10/21/2026: Fourteen Goals Revisited

Back in January, I posted fourteen goals for my time in Congress. I thought we should revisit them and see how they hold up. Some issues have popped up that I don’t think any of us could have foreseen; data centers and Flock cameras are the most obvious, but I still think the list holds up pretty well.

On January 6, these were my Fourteen Goals (There have been some small editorial changes to clear up some imprecise wording from the original):

1. Reclaim Congress’s Article 1 constitutional powers, including the authority to set taxes and tariffs and to declare war. Immediately end all tariffs on agricultural products to restore our farmers’ access to international markets.

• Exercise Congress’s constitutional power to check the Executive Branch and hold hearings to question administration officials about overreach and possible illegal actions.

• Redirect tax dollars from vanity projects and unnecessary military actions to fund schools and hospitals, especially in rural areas.

• Immediately restore the $1 trillion removed from the federal healthcare budget by the Big Beautiful Bill Act. Ultimately, we must reform how we pay for healthcare in this country.

• Restore the Department of Education, including the Office of Civil Rights Investigations and the Title IX Enforcement Office. Guarantee that every child in America has access to a free, high-quality education in a safe environment.

• Restore the 35,000 healthcare jobs at the Department of Veterans Affairs that the current administration cut. The 41,000 veterans in the 3rd District deserve that.

• Pass federal laws to end unnecessary state interference in individual and family health care decisions.

• Sponsor legislation to require all federal law enforcement agents to display their names and agency affiliation when conducting law enforcement actions, and to make it illegal for any federal agents to wear face coverings during such actions, except when there is a specific threat to agent safety. Each instance in which a face covering is deemed necessary must be documented and reviewed by the House and Senate Judiciary Committees.

• Overhaul our immigration system. Hire Article 2 judges to expedite the review of asylum requests. Increase the number of visas to accommodate the millions of undocumented workers in essential industries such as agriculture, food processing, and construction. Improve the visa application process by reducing wait times, enhancing background checks, and allowing working immigrants to renew their visas without returning to their home countries.

1. Make childcare, groceries, healthcare, and homeownership more affordable.

1. Restore science and peer-reviewed research as the foundation for public health policies.

1. Institute a wealth tax to ensure that billionaires and large corporations share the tax burden that has long been borne by the working and middle classes. Use the trillions raised to relieve small business owners and repair the social safety net for the most vulnerable Americans.

1. Advocate for the cities and towns in East Alabama to ensure equal representation in securing federal support for essential infrastructure projects.

1. And the one thing Mike Rogers can’t do… I will talk to the voters of the 3rd District. We will hold regular town hall meetings so ALL the people of the 3rd Congressional District can meet face-to-face with their representative in Washington.

This list will change over time, but it should make clear that my only job will be to serve as your advocate in Washington. I have no desire to go to DC and simply take orders from a corporate entity, a political party, or another politician. You deserve better than that.

Be well, and we’ll talk soon.