ISSUES FACING HENRICO
AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
Nothing hurts a family more than a loved one experiencing a healthcare crisis - and not being able to pay the bill. Rodney believes every Virginian deserves access to affordable, quality healthcare that covers pre-existing and chronic conditions. Medicaid expansion was a good start, but still too many Virginians lack reliable health care at reasonable costs. Prescription drugs must be affordable: no one should ever have to choose between a meal and medication, which is why Rodney voted for a cap on insulin prices. But that’s not all - Rodney, as the former chair of the House Behavioral Health Subcommittee, is also advocating that Virginia put more funding into mental health care and addiction treatment to address issues that are affecting so many families.
WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE
Rodney supports a woman’s right to choose and access to abortion and affordable contraception. He believes a woman must have the ability to make her own decisions, in consultation with her doctors, about her body. Rodney has helped to pass laws in Virginia to protect these rights and he will continue to champion a constitutional amendment to enshrine those protections.
GUN SAFETY
Too many preventable gun-related tragedies have unfolded in our Commonwealth including in Henrico County. Common sense gun safety measures are not a political issue, they are a public health issue. Establishing universal background checks is a proven way to keep guns away from violent criminals and safe storage laws can protect our children from needless gun deaths. Rodney is advocating for legislation that keeps guns from domestic abusers, protecting our families. Rodney voted for Virginia's red flag law so that those who present an immediate danger to themselves or others can have firearms temporarily removed. Rodney will continue to fight for bipartisan gun safety laws in the House of Delegates. He will not settle for continued inaction.
EDUCATION
Rodney believes strongly in public education and has advocated for more and better funding for schools, including support for sufficient counseling resources, and hiring the best and brightest teachers by paying them competitive wages. Studies have shown that children who receive early childhood education are more likely to succeed later in life. Early investments result in the biggest impact. Rodney voted for expanding Pre-K for at-risk three and four year olds and supports universal Pre-K enrollment for all Virginia kids. Investing in education isn’t just the smart thing to do, it’s the right thing to do.
JOB DEVELOPMENT AND AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE
Henrico and the Greater Richmond area are engines for economic development. Rodney wants to preserve and grow that engine by applying smart policies that help eliminate red tape and minimize bureaucracy for businesses. He had leveraged his professional expertise in using technology and better management practices to help streamline government and create good jobs in Henrico and develop retraining programs for workers who need new job skills. Rodney also believes in equal pay for equal work, and voted to raise the minimum wage so Virginia workers can support their families. He also has championed expanding access to affordable child care for working parents.
ENVIRONMENT
Rodney believes climate change is real. As a coastal state, Virginia is threatened by rising sea levels, which will ruin communities, homes and livelihoods while menacing our military installations. Severe and dangerous weather events are becoming more common and more dangerous across the state. Rodney is working in the General Assembly to take concrete steps to move the state to renewable energy sources and increase our climate resiliency efforts. As an outdoorsman and hiker, Rodney also values our unique public lands and iconic waterways, such as our award winning Virginia State Park System, and he will ensure they are preserved and expanded.
INCLUSIVE VIRGINIA
Businesses around the country know they can invest in Virginia because we have successfully fought back efforts to codify discrimination. If we want to continue attracting companies that bring good-paying jobs and good corporate partnerships, we need laws that protect the rights of all our citizens. Rodney’s core principle is that ALL Virginians deserve equal opportunity, justice and fairness, no matter their skin color, ethnicity, faith, country of origin, sexual orientation or gender identity. He voted to adopt Virginia's LGBTQ nondiscrimination statute and to pass the ERA to give women long overdue constitutional protections. Rodney will continue to fight prejudice, bigotry and discrimination.