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<h2>Hi, I'm Dylan. I'm a combat veteran and scientist, and I'm running for Congress.</h2><img src="https://run.imgix.net/6370ac06-dbfb-4f6c-88b6-8d501e2ef4a7/314ff418-ccc3-488b-9b29-d8c97b6c81de/314ff418-ccc3-488b-9b29-d8c97b6c81de.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C3024%2C2268&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"><h3>We are in the middle of a constitutional crisis, and most politicians (both Republican and Democrat) continue to do nothing. It’s past time for Americans to be represented by candidates who fight for their constituents.</h3>The current administration full of millionaires and billionaires continues to dismantle our democracy at an alarming rate - all while continuing to enrich themselves. I don't know about you, but I feel left behind by this society.<h4>We all deserve elected representatives who understand what we're going through, and we need to get big money out of politics.</h4>I've served my country for over 12 years in the United States Army, and I want to continue that service by fighting for the people of Illinois' 13th District and beyond. I've also worked as a biochemist for the University of Illinois, and I will fight for education and scientific progress in society.I believe in democracy, freedom, opportunity and equality for ALL Americans. I believe in providing healthcare and education systems that won’t leave Americans in debt. I believe everyone should be able to afford life's necessities and have plenty of money left over. To achieve this, we need change, and we need it now.Too many politicians take money from big donors, lobbyists and super PACs, who they are more loyal to than the constituents they serve. Representative Nikki Budzinski's top donors include lobbyists and super PACs. She ran on a platform of getting "dark money" out of politics, but it now looks like she's fallen victim to the same disease.I will follow the path of leaders like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and only accept grassroots donations. I will also never allow money to influence my legislative decisions. This is a government of the people, by the people, for the people.Above all else, I will fight for the rights of every American, regardless of who you are, where you are from or what you believe in. I will fight against the greed and recklessness of the ruling class. I will fight against oligarchy, authoritarianism, and kleptocracy.I don't cower in the face of bullies - I stand up to them.

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Our district deserves a transparent leader who does everything possible to stop authoritarianism, oligarchy, and kleptocracy in the United States. I've served my country for over twelve years in the United States Army, and I want to continue my service by fighting for the American people in Congress.

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<h2>Experience and Credentials</h2>Dylan is not a politician. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology. After several years studying cancer immunotherapies as a research technician and graduate student at UIUC, he graduated with a Master of Science in Biochemistry. Dylan enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard as a combat medic in 2012 and commissioned as an Army Officer in 2016, through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at UIUC. He served on active duty for over five years, including a deployment to Afghanistan from 2019-2020 as a Battalion Medical Operations Officer for the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment. Dylan also served on the Illinois National Guard Joint Staff as the lead medical planner to support COVID-19 pandemic response operations. He then served a three-year tour at US Army Europe and Africa in Germany to support both Ukraine and NATO, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.For his service, Dylan has received a Bronze Star Medal, a Meritorious Service Medal, four Army Commendation Medals, a Joint Service Achievement Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" device. Dylan also received the 2023 Captain John R. Teal Leadership Award for his contributions to US Army medicine and the entire US Army.

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The current system is broken. Too many politicians (Republican and Democrat) fall victim to a system that promotes greed, rewards stagnation and fails to incentivize change. We must get money out of politics, and that starts with overturning the Supreme Court's disastrous Citizens United ruling.Because of Citizens United, virtually unlimited sums of money can flow into American elections. Representative Budzinski raised over $4.3 million during her last campaign - mainly from law firms, lobbyists, and corporate super PACs. She ran on a platform of getting “dark money” out of politics, but it now looks like she’s fallen victim to the same disease.I will follow the path of Bernie Sanders and other progressive leaders and only accept grassroots donations. Also, I pledge to serve no more than five terms in the House of Representatives, if elected.The federal judiciary system also possesses many fractures and holes. The Supreme Court is supposed to be one of the checks on executive power, but lately they spend their time making decisions that hurt millions of Americans. We need to depoliticize the Supreme Court. This will prove difficult, but we can require a two-thirds Senate majority to confirm Justices, expand the Court to 15 seats, and implement term limits.Additionally, I support federal action to mandate nonpartisan redistricting commissions to draw congressional districts fairly and logically. Due to gerrymandering, many Americans believe their vote doesn't count, especially if they live in a deep blue or red district. Elected officials serve their constituents, not the other way around. We must do all we can to make Americans feel like they have a say in our democracy.The current administration put forward legislation to restrict voting rights in future elections. Additionally, the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act over the past two decades. Congress must take action to protect our democracy's voting rights by passing a law like the Freedom to Vote Act.

The current system is broken. Too many politicians (Republican and Democrat) fall victim to a system that promotes greed, rewards stagnation and fails to incentivize change. We must get money out of politics, and that starts with overturning the Supreme Court's disastrous Citizens United ruling.

Democratic Reform

There is honor in immigration. Both sides of my family immigrated to the US a few generations ago. Undocumented individuals fill many of the jobs that keep this country running. It is past time to make undocumented individuals full members of the country they call their home and abolish ICE.I oppose the Republican narrative of vilifying immigrants and the ongoing mass deportations. I oppose the removal of student visas when students exercise their right to free speech. I oppose the removal of anyone from America, especially to a Salvadorian torture prison, without receiving the right to due process. The IRS estimates that undocumented people pay over $9 billion in withheld payroll taxes annually. Undocumented people continue to work and support this country, and they also suffer from the same economic insecurities as many U.S. citizens today. I support an immediate pathway to citizenship for DREAMers and other undocumented immigrants while also making legal immigration more accessible and convenient.Most people coming to the United States are refugees fleeing poverty, persecution, and political turmoil in their home countries. Rather than spending money to persecute refugees and vilify them, I will introduce legislation to build a sustainable development program that provides refugees with the best opportunities to integrate and succeed in our society. Our nation must recognize our history: immigrants, enslaved peoples, and refugees built this country, but they are treated dishonorably. We all do better when we create a just society that embraces our most vulnerable populations and paves a path to prosperity for all.

There is honor in immigration. Both sides of my family immigrated to the US a few generations ago. It is past time to make undocumented individuals full members of the country they call their home and abolish ICE.

Immigration

We must implement a substantial child tax credit, guarantee paid parental leave, and provide Social Security credits for stay-at-home parents. No person, especially a child, should live in poverty.I'm a 31-year-old man and I've put off the idea of having a family for many years, due to my own financial concerns. I know what it feels like to wonder whether you can afford to raise a child in today's America.One of the biggest legislative successes of this century was reducing child poverty by almost 50% with the passage of an expanded child tax credit, which Congress (including several Democrats) then let expire, plunging millions of kids into poverty. As a start, we must bring back the expanded child tax credit.Additionally, I support federal implementation of programs to provide stay-at-home parents with a monthly stipend, based on household size and cost of living. At a minimum, these parents should receive social security credits to guarantee a financially secure retirement.Alternatively, I also support the institution of a Universal Basic Income for all Americans, which is an idea floated by both Democrats and Republicans. The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence creates an unpredictable future for the job market - many "white collar" workers will likely lose their jobs and be forced to transition into different work sectors. A monthly UBI stipend of at least $1,200 would allow families to weather turbulent economic times. How do we pay for things like Medicare for All and UBI? Taxing the rich, of course.

We must implement a substantial child tax credit, guarantee paid parental leave, and provide Social Security credits for stay-at-home parents. No person, especially a child, should live in poverty.

Families

The federal government must do all it can to strengthen public education systems. We must also improve access to higher education and make it affordable to all, so students are prepared for jobs.Our public school systems should never be on the chopping block, even when budgets are tight. Rather than abolishing the Department of Education, the federal government must use the DOE to improve childhood education across the United States. For starters, the federal government must incentivize states and communities to pay their teachers higher wages.Rising college tuition costs make colleges and trade schools inaccessible for millions of Americans, while millions more are saddled with tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt. To combat this, Congress must simultaneously work to pass legislation like the College for All Act to establish tuition-free public colleges and trade schools and the Student Debt Cancellation Act to forgive outstanding federal and private student loans.I know the idea might seem drastic, but many western democracies operate this way. Both these acts will create an easier pathway to economic stability for young people and provide a $1 trillion boost to our economy over a ten-year period.

The federal government must do all it can to strengthen public education systems. We must strengthen higher education and make it affordable to all, so students are prepared for jobs.

Education

Elon Musk spent over $277 to elect Donald Trump to his second term. At the inauguration, he received a front row seat, along with Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and other tech oligarchs, while the President literally left his supporters to sit out in the cold. It's time to get big money out of politics.Too many politicians, both Republican and Democrat, take money from big donors, lobbyists and corporate super PACs, who they are more loyal to than the constituents they serve. Representative Nikki Budzinski’s top donors include lobbyists and corporate super PACs. Only 5% of her donations come from small donors. She ran on a platform of getting “dark money” out of politics, but it now looks like she’s fallen victim to the same disease. We must fight to overturn Citizens United and get big money out of the pockets of American politicians.I will follow the path of Senator Bernie Sanders and other progressive leaders and only accept grassroots donations. I will also never allow money to influence my legislative decisions. This is a government of the people, by the people, for the people.A kleptocracy is a government whose corrupt leaders use their political power to expropriate the wealth of the people and land they govern. Sound familiar?The President launched crypto "meme" coins days before his inauguration. A meme coin is a cryptocurrency that originated from an internet meme and typically refers to a cryptocurrency with little to no value, authenticity, or utility. While it's difficult to pin down how much money he made from this "pump and dump" scheme, some experts believe he's made well over <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/trumps-meme-coin-made-nearly-100-million-trading-fees-small-traders-lost-money-2025-02-03/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">$100 million</a> thus far.The President also launched a tariff war against the rest of the world, sending Wall Street and the global markets into chaos. One week after instituting these initial tariffs, he instituted a "90-day pause." It's important to note that the 145% tariffs on China, 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico and 10% tariffs on nearly every other country will cause irreparable harm to the American economy.Before backing down on his tariff plan at 1:18 pm ET on April 9, the stock market had already begun to skyrocket, leading to concerns of insider trading. In fact, purchase orders specifically started to increase at 1:00 pm ET. Notably, U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene purchased stocks before the President's announcement. This is why we must ban congressional stock trading and eliminate insider trading in politics.

Elon Musk spent over $277 to elect Donald Trump to his second term. At the inauguration, he received a front row seat, along with Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and other tech oligarchs, while the President literally left his supporters to sit out in the cold. It's time to get big money out of politics.

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Anti Oligarchy

People are people, and no one is better than anyone else. We live in a society where some individuals prioritize personal gain over the common good. We need to work towards true liberty and equality in America for all individuals, regardless of your age, race, color, religion, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation.Queer rights are human rights. We must expand protections for LGBTQIA+ people and end the criminalization of LGBTQIA+ identities. People are people and all Americans deserve the right to freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.Young LGBQTIA+ people make up 40% of homeless youth in America, even though they are only 7% of the youth population. We must vote for and introduce legislation to make schools safe for LGBTQIA+ students through proper accommodations, grant asylum to refugees facing persecution due to their sexuality or gender identify, end discrimination in health care, and fight to allow transgender people in the military.The Trump administration continues to persecute trans people through executive actions and hateful rhetoric. We cannot fall victim to their fascist propaganda. Congress must ensure legal protections for the queer community and invest in more medical support and research to support their historically underserved population. We must also expand protections for LGBTQIA+ people of color and end the criminalization of identities.

We must expand protections for LGBTQIA+ people and end the criminalization of LGBTQIA+ identities. People are people and all Americans deserve the right to freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

LGBTQIA+ Protections

People are people, and no one is better than anyone else. We live in a society where some individuals prioritize personal gain over the common good. We need to work towards true liberty and equality in America for all individuals, regardless of your age, race, color, religion, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation.

Civil Rights

Donald Trump, Oligarchs, and the Republican Party continue to use the Project 2025 playbook to rapidly and illegally break this country and the U.S. Constitution, all at the expense of our most vulnerable. They share a fascist vision and seek to rapidly bend the will of Americans to the billionaire class. We cannot let them win.We need to speak up and fight for our rights now, or we will lose them. If you don't believe me, look at how authoritarian regimes stoke fear, stifle journalism, erode rights around the world. Many democrats believe we can wait until the November 2026 elections to turn things around, but I believe the fight must start now.As your Representative, I will continue to defend the constitution, as I have done for all of my adult life. I will not bend the knee and vote for authoritarian bills. I will not abandon or villainize vulnerable groups and give in to the far-right's rhetoric. I will not back down in the face of retaliation. I will not capitulate to fascists and authoritarians - I will stand up to them.Most importantly, I will ensure the voices of all my constituents are heard in Washington. I will do all I can to make you feel represented in Congress.

Donald Trump, Oligarchs, and the Republican Party continue to use the Project 2025 playbook to rapidly and illegally break this country and the U.S. Constitution, all at the expense of our most vulnerable. We need to speak up and fight for our rights now, or we will lose them.

Anti Authoritarian

As a disabled veteran with post traumatic stress disorder, I recognize the need to support our veterans - especially those who return with visible or invisible wounds. I will fight for our veterans to continue to receive access to exemplary benefits and healthcare.When I returned home from Afghanistan in May 2020 to the COVID-19 pandemic, my Soldiers and I received minimal support. Eventually, I figured out how to file a VA claim for my post traumatic stress disorder and other injuries and taught my Soldiers how to do the same. Now, the Trump administration continues to cut VA jobs, including suicide awareness hotline workers. We deserve better.We are not "suckers" and "losers." It should not be controversial to say that when our veterans return home they should receive exemplary benefits and healthcare. Congress must undo all of Trump's VA cuts and expand care, when possible.Additionally, veterans make up roughly 30% of our federal workforce, which means Trump and Musk's cuts have disproportionately affected veterans. These positions must be reinstated now, with any missed pay or benefits paid back in full.

As a disabled veteran with post traumatic stress disorder, I recognize the need to support our veterans - especially those who return with visible or invisible wounds. I will fight for our veterans to continue to receive access to exemplary benefits and healthcare.

Veteran Assistance

On February&nbsp;7, 2025, the&nbsp;National Institutes of Health&nbsp;(NIH) announced that it would change its maximum&nbsp;indirect cost rate&nbsp;for university&nbsp;research grants&nbsp;from 50% in some cases to 15%, as recommended by Project&nbsp;2025. The&nbsp;National Institutes of Health&nbsp;(NIH) funds crucial health&nbsp;research&nbsp;to address cancer, diabetes, dementia, and more. NIH funding also boosts the economy, returning &gt;250% of the value invested. <a href="http://Scienceimpacts.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Scienceimpacts.org</a> developed a website to depict how funding cuts reduce economic activity and employment nationwide. In total, the SCIMaP estimates that scientific research in America will lose $16 billion and 68,000 jobs.Many of the lifesaving medicines we have today -&nbsp;including every one of the 210 new drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration from 2010–2016&nbsp;- wouldn’t exist without years of research funded by the&nbsp;National Institutes of Health (NIH). Long before these drugs hit the market, NIH-supported scientists were studying how the immune system fights cancer and how certain hormones control blood sugar. Their discoveries laid the groundwork for pharmaceutical companies to develop targeted treatments that now help millions of people. For example, NIH-funded research on the&nbsp;PD-1 pathway&nbsp;helped scientists understand how cancer cells evade the immune system, leading to drugs like&nbsp;Keytruda&nbsp;that boost the body’s natural defenses. Similarly, studies on&nbsp;GLP-1 hormones, supported by NIH grants, paved the way for drugs like&nbsp;Ozempic, which helps people with diabetes and even aids in weight loss. These breakthroughs show how public investment in medical research can lead to real-world treatments that save lives and improve health.We must immediately reverse all cuts to scientific advancement in America and continue to invest in lifesaving medical advancements and environmental technologies to avoid losing tens of thousands of American jobs and suffering disastrous impacts to research.

We must immediately reverse all cuts to scientific advancement in America and continue to invest in lifesaving medical advancements and environmental technologies.

Science is Real

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Gun Violence

Women's rights are human rights.I believe in equal access to workplace safety, equal pay, paid parental leave, and full access to healthcare for women.Alongside other leaders in America, I want to help create a society in which ALL women are free from structural impediments and able to care for and nurture their families in safe and healthy environments. I support economic rights, reproductive rights, and the end to oppression of all women.To continue our progress as a society, we must increase economic and labor equity across genders, defend and expand reproductive justice, and eliminate all forms of oppression against women. Working class women are often the hardest hit by unequal pay, unfair labor practices, and lack of laws around parental protections. Women often bear the brunt of family care work; this burden is especially difficult for poor and working class families who can't afford to pay for assistance.I believe in equal pay for all genders. Pay and hiring discrimination that impacts women - particularly mothers, women of color, indigenous women, and lesbian, queer and trans women - and workers with disabilities is despicable and must end.Even though Republican politicians continue their attempts to utilize the Supreme Court and the Judicial Branch to crush privacy rights, medical rights, and human rights, I will fight to expand access to abortion services to protect the hard-fought rights of people to choose what to do with their bodies.Many women are often marginalized by our governments and society - especially women of color and women who are immigrants, incarcerated, LGBTQIA+, or disabled. These same women are more likely to face violence and abuse, both in their personal lives and from capitalist institutions built on economic and racial injustice. We must end all forms of oppression against women.

I believe in equal access to workplace safety, equal pay, paid parental leave, and full access to healthcare for women. I also believe every woman possesses reproductive rights as an American.

Women's Rights

Instead of investing in mass incarceration, we need to invest in the most vulnerable members of our society. Democrats must support legislation like the Just Society: Mercy in Reentry Act to ensure that all persons in need are eligible for a social safety net, regardless of prior involvement with the criminal justice system. This includes access to any retirement, welfare, health, disability, public or assisted housing, postsecondary education, food assistance, and unemployment insurance.Additionally, I support ending the death penalty, ending life sentences without possibility of parole, ending mandatory minimum sentences, decriminalizing activities that are byproducts of poverty and homelessness (such as sex work and drug use), and ending solitary confinement. We must also expand Pell Grants, pay incarcerated people at least the federal minimum wage for their labor, and end the use of cash bail.We must also address the root causes of violence. We must avoid "copaganda" rhetoric, which has been perpetuated by both Republicans and Democrats, and divest from policing as a one-size-fits-all solution to community problems. Instead, we must invest in healthcare, housing, education and supportive services; when people's basic needs are met, community safety improves.Our children and communities deserve to exist without fear of gun violence. I grew up in the "school shooting generation," and school shootings and the associated anxieties have only increased since I graduated.As a veteran, I believe in gun safety and gun common sense. We must reject radical solutions to curbing gun violence, like arming teachers. Instead, we must address the root of the problem and enact comprehensive universal background checks, institute mandatory waiting periods and weapon safety training, and end gun show and ghost gun loopholes. Last, we place greater emphasis on assisting victims of gun violence and fund mental health programs for those recovering from trauma.

Instead of investing in mass incarceration, we need to invest in the most vulnerable members of our society. We must also address the root causes of violence.

Public Safety

CHAMPAIGN, IL - On Monday, Dylan Blaha announced his candidacy to represent Illinois' Thirteen Congressional District for the U.S. House of Representatives."We are in the middle of a constitutional crisis, and most Democrats continue to do nothing," Dylan said. "Wouldn't it be crazy if our elected representatives actually worked for us? The current administration full of millionaires and billionaires continues to dismantle our democracy at an alarming rate - all while continuing to enrich themselves. I don't know about you, but I feel left behind by this society."

CHAMPAIGN, IL - On Monday, Dylan Blaha announced his candidacy to represent Illinois' Thirteen Congressional District for the U.S. House of Representatives.

DYLAN THOMAS BLAHA LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN

Housing is a human right.We must protect current occupants, repair public housing, and build new affordable housing. We must also seek justice for small businesses and workers by rebuilding unions, investing in people instead of corporations, and providing a federal jobs guarantee.In his 1944 State of the Union address to Congress, President Franklin Delanor Roosevelt spoke of a second bill of rights. He spoke of the right to adequate food and clothing, the right to a decent home, the right to a good education, the right to adequate medical care, and the right to protection from economic fears of old age, sickness, accidents, and unemployment.As FDR went on to say, all these rights spell security. I know many Americans are wishing they had some of that economic security right now. Congress must pass legislation like The Place to Prosper Act to incentivize local governments to promote affordable housing in their communities, streamline permits and timelines to accelerate the building of affordable housing, and prohibiting landlords from rejecting a rental application on the basis of an applicant's income source. Rent increases have outpaced wage increases in many communities, leaving families struggling to afford groceries, healthcare, clothes and school supplies. We must pass smart legislation to protect both renters and homeowners. We must also work to rebuild labor unions across America. The labor movement of the turn of the 20th century fought tirelessly for the workplace protections that helped bring power to the working class through greater economic democracy. Wealth and labor protections were directly responsible for the New Deal, which enabled a Golden Age for the U.S. economy. Unfortunately, far-right and reactionary movements, strengthened by Ronald Reagan and neoliberal establishment Democrats, have undone many labor protections. We must also invest in communities, rather than corporations. This means creating more equitable opportunities for small businesses and workers. This also means investing in community workforce training, apprenticeship programs, and support programs for small businesses.

Housing is a human right. We must protect current occupants, repair public housing, and build new affordable housing. We must also seek justice for small businesses and workers by rebuilding unions, investing in people instead of corporations, and providing a federal jobs guarantee.

Economic Rights

A kleptocracy is a government whose corrupt leaders use their political power to expropriate the wealth of the people and land they govern. Sound familiar?

Anti Kleptocracy

I believe the Green New Deal is the best way forward. Now is the right time to create millions of jobs transitioning to renewable and clean energy. We must save our planet for future generations.Unemployment is already on the rise in America, and no one knows how advancements in artificial intelligence will affect the job market. The Green New Deal would provide a living-wage union job to every worker who wants one. These jobs would also provide adequate family and medical leave, paid vacations, and retirement security. These jobs will also be filled with meaning - preventing climate change.In addition to creating millions of jobs, the Green New Deal also provides a framework for a just transition for millions of workers employed in the fossil fuel, manufacturing and automotive industries. The deal offers these workers their choice on union jobs in developing green industries, as well as benefits and pay equal to those they received in previous jobs.Our approach to climate change must also address the disproportionate impacts to communities of color. We will guarantee clean air and water, healthy food, quality healthcare and affordable housing, so that the nightmares experienced in vulnerable communities may never be experienced again.At our current rate of global greenhouse gas emissions, we are on pace for the atmosphere to warm by as much as 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2040, according to the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. In order to avoid these horrors and stay below 1.5 degrees of warming, our 2030 emissions must be 40-to-60% lower than they were in 2010.To attack climate change head on, we must dramatically expand and upgrade our renewable power sources, build energy-efficient power grids, retrofit our buildings for energy efficiency and invest heavily in zero-emission manufacturing and infrastructure. In addition, we must build clean, affordable transit systems connected by high-speed rail.

I believe the Green New Deal is the best way forward. Now is the right time to create millions of jobs transitioning to renewable and clean energy. We must save our planet for future generations.

Environment

The world is becoming <a href="https://www.gu.se/en/news/the-world-is-becoming-increasingly-authoritarian-but-there-is-hope" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">increasingly authoritarian</a>. According to Staffan I. Lindberg, Director of the V-Dem Institute, “The level of democracy enjoyed by the average world citizen in 2022 is back to 1986 levels. This means that 72 percent of the world's population, 5.7 billion people, live under authoritarian rule.”Due to the growing threats of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, America must strengthen its relationships with our Allies and Partners around the world, including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This means eliminating any rhetoric of purchasing Greenland, annexing the Panama Canal, or making Canada the 51st state. This also means supporting Ukraine, Taiwan, and many of our most vulnerable Allies against threats to their sovereignty.I served on active duty for over five years, including three years stationed in Germany, where I supported Ukraine and NATO. Our Department of Defense must continue to invest in our personnel and equipment to prepare for the possibility of large scale combat operations. Simultaneously, the DoD must work to eliminate bloated defense contracts and work towards passing an audit.The events of October 7, 2023 were atrocious. I reacted to the events in real time, while stationed in Europe, and I condemn Hamas for their attacks on Israel. That being said, I believe the disproportionate response from Benjamin Netanyahu's government has gone on for far too long, and the US must not arm a leader accused of war crimes by the International Criminal Court. I wholeheartedly support the immediate release of all hostages held in Gaza and a permanent ceasefire that sets the stage for peace and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians.As a veteran of the War in Afghanistan and Operation Freedom's Sentinel, I've witnessed the aftermath of how our "forever wars" perpetuate the cycle of terrorism throughout the world. Rather than using military force, the US must leverage "soft power," in the form of humanitarian assistance, whenever possible. However, Trump and Elon Musk's dismantling of critical USAID programs and other foreign assistance threaten America's future use of "soft power."

Due to the growing threats of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, America must strengthen its relationships with our Allies and Partners around the world, including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This means eliminating any rhetoric of purchasing Greenland, annexing the Panama Canal, or making Canada the 51st state.

Foreign Policy

Social Security is not a handout. It is an earned benefit. Two-thirds of America's senior citizens would live in poverty without Social Security. The benefit does not make them rich - it allows them to afford food and housing in this inflationary economy. President Trump and Elon Musk have circulated false rumors about Social Security fraud to further the administration's aspirations of eliminating or privatizing government programs. Any cuts to Social Security are unacceptable, and Democratic leaders must continue to speak out on this issue. In 2025, the Social Security tax limit is $176,100. This means that only the first $176,100 of an employee's or self-employed individual's earnings is subject to Social Security taxes. Any income earned above this amount will not be subject to Social Security tax for the year.If elected to Congress, I will introduce legislation to remove the limit on Social Security tax - millionaires and billionaires should pay their fair share, too. This will enable the Social Security trust funds to last far past the estimated depletion date of 2035, without the need for privatization or drastic program changes.

Social Security is not a handout. It is an earned benefit. Two-thirds of America's senior citizens would live in poverty without Social Security. The benefit does not make them rich - it allows them to afford food and housing in this inflationary economy.

Social Security

Healthcare is a human right.I believe in guaranteed healthcare for all people (Medicare for All). I believe in curbing costs for Americans and launching initiatives to improve long-term health.Americans deserve healthcare that isn't tied to a job. Before the pandemic, over 30 million people in the United States were without health care, with another 75 million classified as underinsured. As more people lose their jobs in this current uncertain time, they lose their healthcare along with it.Medicare for All will allow Americans to receive quality care that is affordable at the hospital, pharmacy or doctor’s office. It will cover primary, mental, dental, vision, women’s health, and emergency room care, in addition to prescription drugs.Healthcare costs in America are so high because of insurance companies, billing costs, hospital administration, and drug companies. A national healthcare system with stronger buying power can negotiate lower prices for drugs and medical equipment, while curbing high administrative salaries. Additionally, a national healthcare system unburdens thousands of companies from health insurance payments for their employees.Medicare for All will likely improve long-term health for Americans, as well. Americans who currently possess health insurance are far more likely to engage in preventative healthcare measures, like annual physicals or visiting a doctor immediately following illness onset.When you really start to think about it, Medicare for All just makes sense. The United States is the wealthiest nation on the planet and our federal government must do its part to ensure the American people receive access to free or low-cost healthcare.

Healthcare is a human right. I believe in guaranteed healthcare for all people (Medicare for All). I believe in curbing costs for Americans and launching initiatives to improve long-term health.

Healthcare

Dylan Thomas Blaha is a progressive candidate running for the US House of Representatives in Illinois' 13th District.

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