PRIORITIES

We all depend on a clean and healthy environment–it’s time for our environment to depend on us. Maryland’s rich ecosystem must be protected, including our cherished Chesapeake Bay, by working with farmers to reduce agricultural pollution, investing in oyster restoration, and pollution reduction initiatives. Everyone is entitled to clean drinking water and fresh air, but we must be our own advocates. From addressing environmental justice to increasing clean and renewable energy to reducing greenhouse gases, Lauren wants to combat climate change NOW. 

As a registered nurse, Lauren experiences firsthand the issues that negatively impact health care workers and their patients. All Marylanders deserve access to high quality and affordable health care, and our health care workers deserve to feel safe at work. Psychological well-being is just as important, and Lauren is dedicated to expanding and strengthening resources to combat the current mental health crisis. Lauren will stand for reproductive health care and LGBTQ+ rights to make Maryland a healthier place for everyone, and she will work diligently to eliminate inequities in the healthcare system. With firearms being the leading cause of death for American children and teens, the U.S. Surgeon General declared gun violence a public health crisis. Combating gun violence is a necessity when it comes to protecting our families, neighborhoods, and communities.

Like any mother in Maryland, Lauren wants the best education and childcare for her son. Affordable childcare is not a luxury; it is a necessity that sets the stage for our children's future success in school and beyond. We need to invest in our educators by raising the minimum compensation for teachers and creating maximum classroom sizes. Increasing compensation for educators not only recognizes the essential role they play in our lives, but also serves as a direct investment into our children’s futures. We must strengthen our education system by investing in our educators and ensuring that all children have the tools to succeed. 

A healthy economy is necessary for a thriving community. We must invest in more green jobs in Maryland as a means to strengthen the economy and combat climate change. Union workers are the backbone of the economy, and we must support them and the fight for fair labor laws like stronger collective bargaining power, better working conditions, and higher pay.