Robert Matthews

Civil Rights DC statehood is a civil rights and democracy issue—taxation without representation must end. Taxes / Budget I'll champion increased funding for kinship care families who step up for children, expand prevention services to keep families safely together, and create comprehensive support systems for youth aging out of foster care—including housing assistance, job training, and extended Medicaid coverage until age 26. Housing I'll advocate for increased federal investment in affordable housing construction and work to remove barriers that prevent DC from using federal land for public housing. Infrastructure / Transportation Reliable public transportation is essential for reducing emissions and connecting all Washingtonians to economic opportunities. Wages / Job Benefits I'll fight against right-to-work laws and advocate for federal workers' collective bargaining rights, recognizing that strong unions build strong communities and ensure fair wages for all workers. Taxes / Budget I will oppose any cuts to these vital programs and instead fight to expand benefits. Housing I will fight to fully fund DC's Housing Trust Fund, expand federal housing voucher programs, and push for legislation that prevents corporate speculation from driving up rents. Criminal Justice / Public Safety I believe in evidence-based approaches that address root causes while ensuring our neighborhoods are safe. Civil Rights Washingtonians deserve the same democratic representation as every other American citizen. Legislation I'll support the PRO Act to strengthen workers' right to organize and bargain collectively. Immigration I'll fight against deportation raids, support comprehensive immigration reform with pathways to citizenship, and work to protect sanctuary jurisdiction policies. Legislation I will co-sponsor legislation to grant DC full congressional voting rights and push back against any congressional interference in DC's local governance. Taxes / Budget I'll support lifting the Social Security cap, increasing SNAP benefits to reflect true food costs, and expanding Medicaid access while protecting DC's ability to provide robust healthcare coverage to residents. Criminal Justice / Public Safety I'll champion community-based violence intervention programs with dedicated federal funding, support DC's police reform efforts, and advocate for federal investment in mental health crisis response teams. Infrastructure / Transportation I'll advocate for robust federal funding for WMATA operations and capital improvements, support expanding Metro service, and push for federal investment in bike infrastructure and bus rapid transit. Immigration I'll advocate for increased funding for legal aid services and oppose any federal attempts to punish DC for protecting its immigrant residents. Civil Rights I will be a relentless advocate for admitting DC as the 51st state, giving our 700,000 residents full voting representation in Congress and complete control over our local affairs.