Howard’s Priorities

Families are working harder than ever. Many of us feel squeezed by rising costs, limited opportunities, and a political climate that prioritizes corporate influence over the well-being of everyday people. My campaign is built on a simple promise: to fight for a government that finally centers human dignity, expands opportunity, and delivers justice to every community. These are not abstract ideals, they are the foundation of strong families, safe neighborhoods, and a resilient democracy. My platform reflects the needs of Illinois families and the values we share: fairness, compassion, and a relentless belief that society must work for all of us, not just the privileged few.

Housing affordability has reached a breaking point. Families are facing rents they can no longer keep up with, while corporate landlords acquire property at unprecedented rates, pushing first-time homebuyers out of the market. Stability begins with housing, and we need federal investment to expand affordable units, protect tenants from predatory practices, and support community-based development rather than unchecked corporate ownership. A safe, affordable home should never be out of reach for hardworking people.

Healthcare must be treated as a human right, not a privilege tied to employment or income. Too many Illinoisans face impossible choices between paying medical bills and meeting their basic needs. A system where premiums rise faster than wages, where mental health resources remain scarce, and where prescription drug prices are artificially inflated is a system that has failed. Expanding Medicaid, strengthening pathways toward universal coverage, investing in mental health and addiction services, and empowering Medicare to negotiate drug prices will bring dignity and stability to millions. Healthcare should be affordable, comprehensive, and accessible to all, without discrimination of any kind.

Decisions about one’s body must remain with the individual, not with politicians. Whether it is reproductive rights, contraception, or gender-affirming care, government interference has no place in personal medical decisions. We must codify Roe v. Wade, safeguard LGBTQ+ healthcare, and protect physicians who provide essential, evidence-based care. True freedom includes the right to bodily autonomy.

Every child deserves access to a high-quality, well-funded public education regardless of their ZIP code. Yet, too many schools suffer from chronic underfunding, teacher shortages, and rising inequities. We must fully fund special education services, support teacher recruitment and retention, expand early childhood education, and make higher education and career training more affordable. Congress must also act to address the student loans crisis, expanding forgiveness programs and eligibility. Preparing the next generation requires investment.

The climate crisis is not a distant threat, it is a present and escalating danger. Illinois residents are already experiencing severe flooding, heat waves, declining air quality, and agricultural disruption. Addressing climate change requires immediate and comprehensive federal action: transitioning to clean energy, investing in resilient infrastructure, holding polluters accountable, and prioritizing environmental justice for communities disproportionately harmed by pollution. Climate policy must create union jobs, protect public health, and safeguard our future.

Immigration is fundamental to who we are as a nation. For decades, our immigration policies have been shaped by fear, cruelty, and political gridlock, not by fairness or human dignity. Families remain separated, Dreamers continue to live in uncertainty, and asylum seekers are forced into inhumane detention centers. ICE is ravaging our communities. I believe in ending for-profit detention, expanding community-based alternatives, modernizing the immigration courts, and creating a fair path to citizenship for the millions who contribute to our economy and communities. Illinois is stronger when we embrace compassion over cruelty.

Our rights must be protected by law, enforced by government, and guaranteed to everyone without exception. Today, those protections are under direct threat from government overreach and the calculated erosion of civil rights institutions. Due process is being ignored, agencies are acting unconstitutionally, and entire communities are being targeted and excluded. Democracy in this country has become weakened, and we must do something.

For years, I’ve used my legal expertise to compel governments to comply with the law, and I’ll continue to fight against the abuse and misuse of power in Washington. We must use the investigative powers of Congress to hold the Trump administration and others accountable for their actions. We deserve transparency in government.