I enjoy snowboarding and working to create positive change in the world.

Support Habitat Restoration to Prevent Flood Damage

The National Flood Insurance Program is critical in order to provide insurance for property in areas prone to flooding; however, the current program is financially and environmentally unsustainable. Urge the Senate reform the program to reduce flooding through natural habitat restoration.

Remove Controversial Figure from New York Federal Reserve Bank

The Federal Reserve is responsible for overseeing financial institutions to protect the public. Jaime Dimon’s presence at both JPMorgan Chase and on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Board of Directors thus represents a clear conflict of interest. Urge Jaime Dimon to resolve the conflict of interest by resigning from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Board of Directors.

Reduce Unemployment by Stimulating the Economy

Unemployment in the United States is still above 8%. Increased federal spending has been proven to reduce unemployment and increase economic growth. Urge Congress to act now to raise federal spending on programs to reduce unemployment.

Stop Mining Projects in Ecuador that Threaten the Environment

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa recently signed a contract to allow copper mining in the Amazon and plans to allow more mining in the future. Mining projects in Ecuador threaten the biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest. Urge President Correa to oppose future mining projects in Ecuador.

Close Tax Loophole that Unfairly Benefits the Wealthy in Iowa

Iowa loses millions of dollars each year in tax revenue due to a tax loophole that benefits the wealthy. At the same time, Iowa has had to reduce funding for important programs such as higher education. Urge the Iowa General Assembly to close the unfair tax loophole and preserve funding for higher education.

Fight Childhood Hunger: Provide Affordable Lunches to Low Income Children

Access to the free and reduced school lunch program is being threatened by a new bill in Congress. The free and reduced school lunch program serves millions of poor children across the country and helps to address childhood hunger. Urge Congress to preserve access to this school lunch program for low income students.

Demand Safer Working Conditions for Poultry Workers

The government is proposing a new rule that would increase the number of work related injuries at poultry processing plants. Poultry processing plant employees already face higher rates of work related injuries than other industries. These workers must be protected from these dangerous work conditions.

Don’t Let Tax Payer Subsidies to For-Profit Colleges go Towards Marketing and Recruiting

For-profit colleges use federal financial aid dollars to fund recruitment programs that deceive potential students. Urge Congress to protect students and taxpayers by banning the use of federal financial aid dollars for marketing, advertising and recruitment purposes.

Protect Migratory Birds in the Klamath Basin

An outbreak of avian cholera resulted in ten thousand bird deaths in the Klamath Basin. Crowded conditions due to reduced water flow facilitated the spread of disease among the birds. Urge the government to distribute water responsibly to preserve migratory bird habitat and help prevent another deadly outbreak of disease.

Protect Pristine Wilderness Areas from Exploitation

Protected wilderness areas in the United States are threatened by a bill recently passed in the House of Representatives. The effects of the bill would be devastating to the environment and wildlife. Urge the U.S. Senate to protect the environment by opposing the bill.

Stop a Proposed Coal Plant from Being Built in Kosovo

The World Bank has plans to invest in the construction of a new coal plant in Kosovo. Coal plants contribute to climate change and are harmful to human health. Urge the World Bank to invest in renewable energy sources to fight climate change in Kosovo instead of a coal plant.

Fight Childhood Obesity by Eliminating Subsidies for Junk Food Ingredients

The federal government is contributing to the rising rate of obesity in the United States by subsidizing agricultural products that are used as ingredients in junk food. By subsidizing these ingredients, junk food is made cheaper and therefore is more available to children. Urge Congress to end agricultural subsidies and help fight obesity.

Stop the Use of Tax Havens by Corporations to Avoid Paying Taxes

Corporations and wealthy individuals avoid paying $100 billion each year in taxes by using offshore tax havens. The lost revenue is passed onto Americans in the form of higher taxes, loss of public services, and a higher federal debt. Urge Congress to end the use of offshore tax havens so corporations have to pay their fair share of taxes.

Save Head Start to Improve Education for Impoverished Children

Pre-school funding for poor children (the Head Start program) faces an uncertain future as a recently proposed Republican budget threatens to cut funding for the program. Head Start is an important program that helps prepare low income children to be successful in school. Urge the U.S. House of Representatives to maintain funding for this important program.

Hungary: Stop Punishing Homeless People for Being Homeless

Hungary recently passed a law that effectively criminalizes homelessness. Punishing homeless people is not the answer to end homelessness. Urge Hungary to repeal the law and focus on implementing programs that help homeless people reenter the workforce instead of being put in jail.

Oppose a Tax Holiday for Corporations

Corporations store money outside of the United States to avoid paying taxes. They are now lobbying for a tax holiday to bring that money into the United States tax-free. Urge Congress oppose a corporate tax holiday that would benefit corporations at the expense of taxpayers.

Preserve Green Energy Programs in Arizona

Environmental and green energy programs are under assault in Arizona. A recently proposed bill would prohibit any government funding for environmental or sustainable energy programs. Urge the Arizona state legislature to protect the environment and the economy rather than intentionally destroying it.

Protect Access to Higher Education at Santa Monica Community College

Santa Monica Community College has proposed a plan to deal with budget cuts that would restrict public access to higher education. The plan would charge higher tuition rates for popular courses offered during the summer and winter terms. Urge the Santa Monica Community College Board of Trustees to preserve access to public education for everyone by continuing to charge the same price per unit for all courses.

Make Manhattan Safer for Pedestrians

Pedestrian safety is a major concern in Manhattan where pedestrian deaths and injuries from accidents are higher than other areas of New York City. Urge Manhattan to build crosswalks and stop signs to increase pedestrian safety and improve the quality of life.

Conserve Coastal Forests of Tanzania to Prevent Species Extinction

The coastal forests of Tanzania are disappearing. These forests are home to an astonishing array of endemic plant and animal species. Urge the government of Tanzania to protect coastal forests to prevent extinction of plant and animal species.

Demand Chevron Pay to Clean up the Ecuadorian Rainforest that it Polluted

Chevron is responsible for polluting the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador, yet refuses to pay to clean up the environment. The rainforest is home to threatened plant and animal species as well as indigenous people. Urge Chevron to pay to restore the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest that it polluted.

Stimulate the Economy by Guaranteeing Employees Paid Sick Leave

Millions of employees in the United States are forced to choose between their health and their paycheck when they are sick because their employers don’t offer them paid sick days. Sick employees attending work costs billions of dollars in lost productivity and millions of people unnecessarily infected by illnesses. We must protect public health and promote economic growth by guaranteeing employees paid sick leave.

Protect Lives by Funding a Tsunami Early Warning System

Tsunami early warning systems prevent unnecessary deaths by allowing people time to evacuate coastal areas. A proposed budget cut to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration which would reduce funds available for operation and maintenance of tsunami early warning systems. Urge Congress to save lives by continuing to fund the this important agency.

Support the EPA’s Authority to Fight Climate Change

High gas prices are unfairly being blamed on environmental regulations that fight climate change and protect human health. A new bill threatens the ability of the government to issue important clean air regulations. Tell the House of Representatives not to interfere with the EPA’s ability to issue environmental regulations that protect us all.

Stop Abusive Student Loan Debt Collectors

As the number of student loan defaults increases, so does the number of complaints regarding abusive debt collector practices. Debt collectors have been accused of coercing borrowers into making higher payments than required, just to line their own pockets. Urge the U.S. Department of Education to stop abusive debt collection practices by changing the way debt collectors are paid and by requiring debt collectors to offer loan repayment options based on income.