JOBS & THE ECONOMY:

From her experience advising international corporations navigating the global marketplace, to starting and successfully running her own small business, Suzanne has the knowledge and skills necessary to spur local economic development and job creation here in Virginia. She’ll support fair trade and use her knowledge of global markets to expand opportunities for our local port. Suzanne believes investments in infrastructure are essential—not only to create jobs now, but also to lay the groundwork for future economic growth. And, she is fiercely committed to maintaining funds for the military facilities that are the backbone of the local economy.

“To me, standing up for the middle class means fighting to create and protect high paying jobs here in Virginia. I’ll do that by fighting for our port, military facilities, and the small businesses that keep our local economy thriving. My business and military background fuel my commitment to growing our local economy to strengthen opportunities for middle class families.”

MILITARY PREPAREDNESS:

Thanks to a lot of political gamesmanship and partisan bickering in Congress, our nation’s and economy and armed services are now feeling the harmful effects of the sequester. Not only are seniors, children, and middle class families taking a hit, the sequester also damages our nation’s military preparedness. Suzanne will work to break the gridlock, end the senseless sequester, and restore the funding our military needs to return to full strength.

“It is totally unacceptable that Congress has allowed their partisanship and dysfunction to threaten our nation’s military preparedness and hurt middle class families. Some things, like our national security, are too important to be used in these kind of political games. As your Congresswoman, I’ll never put partisan politics ahead of the interests of our national security or this district.”

EDUCATION:

For years, Suzanne has actively mentored young women pursuing careers in science, engineering, and the military. Through this work, she sees the ways our current education system is failing the next generation. Too few students graduate with the skills needed to compete in today’s global economy, while too many graduate under the burden of massive debt from student loans. Suzanne believes every American student deserves the opportunity to access a quality, affordable education, and that investments in education are the best investment we can make in our nation’s future economic success.

“A quality, affordable education and hard work are what opened the doors in my own life that led me to opportunities all over the world. But those same opportunities aren’t available to many students today. I’ll fight to protect investments in education because all American students deserve a quality education and because our nation’s future economic success depends on it.”

OUR SENIORS:

Suzanne firmly opposes any effort to privatize Social Security or turn Medicare into a voucher program. As the primary caretaker for her aging parents, Suzanne understands how important these earned benefits are to seniors on a fixed income. Instead of gutting these programs or subjecting them to the volatility of Wall Street, Suzanne believes in protecting the long-term viability of Social Security and Medicare through strategic investments and common sense reforms so that all seniors can enjoy security, dignity, and access to quality, affordable health care in retirement.

“Like a lot of folks, I stepped up to take care of my parents as they aged. I learned firsthand how important Social Security and Medicare are for seniors on a fixed income. Folks work their whole lives to earn the security and well-being made possible through these benefits, and we owe it to them to make good on our promises.”