I believe that the challenges we face aren't easy and neither has been the history of our country. The following is more than a list of views on policy; it's about people, progress, and the responsibility of our government to deliver for ALL. The work ahead is hard, it matters, and it's worthy of our attention.
Service starts with listening and showing up. Positive work that produces results does not need to be on the news.
In Chester County, nearly half of high schoolers report persistent sadness. Veterans across the district face PTSD without local support, and too many emergencies default to law enforcement. We need to increase co-responder crisis teams, hire school-based clinicians, and create a county-wide 24/7 hotline integrated with 911 - proven models already saving lives in other cities in the country. Mental health care should be timely, local, and rooted in compassion - not cuffs and ER beds.
In our district, over 93% of high school students graduate, but many public schools lack the tools for a rapidly advancing world. Teachers - with growing class sizes - also remain underpaid. One in four students depends on free meals. Counselors and tech infrastructure are unevenly distributed. Public education must be fully funded, including meals and digital tools. Teachers must have freedom to teach with truth and creativity. The future exists in classrooms, and we should fund it that way.
Nearly one in five residents in our communities is over the age of 65, and many prefer to remain in the homes they've built their lives around. Too often, older residents face long waits for home care and limited transportation. We can expand ride programs, invest in mobile health, and fund in-home support like meals and wellness checks. To support aging in place, we respect those in our neighborhoods who have shaped the places we call home. Our elders deserve to live comfortably in return.
To rebuild trust, we need leaders who remember who they work for and institutions that function like they care.
Less than 30% of Americans say they trust the government to do the right thing. Confidence in vital agencies, such as the CDC and DOE, has fallen sharply in recent years. To rebuild this trust, independent oversight, impartial expertise, and real-time reporting must become the norm. Events like COVID-19 are likely to increase in the future. To ensure that challenges facing Americans are handled appropriately, institutions must work with integrity and clarity; democracy strengthens as a result.
Voter turnout and voting by mail both exceeded 50% in our district in the 2020 election. This is good news despite the misinformation. However, trust in federal elections is low, and claims of fraud have hurt public confidence. We must defend mail-in-ballots and enforce post-election audits, as well as ensure the safety of poll workers. Voting is a foundational principle of our country, and we lead by example. When voters trust the system, they use it - and that's what keeps democracy alive.
The U.S. military is not a political organization and should not be treated as a cultural battleground. As long as a citizen is found able to meet the standards, then there should be no barriers to service - regardless of background. The military is an institution created for the defense of the nation. We must reaffirm the military as apolitical and mission-focused. Public trust diminishes when it's caught in performative culture wars. The armed forces must stand apart from political noise.
Empowerment begins with stability. From there, it grows into freedom, dignity, and a future you can count on.
Families thrive when given freedom to care for their own health, on their own terms, and when needed. Passing universal healthcare should not be impossible and must account for all, no matter income or identity; the right for every woman to decide when to start a family; the freedom for transgender Americans to receive care. Millions are burdened by medical debt due to our current system. We must fight for this most fundamental freedom: the right to care for your own body, guided by conscience.
In Malvern, a one-bedroom apartment exceeds $2,000 - almost 40% above the national average - driven by less available housing and poor job growth. The affordability crisis is creating areas of huge wealth with working families being pushed to the margins - unable to keep up. To reverse this, we need zoning reform and partnerships to convert commercial space into mixed-income housing. Pricing people out of communties they call home is immoral. Strong communties make room for everyone to belong.
$1.7 trillion - this is the national student debt. The average borrower in PA owes around $40,000. This debt is crushing for those who have to delay homeownership, starting a family, or owning a business. If not forgiveness, then income-based repayment and tuition-free college investment should be prioritized. Solving the debt also means opening paths to paid internships and trades that give graduates a future without a lifelong bill. Education should unlock opportunity, not create chains.
A healthy environment should be a birthright and a promise we make to the future. Climate change needs to be tackled with urgency and purpose.
Hundreds of miles of waterways in this district are classified as "impaired," meaning they're too polluted for safe use. Synthetic chemicals have been detected, and the air in multiple areas fails ozone standards. Our air and water need improvement. We must deploy stormwater infrastructure to reduce runoff and cleanse water naturally. Utilities and landfills must be required to use systems that absorb chemicals at the source. This isn't theoretical - it's a strategy to improve our own backyard.
Chester County has earned gold status from SolSmart - a national program assisting localities with clean energy. Townships like Charlestown are setting higher energy goals with solar power. Electric school buses now transport students in other parts of the district. We'll expand upon this success by starting solar co-ops, requiring facilities to be EV-ready, and supporting county-backed public power purchasing to ensure low, clean energy rates for residents. Energy independence starts locally.
We are blessed to be surrounded by natural beauty, such as White Clay Creek Preserve, French Creek State Park, and protected acres near Bethel and Westtown. Yet, rapid development puts these lands at risk. We must ensure protections by expanding conservation easements, community-backed preservation programs, and restoring habitat corridors. These lands are not just scenic - they're a part of who we are. We are not a nation that carves up what's left; we protect what can never be replaced.
Across party lines, the American people overwhelmingly support reforming Congress. It's time to turn the consensus into action and have a government that works.
The United States doesn't have a House of Lords, but Congress has become a lifelong appointment for many. Congress is simply out of touch with younger generations. Term limits restore perspective, reduce complacency, and keep the body closer to the public. By setting responsible limits on consecutive terms - while preserving institutional knowledge - we can find a balance between wisdom and accountability. The goal is not to fire good public servants; it's to give a voice to new leadership.
Year after year, Congress has missed its budget deadline and shutdown the government. For example, the 2018-2019 shutdown lasted for 35 days and 800,000 employees were without pay. Federal services are frozen, and businesses can't recieve loans. "No Budget, No Break" would require passing a budget on time - no votes means no pay raises or time off until it is passed. This isn't partisan; it's basic workplace responsibility. Congress must follow the same standards as every family it represents.
Cell phone use has grown in tandem with accelerating technology like AI. From leaked military plans in chats to posting misinformation on social media, there has been a consequential breakdown in civility. Lives, markets, and our global standing are at stake. There must be rules regarding these topics, which affect both national security and public perception of it's elected leaders. The solution is not to censor public officials, but instead to enforce accountability of those with a platform.
Many issues are mishandled with outrage and zeal, which overshadows the importance of trying to solve them. Some issues simply demand a nuanced approach and thoughtful restraint. This is where I speak plainly about what matters most: our values at home, our role in the world, and the difference between performance and principle.
Free speech, guns, gay rights, religious freedom - hot button issues. These topics don't fit neatly into debate. I consider myself religious, but I am also gay. This combo does not mean I must abondon one. So, rarely is policy what hinders; it is our insistence on principle and belief. Leaders who moved history didn't chase notoriety; they met people. In that spirit, principles in practice means we don't weaponize belief - we live it by refusing to mistake noise for truth, or policy for justice.
America is seen as the "City Upon the Hill" - a model nation. Leading globally starts at home and how we treat our own. Recently, this has faltered. The world doesn't need America to be louder than the rest but exceptionally wise. Make no mistake, there is time for war just as much as peace, and the trick is knowing the difference. American foreign policy should not be a contest of ego, but of ethics and our ability to promote peace outwardly. To live our values, so to speak, on the world stage.
Paid for by Daniel Casey
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