Interview with Gary Terry, Primary Candidate for the 5th Congressional District
What do you see as the five most important issues facing Congress right now?
Gun Control
Protection of Women’s Reproductive Rights
National Security (Border Control, support of NATO, support of Ukraine, support of Israel)
Healthcare (protect SS, ACA, Medicare, and Medicaid). Expansion of Medicare for all. Cap pricing on drugs.
Good governance (Elimination of Tribalism. Work across the aisle to solve issues.)
What do you see as Congress’ role is addressing women’s health care issues and what do you view as a proper legislative “fix” to address the issue?
Congress must provide funding for clinics addressing women’s health care, to include access to free birth control, protection of right to access Plan B medications and elimination of certain restrictions on IVF.
Expansion of Medicare for All
Congress must create laws to codify a woman’s reproductive rights that were protected under the 14th amendment.
What do you see as Congress’ role in addressing education and what do you view as a proper legislative “fix” to address the issue?
Educational are created and administered by the State. Congress can:
Provide funding to states and localities to increase teacher’s pay and the number of available teachers.
Ensure funding is available to state and local governments to establish broadband in our rural areas (already allotted in the Inflation Reduction Act).
Provide funding for states to implement workforce development programs for high school students in partnership with local community colleges.
Establish legislation and funding to start education programs for age 3 years to K.
Provide additional funding to support after-school programs with a focus on tutoring and workforce development.
What do you see as Congress’ role in addressing climate change and what do you view as a proper legislative “fix” to address the issue?
Climate change has been designated as one of the greatest threats to national security. As such, it is incumbent upon Congress to act to protect our citizens.
Congress can establish federal guidelines for carbon emissions and a timeline to achieve net zero.
Congress can work with other government agencies to ensure that American corporations are working to meet the goals as set forth under the Paris Agreement
Congress can work with other government agencies to ensure that other countries are striving to meet the carbon emission goals that were agreed to under the Paris Agreement.
What do you see as Congress’ role, if any in addressing gun control and what do you view as a proper legislative “fix” to address the issue?
Congress must create legislation to codify “Red Gun” laws into federal law.
Create legislation eliminating the sale of assault type weapons to the general public.
Create legislation eliminating the sale of high-capacity magazines.
Create legislation requiring testing to be licensed/certified to own and purchase a gun (similar to driver’s license testing). Testing would include a mental health component to determine that the individual is mentally competent to own a gun.
What do you see as Congress’ role in addressing the wars in Ukraine and in Gaza and what do you view as a proper legislative “fix” to address the issues?
Congress has the “power of the purse”. The United States is the leader of the free world. As a result, Congress must provide funding and resources to help our allies to defend themselves and stop the spread of communism and terrorism. Funding/resources should be given with certain conditions to ensure that our allies do not misuse or create situations that put the United States in a negative light on the world stage.
As Congress has not declared war in either situation, then congress must work with the President to create a clear strategy as to how and under what conditions that we will provide funding/resources to support our allies.
The conduct of the war in Gaza amounts to genocide against the Palestinian people. Israel has to change the way that it is conducting the war against Hamas. The wanton killing of innocent Palestinians while conducting the war against Hamas is unacceptable. Targeted strikes against Hamas while taking care not to harm innocent civilians is paramount. In addition, we must work with Israel to provide much needed medical aid, food, and fresh water to the Palestinians. This has become as much a humanitarian issue for the people of Palestine as an issue of protecting the Israeli people.
Learn About Garry ‘s Background Here.