represents our values and needs. ↳ A recent study found that the wealthiest 400 families in America paid an average income tax of just 8.2%. ↳ North Carolinians and US Citizens nationally are paying more, getting less, and having to struggle to survive inflation that is more than half corporate profits. ↳ While NC Speaker, Moore repeatedly put the interests of the wealthy and corporations ahead of the average North Carolinians needs. TAX MEGA-CORPORATIONS & BILLIONAIRES The 400 wealthiest people In America are worth more than 36 million typical American families combined. The mega-corporations in the US saw record profits during a pandemic, while American families were suffering. They pay little to no taxes, leaving the burden of funding the U.S. budget squarely on the shoulders of the poor and middle-class. Last year, 50 corporations on the Fortune 500 list paid no taxes. Pam Genant believes our national budget needs to: └ Demand that billionaires pay the same if not more in taxes than policemen, firefighters, nurses, and teachers. └ Reform tax codes to ensure citizens and corporations alike pay what they owe and are unable to skirt the system. └ Close loopholes exploited by the wealthy, including a minimum tax on unrealized capital gains. └ No Increase in taxes for the poor and middle-class. Strengthening the middle class needs to be a priority. EXPAND HEALTH CARE COVERAGE A person's healthcare should not be dependent on their wealth. Healthcare is a basic human right, and yet in this nation, 31 million Americans are without health Insurance. This means they either go without care, without the lifesaving medications they need, or they use the emergency room as their primary care provider. This not only increases the burden on the healthcare system but means inconsistent care and poor outcomes for these hard-working people. In a country with such advanced healthcare technology, we also have one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world. And have the only increasing maternal death rate of any industrialized nation. Healthcare companies bring in hundreds of billions of dollars in profits while average Americans go without medications to pay bills. Mental health concerns continue to be given lip service while no real Investment is made toward solutions. As our voice in Washington, Pam Genant will: └ Work toward a single payer healthcare system that would not only provide care for all Americans but, according to the CBO, would save this country $650 billion a year. └ Make Improvements to the VA healthcare system to fulfil our obligations to our veterans. └ Invest in real mental healthcare Including substance abuse and recovery services. └ Ensure mental healthcare is truly part of overall healthcare services, by providing for meaningful access to mental healthcare. └ Lower prescription drug costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices. └ Expand pandemic preparedness. STRENGTHEN THE MIDDLE CLASS The American family Is taking a back seat to mega-corporations and the wealthy. Struggling to make ends meet, find living wage jobs, and caring for their families, is a constant concern. Strengthening and investing in the middle class will not only stimulate the economy for today but build a strong base of revenue for the future. As our Congresswoman, Pam will… └ Let the 2017 Trump tax cuts expire, and invest that revenue in infrastructure that will save the American People money and time. └ Bring good paying, union jobs back to America. └ Provide quality, affordable childcare so parents can return to the workforce. └ Increase the minimum wage to a living wage. └ Provide college debt relief so graduates are not saddled with insurmountable debt. This decreases college drop-out rates and increases future earning potential and future tax revenue. HONOR OUR MILITARY VETERANS We invest in Veterans because they invest in us. We can’t maintain the fighting force needed unless we take care of our service members and military families. As a country, we have an obligation to take care of our veterans. As a veteran herself, Pam Genant understands this. In Congress, Pam will… └ Support military pay and compensation that keeps pace with the current economy. └ Invest in career training, education, and entrepreneurship programs for military spouses and separated service members. └ Rebalance how we spend tax dollars on defense, improving the efficiency and competitiveness of our armed forces. └ Conduct rigorous annual audits of the Pentagon to end waste and fraud of taxpayers’ money. └ Invest in a more cost-effective, flexible, and resilient force with modern transportation and logistics capabilities that can operate in more contested environments.
Defense
noun | de·fense | means or method of defending or protecting oneself, one's nation, or another A veteran herself, Pam Genant understands the importance of a strong national defense. In Congress, Pam will work across the aisle to ensure America’s military remains the strongest in the world, keeping our nation and its people safe. ↳ North Carolina is home to 8 military bases and more than 120,000 military personnel, ranking our state 4th in the nation. ↳ Military and defense related industries are the 2nd largest employers in North Carolina. ↳ The military’s annual economic impact in North Carolina is over $66 billion. ↳ Every day, still, 20 veterans and active-duty service members die by suicide. ENDING FOREVER WARS It’s time to bring nearly two decades of unceasing conflict to an end. Our military engagements around the world have cost more than $5 trillion, claiming more than half a million lives. In Congress, Pam Genant will… └ Support the use of force only when necessary to protect national security with the approval of Congress, where warranted. └ Repeal decades-old authorizations for the use of military force and replace them with a narrow and specific framework that ensures we can protect Americans from terrorist threats. └ Prioritize diplomacy, intelligence, and law enforcement tools to prevent terrorist attacks. └ Mobilize the investment strength of our partners that can prevent conflict. SECURING OUR COMPETITIVE EDGE Our nation’s military should be the best-trained, best-equipped, and most effective fighting force in the world. Managing global hotspots, reducing the enormous stress on our forces, and evaluating our military footprint are great first steps to securing our competitive edge but it’s not enough. In Congress, Pam Genant will… └ Invest in technology and structure that meet the threats of the future—from cyber to space, artificial intelligence to unmanned systems. └ Support transformation of defense capabilities in a responsible, ethical way, and with strong privacy protections └ Reinforce the trusted alliances and partnerships around the world that enhance our collective security. └ Invest in a more cost-effective, flexible, and resilient force with modern transportation and logistics capabilities that can operate in more contested environments. DEFENSE SPENDING The measure of our security is not the amount we spend on defense, but how we spend our defense dollars. We can and must ensure our security while restoring stability, predictability, and fiscal discipline in defense spending. In Congress, Pam Genant will… └ Maintain a strong defense and protect our safety and security for less. └ Rebalance how we spend tax dollars on defense, improving the efficiency and competitiveness of our armed forces. └ Conduct rigorous annual audits of the Pentagon to end waste and fraud of taxpayers’ money. SERVICE MEMBERS & MILITARY FAMILIES Our nation can’t maintain the force it needs unless we take care of our service members and military families. As a veteran herself, Pam Genant understands this. In Congress, she will… └ Support military pay and compensation that keeps pace with the current economy. └ Encourage the Pentagon to increase time between deployments. └ Invest in career training, education, and entrepreneurship programs for military spouses. └ Support a path to citizenship for anyone who has served honorably in our nation’s military. └ Support laws and policies that fight the scourge of rape and sexual assault in our military, end retaliation and impunity, and take care of survivors. └ Provide service members the support they need to transition to civilian life. HONORING OUR PROMISES TO VETERANS No veteran should struggle to pay their bills, put food on the table, or access health care, quality housing, child care, or the workforce. In Congress, Pam Genant will… └ Support legislation that protects Veterans from exploitation, especially by for-profit colleges that raid GI Bill benefits and burden Veterans with debt. └ Oppose any attempts to privatize the VA, including vouchers. └ Modernize VA facilities and bolster funding to the VA as part of a nationwide infrastructure plan. └ Expand eligibility for VA benefits so that all veterans can access the VA └ Eliminate VA co-pays for preventive health care for Veterans. └ Support funding that combats veteran homelessness, including converting unused VA facilities into housing. └ Treat suicide as the public health crisis it is and invest in mental health and suicide prevention services. └ Expand tax credits for family caregivers of Veterans and ensure they get the support they need from the VA and Department of Defense. └ Invest in long term care solutions for aging Veterans. CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS Healthy civil-military relations are essential to our democracy and to the strength and effectiveness of our military. Let’s reinstate national security policymaking processes that advance competent civilian control and appropriately incorporate military advice. In Congress, Pam Genant will… └ Safeguard the independence of the military justice system – not pardon war criminals. └ Exercise congressional oversight over the Defense Department and make transparent for Americans the legal and policy justifications for military operations. └ Always oppose sending our military forces to suppress Americans exercising their constitutional rights.
Democracy
noun | de·moc·ra·cy | a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them through free elections We must protect our constitutional right to vote, increase transparency in our political system, and continue to ensure the security of our elections. Overturning the SCOTUS decision on Citizens United, and reaffirming that only people are people under the US Constitution, would go a long way to securing our electoral process from the impact of inequality in our nation. ↳ The United States spends $182 billion annually incarcerating people. ↳ There is a one-in-three chance that a black individual will be imprisoned, compared to a one-in-seventeen for a white individual. ↳ The most recent data says more than 37,000 people are imprisoned in North Carolina. ↳ In 2019, more than 440 murders (73%) in North Carolina were by firearms. STRENGTHEN OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO VOTE Republicans in Congress want to undo the gains of the Civil Rights Movement. We must protect the Voting Rights Act and work to make our elections more accessible to all citizens. └ Restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act/John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. └ Pass the Redistricting Reform Act to provide for independent commissions encouraging transparency to draw district lines. └ Make Election Day a federal holiday. └ Expand vote-by-mail and in-person Early Voting └ Automatically register every 18-year-old citizen to vote. └ Penalize states and localities that restrict access to polling places. └ Restore voting rights nationwide to former felons who have served their prison sentences. INCREASE TRANSPARENCY AND ENSURE ELECTION SECURITY Wealthy Americans use Super PACs to spend an unlimited amount of money with little transparency. As a result, billions of dollars were funneled into recent elections by a very small group of people. └ Ensure the continued protection of our election processes by increasing security resources in all 50 states. └ Overturn Citizens United and eliminate Super PACs. └ Strengthen laws that regulate who’s allowed to lobby on behalf of foreign governments. └ Increase transparency in campaign finance reporting, so wealthy and corporate donors must disclose where their money is going. └ Push the Securities and Exchange Commission to require publicly-traded companies to disclose their political contributions.
Diplomacy
Noun | di·plo·ma·cy | the management of relations between countries The war in Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and the climate crisis have shown us how our security and prosperity are linked to the rest of the world. Disastrous trade policies have hit North Carolina particularly hard, sending tens of thousands of good jobs overseas. Pam Genant understands that we’re safer and more prosperous when the United States engages with the world while defending our interests. ↳ North Carolina has lost 41% of its manufacturing jobs since 1994. ↳ A recent survey found that 68% of Americans want the United States to play an active role in the world. STRENGTHEN ALLIANCES On the global stage, our alliances, including NATO, serve to defend against common threats as well as protect our shared interests. The war in Ukraine has proven just how necessary the NATO alliance is. According to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, nine in ten Americans believe that maintaining our alliances is the most effective way to achieve our foreign policy goals and 2/3rd agree with supporting Ukraine. In Congress, Pam Genant will… └ Work to strengthen alliances and identify common values as well as threats. └ Continue to support and establish new global coalitions for challenges such as health, climate change, and cybersecurity. └ Keep an eye on future technologies and be proactive in understanding their potential uses and misuses. └ Encourage and support our allies to carry their weight, so that the burden doesn’t fall solely on the shoulders of Americans. RE-EVALUATE TRADE AGREEMENTS Big multinational corporations have, for too long, been dictating 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, this has not happened. Good jobs have left western North Carolina so that corporations can make even more money. These multinational corporations exploit working people and lobby against labor and environmental protections. Pam Genant will… └ 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 and uphold rights for international worker. └ Require trade agreements to include policies that minimize climate pollution. INVEST IN DIPLOMACY War benefits nobody except defense contractors. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been killed, entire regions have been destabilized, and we are currently in the midst of an extreme global migration crisis. We must center foreign policy around human rights, justice, and peace. Limiting our global armed presence and investing in diplomacy and engagement will allow us to begin to repair the harm done. In Congress, Pam will… └ Re-evaluate the federal budget to prioritize and invest in diplomacy, with a focus on human rights. └ Identify which programs benefit American security in the 21st century and which programs merely line the pockets of defense contractors. └ Push for Congress to play a more active role, restraining the ability of Presidents to wage war without consideration. └ Support making foreign military aid contingent on strong human rights records. └ Help position the United States as an honest broker in conflicts, leveraging our diplomatic power for peace.
Economy
noun | econ·o·my | system by which goods and services are produced, sold, and bought Pam Genant knows firsthand that inflation in the wake of the pandemic has impacted the daily lives and economic security of families here in western North Carolina. Even before the pandemic, many of us were already struggling to just get by. Now, the rising cost of living is causing too many to struggle even more. While inflation recently flatlined, the damage has been done to the bottom lines of NC Citizens. Simply returning to “normal” is not good enough. We deserve an economic vision that serves the interests of average, hard-working people. ↳ While unemployment rates have dropped since the height of the pandemic, 179,000 North Carolinians remain unemployed. ↳ For the first time in history, nearly 60% of inflation is caused by corporate profits ↳ On average, women who work in the 14th Congressional district earn about $12,000 less than men. CREATE BETTER PAYING JOBS Pam Genant’s perspective on economic fairness and the dignity of work is rooted in her upbringing. Pam’s mom and dad shaped her understanding of hard work, the need for good paying jobs, and the importance of fair wages. But she recognizes that things have gotten harder and for many folks around here, the American dream has never felt more out of reach. In Congress, Pam will… └ Protect the dignity of work, including honest wages, protected retirement, and fair overtime compensation. └ Encourage technical and vocational training, and apprenticeships to meet the needs of an evolving economy. └ Support pay equity across the board for all North Carolinians. └ Advocate for a livable wage to ensure that working people can make a comfortable living. └ Make the United States a leader in the clean energy economy. Bringing production of equipment and technology for the solar Industry and electric vehicles, the majority of which is currently produced in China, to the United States. SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, but they need more support. From Morganton to Lincolnton, Statesville to Shelby, small businesses are struggling between searching for employees to hire and finding the capital to pay them. As our Congresswoman, Pam Genant will… └ Revoke tax breaks for companies that outsource jobs and support made-in-America incentives. └ Help small business owners, especially entrepreneurs of color and women, obtain capital and support. └ Support bringing good paying, union jobs back to the United States. └ Provide for affordable, quality childcare, allowing parents to fully participate in the job market. └ Ensure all areas of North Carolina have broadband internet access, increasing the reach and capacity of small business owners in rural areas. └ Increase earning potential of future generations by Increasing financial assistance for undergraduate degrees, helping to reverse the trend of low-income students dropping out of college. ENSURE TAX EQUITY The 400 wealthiest people In America are worth more than 36 million typical American families combined. The mega-corporations in the United States saw record profits during a pandemic, while American families were suffering. And 50 corporations on the Fortune 500 list paid no taxes last year. This is ridiculous and needs to be fixed. In Congress, Pam Genant will… └ Demand that billionaires pay the same if not more taxes than policemen, firefighters, nurses, and teachers. └ Reform tax codes to ensure corporations pay what they owe and are unable to skirt the system. └ Close loopholes exploited by the wealthy, Including a minimum tax on unrealized capital gains. └ No Increase in taxes for the poor and middle-class. Strengthening the middle class needs to be a priority.
Education
noun | ed·u·ca·tion | the imparting or acquiring of knowledge or skills Pam Genant believes access to education is a basic human right. But career politicians in Washington don’t see it that way. Pam understands firsthand how education can lift families out of poverty. By giving every child access to quality schools, we can rebuild the ladder of opportunity and make sure everyone has a shot at the American Dream. ↳ More than 60% of North Carolinians who have graduated from college – public or private – have burdensome student loan debt. ↳ Our state ranks 48rd in the nation for per pupil annual investment. ↳ Nearly 180,000 students in North Carolina are homeschooled, many thousands in the 14th District. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION The American Dream starts with our preschool age children. Many kids come to school ill equipped to learn, lacking in social skills, language skills, and motivation. Investments in preschool have shown to increase a student’s chance of success in school and life. Pam will… └ Work to Increase Investment in Pre-K to Include all students ensuring the best start for every child. └ Establish free nutrition programs for all students, starting at the Pre-K level, so every child starts the day ready to learn. K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS While Pam provided a home school education for her two children, she knows that more than 86% of students in our district are enrolled in public schools. So Pam knows investing in our K-12 education is critical. Schools in every county are struggling with structural issues, understaffing, and supply shortages. Meanwhile, our children continue to encounter bullying and discrimination at all grade levels. We can and we must do better. As our Congresswoman, Pam will… └ Fight for investments in K-12 education to Improve schools and teacher pay in every zip code, and focus on the drain of teachers out of NC into neighboring states. └ Implement mandatory training on identification and intervention for bullying and discrimination among and with students and staff, and look into the underlying causes of bullying and why it is so prevalent in our schools. └ Ensure teachers and schools all have the tools and supplies needed to educate our children for a brighter future. COLLEGE EDUCATION While some students graduate High School knowing they have a college education ahead of them, many lack the financial backing to make that dream a reality. And In times of economic stress, a college education Is the first thing to be dropped. An investment in higher education up front will bring increased tax revenue on the back end, as a bachelor's degree increases earning potential by as much as 70%. As a first-generation college graduate, Pam understands the struggles of paying for a college education and will work to… └ Ensure a free two-year community college education for students including any trade education needed for licensure or work in a needed field. └ Subsidize College and University tuition for high demand fields, and penalize entities that lure young people into degrees meant to make money for the institution at the expense of the student. └ Increase the Pell Grant award to improve college and university retention for low Income students, as Pell Grants have not kept up with the rising cost of tuition. VOCATIONAL & TRADE SCHOOLS Pam Genant also understands that college isn’t for everyone and that we should be providing more options for people to access living wage jobs for themselves and their families that don’t require college degrees. Many of these jobs are in high demand but areas lack the training to fill them. Professions like wind turbine technicians and solar panel installers are among the fastest growing in the country. We need to provide the tools and training for the people of western North Carolina. Pam supports… └ Creating more vocational training, trade schools, and apprenticeship programs to provide necessary skills. └ Offering financial assistance for trade and vocational programs. └ Partnering with businesses to ensure the training offered provides the skill set needed for the jobs required at the local level.
Energy
noun | en·er·gy | power derived from the utilization of physical or chemical resources The future of energy should be made here in America. Currently, countries like China are positioning themselves to be the leader in renewable energy and dominate the global renewable energy field. The United States must be a leader in renewable energy, protecting our environment, combating the climate crisis, and setting our country up for true energy Independence. ↳ In North Carolina, 84% our energy comes from non-renewable energy sources. ↳ Only 8.5% of our state’s energy portfolio is from solar energy. ↳ North Carolina has already produced more than 14k new Clean Energy Jobs including nearly 13 Billion in new investments! UPDATE OUR ENERGY SYSTEMS About 60% of the lines and large transformers in our country are more than 25 years old, though that number is dropping thanks to bi-partisan action led by Democrats in 2021. Energy Infrastructure is still outdated and we do not have enough in areas where new energy resources are emerging. Combined with parts and production mainly sourced from China and we are lagging in the global renewable energy field. Pam Genant will work to… └ Incentivize US domestic manufacturing of parts and assembly for the renewable energy field. └ Continue upgrading the electric grid, making It more resilient and secure. └ Increase recycling of solar batteries, reusing critical minerals needed for continued production while alleviating disposal Issues. └ Offer tax credits for emerging technologies In the renewable energy field, while being discerning with taxpayer dollars. EXPAND RENEWABLE ENERGIES Adapting homes and businesses for solar energy Is costly and confusing. With mounds of paperwork and differing company standards, many consumers abandon the Idea. Pam Genant faced these same Issues when she and her husband made the decision to add solar energy to their home. With her experiences, Pam will… └ Work toward Industry standards in tax and transmission policy. └ Incentivize energy efficiency in homes, business, and public buildings. └ Standardize permitting and state regulations, making It easier for consumers to adopt solar residential solutions. └ Improve weatherization programs for low-Income residents and increase tree cover in urban areas to decrease ambient heat. MODERNIZE TRANSPORTATION With the country looking toward electric vehicles (EV) for relief from rising gas prices and concern for our environment, the cost for an EV is still out of reach for most hard-working Americans. Knowing many drivers would like to make the switch but can't. In Congress, Pam Genant will… └Work for investments in EV charging stations in the workplace, as well as residences. └ Work for investments in rooftop solar on all buildings possible to help power mass transit. └ Provide additional tax credits for low Income consumers that commute to work. └ Invest in extension upgrades to the mass transit system to create transportation for workers into the urban and suburban job market from rural areas, decreasing the load on the already stretched roads.
Environment
noun | en·vi·ron·ment | the air, water, land in or on which people, animals, and plants live Our state’s natural beauty is part of what drew Pam Genant to western North Carolina. Pam knows the environment impacts us all and believes we have an obligation to protect it. In Congress, Pam will fight to ensure that western North Carolina’s environment is protected for all of us and our future generations. ↳ 35.9% of greenhouse gas emissions in North Carolina come from transportation – the largest source, which could easily be reduced if we invest in and incentivise use of public transportation. ↳ 32.8% comes from electricity production, which could easily be reduced if we put solar panels on every roof in the nation by 2030. ↳ North Carolina has seen a 25% decrease in tree cover since 2000, and increasing that number will help to drop ambient temperatures in urban and suburban areas. FIGHT THE CLIMATE CRISIS There is undeniable consensus on the existence of man-made climate change. Scientists also agree that there is a narrow window in which we can reverse the worst of the crisis. At a time when our government should be serious about the threat, fossil fuel companies in 2020 received $5.9 trillion in subsidies. With high oil prices and generous subsidies, these companies are on track to make record profits – all on the backs of Americans and the environment. In Congress, Pam Genant will: └ Support furthering of recent investments in alternative energy sources that will also bring new jobs to the district. └ Fight to increase tax incentives for hard working families that invest in energy saving solutions at home. └ Eliminate subsidies for the fossil fuel companies. └ Address the issue of price gouging by the oil industry. └ Push for America to lead the way in tackling the climate crisis. EXPAND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS The health of the environment is vital to our own health and prosperity. District 14 has many state and national parks and public land that we all enjoy. Our communities are dealing with a waste problem that is plaguing our communities, threatening our clean air, water, and natural spaces. As our voice in Washington, Pam Genant will: └ Fight efforts to sell off public land to the highest bidder. └ Support the elimination of single-use plastics that are littering North Carolina. └ Invest in innovative solutions that address the waste epidemic plaguing our country. └ Reward communities that work with small businesses to reduce waste. └ Support efforts to develop a national strategy to deal with biodiversity loss. ELIMINATE INDUSTRIAL POLLUTANTS Industrial pollution impacts air and water quality, and it can enter the soil, causing widespread environmental damage. These industrial pollutants lead to illness and loss of life in North Carolina and across the country. In 2019, industry in North Carolina released 39 million pounds of pollution into the air, water, and land. Discharges of pollutants to waterways were the highest that they have been since 2015, representing a move in the wrong direction. As our Congresswoman, Pam Genant will: └ Require publicly traded companies to disclose their environmental impact data. └ Aggressively investigate reports of corporate pollution. └ Increase fines for spills and contamination, and fight for stricter controls on toxic chemicals.
Healthcare
noun | health·care | efforts to maintain or restore physical, mental, or emotional well-being The status quo is unacceptable. North Carolina deserves a representative who will deliver accessible and affordable health care for every citizen. This isn’t rocket science. If so many other countries can figure it out, then so can we. ↳ One in four patients report having difficulty affording the medications they need. ↳ Though Medicaid has been expanded in North Carolina, it is run by insurance companies that work for profit. ↳ While the uninsured population is at a low, there are still 25.3 million uninsured individuals in the United States. ↳ 26 North Carolina counties don’t have a single OBGYN, and too many women are going without the prenatal and postnatal care they need. ↳ The United States is the only industrialized country to have an increasing maternal mortality rate. STAND UP TO GREED AND LOWER THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS Pam’s husband is a family physician and has cared for patients who must make the difficult decision to either pay for essential medication or food for the family. Absurd prescription drug prices are forced on Americans by large companies hoping to capitalize on a vulnerable market that needs their products. Instead of accepting donations from the pharmaceutical industry, Pam will hold them accountable and work to lower costs. In Congress, she will… └ Shorten the patent life of prescription drugs. └ Enforce antitrust laws with pharmaceutical companies. └ Expand the federal government’s negotiations with drug companies to bring down prices for more than just Medicare, but for all citizens with a Public Option. └ Expand access to generic drugs that are more affordable └ Crack down on companies monopolizing the pharmaceutical markets └ Allow North Carolinians to buy safe and more affordable prescription drugs from Canada. └ Fight for historic transparency of the negotiations made between drug manufacturers and medication importers to the U.S. └ Empower trade advisory committees to influence the pricing of prescription drugs. └ Invest in rehabilitative treatment for those affected by drug addiction. ALLOW EVERYONE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE INSURANCE When attempting to gain healthcare coverage, many families are unable to do so. This is often the result of underemployment from things such as disability, need for childcare, transportation, housing etc. This leads many to live without it, seeking medical care exclusively from the emergency room often for advanced illness that could have been easily treated if caught early by a primary care physician. Millions going without basic check-ups and available preventive care, worried that one trip to the E.R. will leave them or their loved ones financially ruined. Health insurers are incentivized to refuse coverage to those unfairly perceived as liabilities, not human beings in need of affordable care. Pam Genant wants to eliminate these physical and monetary barriers for middle- and working-class families. As our congresswoman, she will… └ Defend pre-existing conditions protections currently in place under the Affordable Care Act. └ Protect, improve, and build upon the Affordable Care Act. └ Support guaranteed coverage of preventive care services to every American, including preventative coverage such as yearly check-ups, dental, and eye care. PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN MEDICARE It’s unacceptable to even consider policies that would jeopardize access to health care that millions of senior and disabled citizens need and deserve. └ Stand up to Washington politicians and oppose cuts to Medicare. └ Support comprehensive coverage, including dental, vision, prescription drugs, and hearing aids. └ Strengthen Medicare so that every citizen of the United States has guaranteed access to health care. CREATE AND EXPAND RURAL HEALTH CARE ACCESS We face a shocking shortage of nurses and doctors across North Carolina, especially in our rural communities. We need to finally begin to break the link between health and wealth and ensure that great health care is available in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties. In Congress, Pam Genant will… └ Introduce legislation to expand the U.S. Public Health Service to recruit, train, and deploy nurses and doctors into underserved communities in North Carolina. └ Fight to expand Medicaid in North Carolina. └ Support a public health insurance option that increases reimbursement rates for rural hospitals. HONOR OUR PROMISES TO VETERANS You may be surprised to know that VA healthcare access negatively affects our veterans and their families. VA locations all over N.C. must determine how to care for a large concentration of veterans in their region. This creates long waiting lists of veterans seeking to utilize their benefits, sometimes for life essential care. Among them, being veterans who have been left with mental and psychological wounds while fighting for our freedom. These lifesaving treatments can make a huge difference in their return to full and productive civilian life. As our congresswoman, Pam Genant will… └ Advocate for a reformed VA system here in North Carolina. └ Support expansion of Medicaid to fully cover mental health related services and properly fund the related institutions. GUARANTEE WOMEN’S HEALTH The discourse around reproductive rights often couples the personal with the political. That is why Pam Genant stands firm in her belief that the government should not overstep its boundaries on a woman's relationship with her doctor and the treatment that is needed. If elected, Pam would hold Congress accountable for women’s reproductive healthcare freedoms as well as draw attention toward issues we all can agree are pressing. Like the high infant mortality rate in the United States or the increasing maternal death rate. These are the issues on which we should be focusing our attention. In Congress, Pam will… └ Expand the Public Health Service to train and encourage doctors to stay in North Carolina’s hardest-hit communities. └ Ensure women cannot be charged more for their insurance just because of their gender. └ Vote to boost women’s health programs and deliver federal dollars for clinics across North Carolina. └ Fight to ensure that women have access to affordable, comprehensive health care services, including safe and legal abortion. └ Ensure access to contraception at no cost. └ Provide comprehensive, medically accurate sex education to our nation’s young people.
Housing
Noun | hous·ing | dwellings, buildings, or other shelters in which people live With inflation rising, the job market fluctuating, and a stagnant minimum wage, housing has become a key concern for so many Americans today. Renters struggle to pay rent while potential homeowners fight to save for a down payment and make the monthly mortgage. Rising Interest rates and current trends in lending make it difficult for many in minority communities to even consider homeownership. Pam understands that stable housing is a critical component for a thriving family. ↳ Nearly 24% of families in our district are cost burdened, meaning they pay more than 30% of their income toward housing. ↳ Corporations and investment firms have purchased extensively in NC 14th, to include a large percentage of properties around Mecklenburg County’s portion. ↳ According to an Elon University poll, 81% of North Carolinians say housing prices in their area have increased in the last year. HOME BUYERS AND RENTERS With housing costs that have soared and income that has remained stagnant, many low and middle-income wage earners are working 2-3 jobs to make ends meet. Home ownership is increasingly out of reach, especially for younger people. The housing shortage has meant landlords can increase rent, increasing their profits, and leaving many renters in an unpredictable, short-term housing situation. In fact, rents in North Carolina have risen faster than the national average. Pam understands that permanent, quality housing should be a priority here in North Carolina and around the country. She will work to: └ Strengthen the Community Reinvestment Act, which encourages financial institutions to meet the credit needs of the communities in which they serve. └ Finance expanded down payment and renters’ assistance programs that benefit low and middle-income families. └ Ensure that more homes go to people who will live in them, and not institutional investors. └ Invest in housing rehabilitation and construction to ease the housing crisis. Workforce HOUSING The condition and availability of work-force housing around North Carolina is declining. In North Carolina, there is a shortage of nearly 200,000 affordable rental units for working class renters. Supply chain issues and product shortages have increased construction costs for local communities working to house families. In Congress, Pam will: └ Broaden the Housing Choice Voucher program and decrease income levels for its application requirements allowing more families to live in quality housing in well-resourced communities of their choosing. └ Invest in quality working class housing production and renovation projects. HOMELESSNESS The number of unsheltered, or homeless, in this district and around the United States is on the rise. Within this population, over 20% suffer from serious mental health Issues, and 16% are dealing with substance abuse. The taxpayer money spent on homeless people in crisis could be better used to assist this population with housing and critical supportive services. Policies that prioritize immediately providing housing are proven to work. According to a study done in North Carolina, 73% of participants in housing first programs remained housed long term. In Congress, Pam will: └ Prioritize housing first options that have a proven success rate to include supportive services (transportation, job placement, counseling, etc.). └ Increase funding for mental health services for those experiencing homelessness. └ Fund and connect the target population with drug and alcohol treatment programs. └ Increase availability of emergency shelters to protect the population from the extreme weather conditions.
Immigration
noun | im·mi·gra·tion | travel into a country for the purpose of permanent residence and work there The United States is a nation of immigrants. The search for a better life while contributing to society is closely tied to our national history. Pam Genant understands that while immigration is critical for our economy, the system is broken. A lack of comprehensive reform has left too many immigrants in a legal limbo, including many who have only ever known the United States as their home. We need a system that appreciates the value of immigration, keeps people safe, and puts resources in the right places. ↳ Immigrants in North Carolina generate more than $1 billion in business revenue annually. ↳ One in nine workers in North Carolina is an immigrant. ↳ Approximately 24,000 people in our state are part of the DACA program . IMMIGRATION REFORM As a nation of immigrants, our immigration system is broken and in need of reform. People who arrived in the United States as children known as “Dreamers,” and those here seeking a better life for their families deserve a shot at the American dream. We need to embrace those who are living and working in the United States and contributing to society. The average age of DACA recipients is just 24 years old. They deserve legal certainty of their ability to live, work, and study in the United States. A priority should be comprehensive immigration reform that keeps our nation safe and provides a reasonable path toward citizenship. Pam Genant will… └ Support a pathway to full citizenship for DACA recipients, dreamers and undocumented immigrants who are currently residing here and otherwise follow the law. └ Vote for a strong policy against hate speech and hate crimes in this county. └ Promote investment in immigration integration efforts and support, easing the transition of new residents. END INHUMANE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM Our country needs to control who comes across its borders, while at the same time treat everyone humanely. There must be a system in place to efficiently hear the pleas of people seeking asylum and a better life, while expeditiously processing paperwork to prevent the separation of families and undue stress at our southern border. Pam Genant will… └ Work to reform the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to improve oversight, ensuring they carry out their duties with competence and humanity. └ Focus resources on detaining and deporting those individuals who pose a violent threat to public safety. └ Fight to end family separation at the border. └ Promote closure of private immigration detention centers that currently focus on corporate profits. └ Increase staffing, including judges, to clear the backlog of immigration court cases.
Infrastructure
noun | in·fra·struc·ture | the basic systems and services, such as transportation and power supplies, that a country uses to work effectively The way the world is changing, we need to expand our perception of what infrastructure means. We commonly think of roads, bridges, transportation, water, sewer, and the electric grid. We have felt the pinch of rural internet access and are becoming aware of the need for broadband access in all areas. But with additional economic challenges, we are realizing infrastructure concerns also need to include fundamentals like childcare, hospitals, senior care, and grocery stores. Though there has been increasing investment across the state thanks to the largest infrastructure package in decades, there is still much work to be done. ↳ North Carolina has 1,325 bridges that are considered structurally deficient. ↳ Internet access is a real problem for too many in NC, and in the 14th District, especially the rural areas of the District. ↳ More than $12.8 billion is needed to repair, renovate, and replace inadequate school buildings across our state. ↳ In western North Carolina, 1 in 5 people have low access to grocery stores. TRANSPORTATION Our transportation system is crumbling. While many urban centers are making strides with public transportation, our rural areas are struggling. There is little to no public transit and roads and bridges need repair. With inflation and gas prices where they are today, many in rural North Carolina can't afford gas to make the trip to town for groceries or needed medication. Living in a rural community herself, Pam understands these struggles and will work to… └ Ensure money from the infrastructure bill makes its way to rural areas, prioritizing local workers. └ Make sure mega-corporations start paying their share in taxes, as they are a major stressor on our roads and bridges. └ Provide tax credits and other incentives for electric vehicles for low-income residents who commute to work. └ Invest in multi-modal transit to build communities of roads, bike lanes, and sidewalks. └ Reduce air pollution by improving public transportation into rural communities. UTILITIES Learning from the past, we know that our water, sewer, and electric grid need repair and oversight. Additionally, broadband internet access needs to be a key topic when thinking about utilities. When left unsupervised, we know that some will prioritize profit over people. To have a strong nation we must prioritize people. As our voice in Congress, Pam will… └ Prioritize upgrading the electric grid, making it more resilient and secure. └ Work within the industry to ensure utility infrastructure is resilient to weather related disasters and cyber-threats from actors within and outside the US. └ Provide federal guidance for local utility departments concerning water quality and reporting procedures to ensure citizens are heard and have access to clean drinking water. └ Ensure rural areas have secure broadband Internet access. SUPPORT STRUCTURE More families are struggling to make ends meet even as inflation is slowing. We must include support for these families when we consider infrastructure. Schools, medical facilities, childcare, senior care, and grocery stores are a priority for families across North Carolina. Rural areas are hit hardest with the lack of these necessities. Pam sees this every day and will: └ Fight for safe, high tech, fully funded public schools that provide students with a first-class education. └ Work to bring quality food sources to areas where there are food deserts. └ Prioritize comprehensive, accessible, affordable, quality, healthcare for everyone, including rural areas that are often overlooked. └ Ensure that everyone has access to affordable, quality child and senior care, allowing workers to return to work and provide for their families.
Justice
noun | jus·tice | the establishment or determination of rights according to rules of law or equity Our criminal justice system should render justice and protect the public while upholding due process, civil rights and civil liberties, and equal protection under the law. However, the deck is stacked today against defendants who lack money, while those with wealth and connections often secure special treatment or outright impunity. ↳ The United States spends $182 billion annually incarcerating people. ↳ There is a one-in-three chance that a black individual will be imprisoned, compared to a one-in-seventeen for a white individual. ↳ The most recent data says more than 37,000 people are imprisoned in North Carolina. ↳ In 2022, 5434 NC children were charged with weapon crimes. BAN FOR PROFIT PRISONS AND LOWER THE INCARCERATION RATE It is unacceptable for any corporation to make money from incarcerating human beings. For-profit prisons reinforce a criminal justice system that seeks out reasons to incarcerate healthy, impoverished people. We must prioritize restorative justice models and fully fund these programs at the national level. In Congress, Pam Genant will… └ Ban private prisons and end inhumane, punitive practices like solitary confinement. └ Fund preventative and diversionary programs, specifically focusing on ending the school-to-prison pipeline. └ Restore felon voting rights. └ Ensure that those being released from incarceration are fully supported in their transition back to society. └ Invest in mental healthcare for those incarcerated and for the recently-released. └ Reform the bail system and end mass incarceration. └ Ensure returning citizens can reenter society with access to adequate resources and support. END THE WAR ON DRUGS The War on Drugs has disproportionately impacted communities of color and impoverished people. The first step to repairing the harm caused in communities across the country is to end the War on Drugs, and invest intentionally in education, housing, healthcare, and employment. As our Congresswoman, Pam Genant will… └ Legalize recreational cannabis nationwide, expunge the records and seek amnesty for those incarcerated for cannabis-related offenses. └ End mandatory minimum sentencing laws for low-level offenses. └ Invest in a public-health approach to the addiction crisis. └ Demilitarize police departments and push for federal investigations into local departments who utilize practices like arrest quotas. RESPONSIBLY FUND POLICE DEPARTMENTS WHILE INCREASING ACCOUNTABILITY Current policing practices disproportionately impacts people of color and impoverished people, creating an adversarial relationship between police departments and these communities. Addressing current policing practices and pushing for overhaul of the system will help create police departments that work collaboratively and democratically with all the communities they serve, increasing transparency, accountability, fairness, and public safety. In Congress, Pam Genant will… └ Increase education requirements for Police Officers nationally. └ Review and revise training practices to include emphasis on interpersonal skills and identifying mental health situations. └ Demilitarize police departments and push for federal investigations into local departments who utilize practices like arrest quotas. └ Invest resources into the training of police officers, reimagining their role. REDUCE SENSELESS GUN VIOLENCE America has a gun violence crisis and it’s getting worse. Despite overwhelming public support for common sense gun safety measures, Republicans in Congress refuse to take any action to stop the devastating wave of gun violence. There’s no single solution that will end gun violence overnight, but by establishing smart gun safety measures we can keep guns out of the hands of people who could hurt themselves or others. As our Congresswoman, Pam Genant will… └ Require all states to report to the NICS system and to regulate closely all federally licensed dealers or manufacturers. └ Pass legislation that empowers law enforcement to confiscate firearms from those deemed dangerous by a panel of judges, enforce Red Flag Laws. . └ Stand up to gun manufacturers and their lobbyists and enact legislation that puts public safety above corporate profits. └ Ban assault style weapon sales. └ Enact H.R. 660/S. 173/Ethan’s Law, to provide for safe gun storage in homes where there are children.
Labor
noun | la·bor | an economic group comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages After the implementation of NAFTA, North Carolina saw thousands of manufacturing jobs leave the country in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Hardest hit were the rural areas of the state, including the rural counties of this district. Pam Genant believes that everyone deserves a shot at the American dream. The choices we make today will determine whether working people will share in that dream. We can see the effects of strong unions in recent years and we can build on those successes and try to turn the tide of inequality that is not only a social emergency, but a national security one as well. ↳ A recent survey found that 68% of Americans approve of labor unions, the highest level since the 1960s. ↳ The average living wage for a single, childless adult is $16/hr. in western North Carolina. ↳ Minimum wage workers in our congressional district miss out on approximately $18,241 in additional full-time annual wages by being paid less than a living wage. ↳ Less than 3% of workers members of a union, the second lowest percentage in the nation. ↳ Women in North Carolina earn about 81 cents for every $1 earned by men. REBUILDING THE UNIONS Unions are the backbone of the American workforce. When unions are strong, they build the economic future for entire Industries. Labor unions grew out of a need to protect the Interests of the workers, and that need still exists. Labor unions brought about the 5 day/40-hour work week, child labor laws, unemployment benefits and workers compensation for job related Injury. Unions also led the fight for the Family and Medical Leave Act. Pam understands rebuilding labor unions must be a priority and will… └ Work to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO)Act, so that workers have the freedom to join together and negotiate wages, benefits and working conditions, without fear of retribution. └ Improve current trade agreements to prioritize American workers. └ Incentivize companies that build factories here in the United States, In our hardest hit rural areas, especially in the renewable energy field. └ Prioritize government business agreements with companies where workers have union protection. SUPPORT FOR WORKERS Building back the middle class is key to a growing economy. To do that we must be willing to Invest In areas that support workers. Pam comes from a working-class family that struggled to make ends meet. Seeing her family struggle, Pam understands the difficulties. In Congress, she will… └ Fight to raise the minimum wage to a living wage. └ Work for a quality healthcare system that Is affordable, comprehensive, and accessible for everyone. └ Provide additional tax credits for low Income consumers that commute to work and decide to purchase an electric vehicle. └ Ensure that everyone has access to affordable, quality child and senior care, allowing workers to return to work and provide for their families. └ Restructure the tax system, forcing the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share, easing the burden on working families. └ Support legislation to eliminate the gender pay gap and ensure working women get equal pay for equal work.
Seniors
noun | se·nior | a person of retirement age We are a multigenerational society, yet we have an aging population that is increasingly struggling to make ends meet. After working for decades and preparing for retirement, we are finding few options, and more are struggling to stay fed, pay for their prescription medicines, and stay afloat. This must change, and we have to return to the days when growing the Middle Class and repaying seniors for a lifetime’s work were part of the Deal.. ↳ Nearly 1 in 10 seniors in North Carolina have an income below the poverty level. ↳ In our state, 1 in 4 seniors live alone, raising their risk of physical and mental health challenges, to include the loneliness prevalent in the age group. ↳ Nearly 1 in 5 North Carolina seniors are veterans and that number is shrinking fast. ↳ Approximately 90% of people over 65 use prescription medicines with many paying more than half of the costs out-of-pocket, though caps on some expenses in recent years by Democratic initiatives have helped. SOCIAL SECURITY An expected part of our retirement system, 90% of retirement age Americans receive Social Security benefits. Of those, 1 in 4 rely on social security for most or all their income. If you work for decades and invest money into social security, it is expected to be there for you when you retire. It is not a handout; It is money Invested. Our seniors need to have the security of knowing that this asset is not being robbed. As our voice in Congress, Pam will be dedicated to… └ Protecting and strengthening social security and Medicare by removing the cap on income for Social Security Taxes.. └ Ensuring Social Security has a pathway forward to secure It for the long term. └ Fighting against privatization of Social Security. └ Increasing Social Security for the oldest Americans that are at Increased risk of dwindling savings, that leave them fighting to make ends meet. MEDICARE Medicare is healthcare for our retirement age population. Medicare provides health Insurance for over 60 million older Americans. There are flaws in the system that need to be fixed so an aging population can stay healthy for as long as possible. Pam will: └ Work to include hearing, vision, and dental as part of basic Medicare coverage. └ Allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, bringing costs down for everyone including seniors. └ Fight to ensure Medicare recipients can access increased home care, relieving stress on long term care facilities and allowing seniors to age at home. RETIREMENT AND AGING With the disappearance of the middle class, we are facing a generation of under-sourced seniors. 1.3 million Americans are living in nursing homes, 70% of which are private, for-profit facilities, and another 1 million in assisted living. We have a serious shortage of beds available and a growing population struggling to navigate aging at home, with too many ending up homeless. This is a generation that deserves to age with dignity, and it is our responsibility to provide the stability needed. As a healthcare provider, Pam has witnessed the struggles first-hand. In Washington, she will be committed to… └ Increasing affordable housing for seniors. └ Strengthening the middle class to prevent this from happening to more Americans. └ Increase funding for community-based services, like meal delivery, grocery shopping, transportation, and household chores for older Americans. └ Provide tax credits for Informal caregivers, family that care for their older loved ones at home. └ Invest In additional long-term care facilities. └ Improve oversight of long-term care facilities to safeguard the health and welfare of the residents.