Starting from day one, Dean Dafis will introduce and fight for passage of ten bills designed to protect and reinvest in working class families across NJ-11. The following are a commitment to providing a better, more equitable district for all who live here.
We must make sure that the very foundation of our democracy – a well-educated public – is protected by fully restoring and increasing federal funding, specifically Title I money. This will help narrow the achievement gap in our schools without increasing costs for local taxpayers. We can address the widening gap by evaluating and redistributing aid based on where it has the largest impact.
Increase in federal funding for Medicaid by taxing corporations who pay employees low wages and offer no benefits. As part of the package, include funding to support and a stipulation that our NJ Legislature create the Garden State Public Option Health Plan that includes all public employees and a public option for private employers and self-insured residents, helping everyone access high-quality care at lower costs.
Tie federal funding for transit projects to a merger of the Port Authority, MTA, and NJ Transit into one agency with purchasing power and regional planning authority to improve commutes for working class New Jerseyans. Use surplus revenue from the airports, bridges and tunnels, and real estate holdings to make commutes easier for everyone.
End our reliance on private developers to meet our State’s need for affordable housing. Instead, by offering federally-subsidized low- and no-interest loans to public agencies we can build only the needed affordable units without increasing traffic, overcrowding schools, and straining infrastructure.
Implement an energy plan that restarts the Garden State’s offshore wind program, explores modular nuclear reactors, and ends our reliance on fossil fuels no matter what Big Oil & Coal throw at us. As a member of the Center for Climate Integrity’s Leaders Network, I will hold oil and gas corporations accountable for their climate deception and the damage it has caused. New Jersey has the highest number of Superfund sites in the nation, and we must make corporate polluters pick up the tab for cleaning up in our overburdened communities.
As a conversion therapy survivor, I understand the feelings of depression, self-loathing, and suicidal ideations that often occur when not given proper support. I will continue advocating for policies that address issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community, including the end of cruel and inhumane conversion therapy practices nationwide.
We will put an end to the income phase-out on social security tax, ensuring everyone pays their full share and social security helps ensure a retirement for all Americans.
We must end the vilification of immigrants and leverage the power of technology to make our residency and citizen process more efficient. Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill has significantly changed federal immigration and benefits law, threatening families like mine. The bill strips many lawfully present immigrants from access to health insurance and nutritional aid, while depriving millions of immigrant families the anti-poverty benefits of the Child Tax Credit.
The SALT Deduction will be made permanent, removing the timed lapse currently scheduled in 2029. New Jerseyans should not have to worry whether we will have this deduction in place for the collective investment we make in education.
Repeal the Big Beautiful Bill and start making our wealthiest residents and largest corporations pay their fair share. The federal budget leaves the State of New Jersey with a $400 million gap in funding for housing and social services, directly impacting the most vulnerable members of our community. For every $1 invested, $15 in economic activity is generated. This isn’t just about helping those who need it most. It’s about investing in a better society for all.