My Vision for the Sacramento Region
I grew up believing in the American Dream. To me, it means that if you work hard and play by the rules, you should be able to reach your full potential, build a good life for your family, and have the chance to do better than the generation before you.
I’ve been lucky to live that dream. I was fortunate to get a great education through California’s public schools, from kindergarten through medical school. With help from my family, scholarships, part-time work, and federally backed student loans, I graduated with less than $10,000 in debt. I became a doctor and, along with my wife Janine, was able to support our family and raise our daughter Sydra. That was possible because my community and my country made an investment in me.
But today, too many families in the Sacramento region have to work harder and harder just to stay afloat. I meet hardworking people who feel squeezed by rising costs and worry about whether they’ll be able to buy a home, start a business, or save for retirement. And I hear from parents who are doing everything right but still worry their kids may end up worse off than they are.
That’s why my approach in Congress is guided by a simple set of priorities: creating good-paying jobs, making life more affordable, rebuilding our infrastructure, and investing in education and skills training for the jobs of the future. I’m also working to support a steady American foreign policy that keeps our country secure and helps build a more stable world for our children.
These are vital steps we must take to renew the American Dream and ensure that if you work hard and play by the rules, you can still build a good life, get ahead, and give your kids a better future right here in the Sacramento region.
Here’s what I’m focused on to keep the American Dream within reach, make government work, and keep our communities and our country safe in a changing world: