Valerie believes that women’s rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, immigrants’ rights, are all human rights. In the North Carolina State Senate, she sponsored legislation to prohibit wage discrimination on the basis of sex or gender and to remove barriers for women seeking to obtain an abortion. In Congress, she is working to restore the fundamental right to an abortion and to protect contraceptives and IVF.
Valerie supports creating a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, ending privatized prisons, and reducing funding for ICE detention facilities and enforcement. Valerie has witnessed discrimination against Black and Brown communities, first hand and she’s always stood up to it. In Congress, she is continuing to fight against systemic racism and prioritizing legislation like the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and and the Democracy Restoration Act.
She is a proud member of the Congressional Equality Caucus and will always support legislation to ensure no one is discriminated against due to sexual orientation or gender identity. She is working on federal protections related to employment, health, housing, education, and credit amidst the rise in discriminatory state laws around the country.
Valerie supports a comprehensive reform of our criminal justice system, which would include decriminalizing the possession and use of marijuana for people over 21, ending cash bail, and strengthening anti-discrimination laws in our court systems. She sponsored legislation in the State Senate that aimed to emphasize the importance of law enforcement to keep our communities safe while also holding bad actors accountable.
As a former administrator for the Chapel Hill police department, she understands the importance of unity as we work towards creating safer communities and combating violence in our neighborhoods. She is proud to work with both law enforcement and community-based organizations and help improve the relationship between law enforcement and the community. However, Valerie believes reforms are long overdue in our criminal and civil justice systems. In Congress, she supports the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, Ending Qualified Immunity Act, Justice for Incarcerated Moms, and programs that help low-income individuals have access to legal services.
Our reproductive rights are under attack, and Valerie refuses to let our country continue to take steps backwards. Valerie believes that respecting women’s right to choose is paramount in respecting women. She believes that the federal government must codify Roe v. Wade to stop state legislatures from passing restrictive and archaic abortion laws.
In Congress, she is a co-sponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act, Right to Contraception Act, and Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act. These bills would prohibit governmental restrictions on abortion services, protect an individual's right to access contraceptives, and stop states from creating laws that interfere with a person’s ability to access out-of-state abortion services.
Valerie believes that unfettered access to the ballot box and fair districts are the foundation of our democracy. Gerrymandering and state voting laws that disproportionately suppress turnout and target Black and brown people, young adults, and the elderly are the barriers to ensuring free and fair elections.
In the General Assembly, Valerie sponsored legislation that would provide automatic voter registration at drivers license offices, public agencies, community colleges, and colleges and universities of the University of North Carolina system as well as legislation that would make the statewide general Election Day an official paid state holiday for state employees.
In Congress, Valerie is a proud co-sponsor of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act that establishes a new criteria for determining states preclearance before changes to voting practices take effect. She is also a strong supporter of the For the People Act and the establishment of an Independent Redistricting Commission to ensure legislative and congressional maps are drawn in an open, transparent, and nonpartisan process.
Valerie believes that we must do more to protect our planet for our children and the generations to come. She is a supporter of the Green New Deal and a member of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition in Congress. She also serves on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and recognizes the urgent need to create a robust, sustainable energy infrastructure nationwide. Valerie is working with her colleagues to help transition the United States away from our dependence on fossil fuels while meeting our climate goals and achieving true energy independence. She also supports increased investments in green transit including utilizing low and no-emission buses, passenger rail, and electric vehicles.
In the General Assembly, she sponsored numerous bills that would monitor PFAS in drinking water, clean up coal ash, incentivize clean and renewable energy, and move North Carolina towards a more environmentally friendly future. In Congress, she is focused on strengthening current environmental protection laws and continuing funding for key federal agencies.
Valerie has also taken steps towards preventing unnecessary environmental threats in our local community, including leading her colleagues in urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to deny an extension of the Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate project. She will always continue her fight against environmental racism.
Access to affordable, quality health care is a right which should be guaranteed to all Americans. At the state-level, Valerie fought to expand Medicaid and at the federal level, she is an original co-sponsor of the Medicare for All Act. She believes that everyone should be able to see a doctor when they are sick. She is pleased that President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, providing meaningful financial relief for millions of people with Medicare by expanding benefits, lowering drug costs, and strengthening Medicare for the next generation.
Valerie knows the problems in our healthcare system do not stop with accessibility. She is working at the federal level to address minority health disparities, gaps in mental health treatment, and the social determinants of health that affect our most vulnerable communities. She will continue to fight for accessible, equitable, and robust healthcare for all Americans.
Higher education is a pathway to greater opportunity, opening countless doors for our young people. But today, rising costs are a barrier to many young people’s pursuit of higher education. Valerie is in favor of canceling existing student debt and expanding programs that keep loan payments affordable and income based. In Congress, she is advocating for financial assistance to states and students to ensure that all students can get a debt-free education at all public universities and colleges.
Valerie is committed to supporting our working class, small businesses, and lowering costs of families’ everyday expenses. She is a strong supporter of unions and union workers, broadening participation in the workforce, permanently expanding the Child Tax Credit, raising the federal minimum wage, and ensuring easy access to affordable credit for first-time homeowners and small business owners. In Congress, she is working to pass measures that would secure equity in economic development for small businesses, minority-owned businesses, and women-owned businesses.
Valerie believes that all Americans deserve access to a safe and affordable place to call home. She supports programs that promote affordable housing, homeownership, and community development. She secured over $12.39 million for community projects in NC-04l, which included funds for affordable housing projects in Durham, Chapel Hill, and Burlington.
In Congress, Valerie is a member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. She has helped lead the effort to reintroduce the federal assault weapons ban. She has signed discharge petitions to force votes on the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, the Assault Weapons Ban, Ethan’s Law, Closing the Bump Stock Loophold Act, Keep Americans Safe Act, and more.
While House Republicans have refused to vote on these measures, these bills are sensible reforms that will dramatically improve the safety of our schools, places of worship, and communities as a whole.
Valerie supports local gun buy-back programs, bans on high-capacity magazines, increased funding for mental health services, community violence intervention programs, hunter and gun safety education, and funding for more research.
Valerie believes in increased investments in early education to ensure that all children are given the support they need to grow and thrive. In Congress, she is fighting to guarantee free, quality universal pre-K to prepare every child for day one of kindergarten and beyond. She has also introduced the Expanding Child Care Act to help address the child care shortage nationwide. This legislation will provide a refundable tax credit of up to $5,000 to new family child care providers once they receive a state family child license. This will help expand the overall supply of child care and increase choice and flexibility for parents.
