Families and Kids

It’s time to reclaim real family values—values rooted in compassion, dignity, and opportunity for every kind of family, whether you’re raising your kids at home, in public schools, or homeschooling on a tight budget. For too long, the far-right has weaponized the phrase “family values” to justify homophobia, misogyny, and policies that punish families instead of supporting them.

As a father of four daughters, I’ve lived the real-life struggles that too many parents face—from trying to afford enough formula through WIC, to figuring out how to homeschool on limited resources, to making sure every child gets the care and learning environment they need. I believe in family values that are inclusive, evidence-based, and centered on the well-being of our children and caregivers—not donors, corporate lobbyists, or party lines.

That’s why I support:

Restore and Expand the Child Tax Credit (CTC)

• Bring back the fully refundable expanded Child Tax Credit from the American Rescue Plan, which cut child poverty nearly in half in 2021.

• Push to make it permanent, so families aren’t left hanging year to year.

• Support bills like the American Family Act (S.690 / H.R.155) to expand and automate CTC access.

Modernize and Expand WIC & LINK

• Adjust WIC benefits based on each child’s unique nutritional needs, including the number of cans of formula, not a one-size-fits-all approach.

• Use WIC midpoint check-ins more effectively to give parents flexibility and dignity—because every baby is different, and families deserve tailored support.

• Expand eligibility and streamline WIC/EBT/LINK integration to reduce red tape.

• Support increased funding via annual appropriations and efforts like the Wise Investment in our Children Act (H.R.3360) to improve program access.

Public & Homeschool Education Support

• Invest in both public schools and homeschooling families, especially those educating multiple children or in rural/underserved communities.

• Support expanding 529 education savings plans and tax credits for curriculum, tutoring, and testing for homeschoolers.

• Advance efforts to reintroduce legislation similar to the Homeschooling for Americans Act and support federal microgrants for home educators.

Paid Parental Leave for All

• At least 12 months of paid parental leave for all new parents—regardless of job type, income, or immigration status.

• Support federal legislation like the FAMILY Act (H.R.1199 / S.462), which creates a national paid family and medical leave program.

$3,000/Month Federal Stipend for Stay-at-Home Parents

• Recognize caregiving as essential labor with monthly payments for stay-at-home parents based on household size.

• Credit stay-at-home caregiving toward Social Security earnings, allowing parents to retire with dignity.

• Build on the Social Security Caregiver Credit Act to account for unpaid labor in the home.

Restore Dignity to Parenthood

In today’s America, choosing to raise children is a radical act of courage. While billionaires and influencers push narratives of “paying women to have babies,” what working families actually want is respect, fairness, and support.

We can restore dignity by making it easier—not harder—to create and raise a family. That starts with:

• Respecting parenting as work.

• Creating policies that flex with families’ needs.

• Centering care—not profits—in everything we do.

Point is: We don’t need performative headlines or gimmicks. We need smart, compassionate policy that actually helps families raise the next generation of Americans—stronger, healthier, and better prepared than we were.