Issues & Congressional Priorities

Working families are being priced out of stability. Wages have not kept pace with rising costs, and economic policy must center people, not corporations.

In Congress, LaKesha Will:

• Support raising the federal minimum wage

• Advance tax policies that benefit working- and middle-class households

• Oppose regressive tax structures that disproportionately burden low- and moderate-income families

• Champion worker protections, benefits, and economic security

Small businesses are engines of economic growth, yet they face systemic barriers to capital and opportunity.

In Congress, LaKesha Will:

• Expand access to capital through CDFIs and community-based lenders

• Increase federal procurement opportunities for small businesses

• Support technical assistance and entrepreneurship development programs

• Reduce unnecessary regulatory barriers while protecting workers and consumers

Housing should be affordable in every zip code. Families should be building wealth, not trapped in debt by predatory lending or unaffordable mortgages.

In Congress, LaKesha Will:

• Support investments in affordable housing development

• Oppose policies like 50-year mortgages that undermine long-term stability

• Address rising construction and material costs driven by tariffs and supply-chain disruptions

• Protect renters and first-time homebuyers

A strong public education system is essential to democracy and economic opportunity. Education policy must support students, educators, and lifelong learning.

In Congress, LaKesha Will:

• Increase federal investment in public schools and educator support

• Expand apprenticeship and workforce training programs

• Support affordable higher education and student debt relief

• Strengthen career and technical education pathways

Taxpayer dollars must be spent responsibly, transparently, and with measurable community impact to ensure our spending does not create more debt for future generations.

In Congress, LaKesha Will:

• Demand accountability and strong oversight of federal spending

• Prioritize investments that deliver real outcomes for communities

• Oppose wasteful spending and politically motivated budget cuts

• Support evidence-based policymaking

As agencies and departments are weakened or dismantled, rebuilding must be intentional, not a return to systems that failed working families. We must rebuild a system that works for all of us, not just the ones who pay to influence policy,

In Congress, LaKesha Will:

• Help rebuild federal agencies with equity and effectiveness at the center

• Ask hard questions about what works and what must change

• Support modernized, people-centered public institutions

• Ensure federal services are accessible and responsive

Rural communities deserve the same access to opportunity as urban centers, including health care, broadband, and economic development. Young people should not feel like they have to leave home or cannot return to their communities because of a lack of opportunity.

In Congress, LaKesha Will:

• Expand rural broadband access

• Protect funding for rural hospitals and infrastructure

• Support rural entrepreneurship and workforce initiatives

• Ensure FEMA and disaster-relief dollars reach communities promptly

Democracy works best when people are informed, heard, and engaged. Representation must be accessible and accountable.

In Congress, LaKesha Will:

• Hold regular town halls and community listening sessions

• Communicate clearly and consistently with constituents

• Protect voting rights and democratic safeguards

• Promote ethical governance and transparency

Policy should be shaped by the lived experiences of the people it affects. Equity is not a slogan, it is a governing principle. We have an obligation to ensure working Americans can afford housing, pursue a quality education, and access health care without the fear of bankruptcy.

In Congress, LaKesha Will:

• Apply a people-centered, equity-focused lens to legislation

• Center communities historically excluded from decision-making

• Build bipartisan coalitions grounded in shared outcomes

• Lead with integrity, compassion, and accountability

America’s leadership should not be defined only by military strength, but also by our commitment to diplomacy, humanitarian assistance, and global stability. Strategic international assistance strengthens national security, expands economic opportunity, supports American farmers and businesses, and helps prevent humanitarian crises that lead to conflict, displacement, and instability. North Carolina benefits when global markets are stable and when our universities, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and agricultural communities are connected to international partnerships and development efforts.

In Congress, LaKesha Will:

• Support restoring and strengthening an independent United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

• Expand climate adaptation and resilience programs that help prevent food insecurity, displacement, and humanitarian crises

• Protect funding for maternal health, contraceptive access, and global public health initiatives

• Oppose politically motivated cuts to humanitarian and development assistance programs

• Support transparency, innovation, and evidence-based evaluation of international assistance programs

• Recognize the economic benefits of international assistance for North Carolina farmers, businesses, universities, and nonprofit organizations