As your representative in Congress, Alden's top priority is building a future that works for every American. This page outlines where Alden stands on the critical issues facing our nation, from economic opportunity to climate action. While the challenges are complex, Alden believes that with thoughtful policy and common purpose, we can create lasting solutions that lift up all communities.
Building an Economy That Works for Everyone
For too long, the rules of the economy have been rigged in favor of the wealthy and well-connected. Alden is committed to rewriting those rules so that hard work is rewarded and every family has a chance to get ahead. That means creating good-paying jobs, supporting small businesses, and ensuring that the tax code is fair for working people, not just the top one percent. Alden will fight for investments in American manufacturing, infrastructure, and clean energy that will create millions of jobs and rebuild our middle class. The pandemic exposed the fragility of our economy, and we must build back better with resilience and equity at the core.
A strong economy also requires investing in our workers. Alden supports expanding access to affordable education and job training, from apprenticeships in the trades to community college programs that lead to high-demand careers. By strengthening unions and protecting workers' rights to organize, we can ensure that employees have a voice in their workplaces and a fair share of the profits they help create. Alden will also push for policies like paid family leave, affordable childcare, and eldercare support, because no one should have to choose between their job and caring for a loved one. Wage stagnation has held back too many families for too long; it's time to reward work with dignity and security.
- Support for small businesses and entrepreneurs
- Investment in infrastructure and green jobs
- Fair trade policies that protect American workers
- Expanding access to affordable childcare and eldercare
Ensuring Quality, Affordable Healthcare for All
Alden believes that healthcare is a fundamental human right, not a privilege reserved for those who can afford it. No family should have to worry about going bankrupt because of a medical emergency, and no one should have to skip necessary medication because of cost. Alden supports expanding access to quality, affordable healthcare for all Americans, building on the progress of the Affordable Care Act and working toward a system where everyone is covered. The pandemic demonstrated how interconnected our health is, and the need for a robust public health infrastructure has never been clearer.
To lower costs, Alden will push to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices directly with pharmaceutical companies, cap out-of-pocket expenses, and expand Medicaid in every state. We must also protect coverage for people with pre-existing conditions and ensure that mental health services receive the same attention and resources as physical health care. Rural hospitals are closing at an alarming rate, and we must provide the support they need to keep their doors open. The opioid crisis has devastated communities across our district, and Alden is committed to funding comprehensive treatment and prevention programs.
"I'm running for Congress because I believe in an America where everyone has a fair shot, where we take care of our neighbors, and where the future is bright for our children. These are the values that guide my positions on the issues." - Alden
Confronting the Climate Crisis
Climate change is the defining challenge of our time, and we cannot afford to wait any longer to take bold action. Alden supports a comprehensive plan to transition our economy to clean, renewable energy sources, reduce carbon emissions, and create millions of good-paying green jobs in the process. By investing in solar, wind, and other sustainable technologies, we can protect our planet for future generations while strengthening our economy. The increasing frequency of wildfires, floods, and extreme weather events is a clear warning that we must act now.
This transition must be just and equitable, ensuring that workers in fossil fuel industries have the training and support they need to thrive in the new energy economy. Alden will also advocate for rejoining international agreements like the Paris Climate Accord, investing in public transit and electric vehicle infrastructure, and holding polluters accountable for the damage they cause. The costs of inaction are simply too high, and the benefits of a green economy—from cleaner air to lower energy bills—will be felt by all.
Investing in Our Children's Education
Every child deserves access to a quality education, regardless of their zip code. Alden is committed to fully funding our public schools, raising teacher pay, and expanding access to early childhood education, which we know has lifelong benefits. We must also modernize our classrooms and ensure that students have the technology and resources they need to succeed in the 21st century. Too many schools are aging and lack basic infrastructure like reliable heating and cooling, and that is unacceptable.
Higher education should be a pathway to opportunity, not a lifetime of debt. Alden supports making community college tuition-free, increasing Pell Grants, and allowing borrowers to refinance their student loans at lower rates. By investing in our students, we are investing in the future of our country. We must also strengthen vocational and technical education to ensure that every young person has a path to a rewarding career, whether through a four-year degree or a skilled trade.
Reforming Our Criminal Justice System
Our criminal justice system is in urgent need of reform. Alden believes that we must end mass incarceration, eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent offenses, and invest in community-based alternatives that actually reduce crime and help people turn their lives around. We must also address the racial disparities that persist at every level of the system, from policing to sentencing. Police reform is essential to rebuild trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve, including banning chokeholds, creating national use-of-force standards, and establishing independent oversight.
Alden will work to legalize marijuana at the federal level, expunge the records of those with nonviolent drug offenses, and support programs that help formerly incarcerated individuals reenter society successfully. By focusing on rehabilitation and second chances, we can build safer, stronger communities. It is time to treat addiction as a public health issue rather than a criminal one, and to invest in mental health services and drug treatment instead of prisons.
Fixing Our Broken Immigration System
America is a nation of immigrants, and our diversity is our strength. Alden supports comprehensive immigration reform that provides a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who are already contributing to our communities, protects Dreamers who were brought here as children, and keeps families together. We must reject policies that tear families apart and instead embrace our heritage as a welcoming nation. The separation of children from their parents at the border was a moral failure, and we must ensure it never happens again.
At the same time, we need a smart and humane approach to border security that uses technology and targeted enforcement rather than wasteful walls. Alden will work to ensure that asylum seekers are treated with dignity and respect, and that our immigration system reflects our values as a nation of laws and a nation of compassion. Border communities deserve investment and support, not militarization, and we must address the root causes of migration with smart foreign policy and international cooperation.