DR. BENNY RODRIGUEZ FOR CONGRESS

DEFEND AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL SECURITY
•    I will defend Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and healthcare subsidies so families don’t lose coverage. I will work hard to lock these protections into law so healthcare can’t be taken away during political fights or government shutdowns.
•    Stop high drug costs- Legislate federal price negotiation & caps to lower prescription drug prices and out-of-pocket costs for everyone.
•    Medicaid protections – Block cuts and barriers to strengthen Medicaid expansion and simplification to support low-income families, children, seniors, and people with disabilities.
•    Out-of-pocket spikes – Support cost caps on essential drugs like insulin and other essential medicines. 
•    Universal access vision- Support a comprehensive proposal to implement a long-term reform to define progressive priorities in health care and provide Medicare for all.
•    Protect and strengthen Social Security so it keeps up with real life. I will support bills that increase earned benefits, fix Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs) so Social Security checks keep up with rising costs like groceries, gas, housing, and healthcare, and make sure the benefit system is fair for working people and seniors—not just balanced on paper.
•    Protect Social Security and increase benefits by making the wealthy play by the same rules. I will support legislation that removes the income cap on Social Security taxes for high earners so the program stays strong and monthly checks can grow for seniors, not shrink.
•    Stop backroom deals that cut Social Security. I will oppose any plan that tries to cut benefits behind closed doors and will insist that all decisions about Social Security happen in public, with open debate and seniors’ benefits protected.
•    Protect Social Security and Medicare 
I will protect Social Security and Medicare from cuts, raids, or privatization, and support solutions that make sure these programs are strong not just for seniors today, but for younger generations too.

LOWER COST FOR WORKING FAMILIES

• Ban Corporate Price Gouging & Protect Family Essentials- Legislate to enforce a federal ban on corporate price gouging, which is driving up the cost of everyday essentials—like groceries, diapers, household goods, and basic supplies—so working families aren’t squeezed simply because corporations have market power.

• Lower Cost for Housing- lower rent and living costs by investing federal dollars to expand affordable housing, with affordable down payment assistance.

• Lower Costs by Investing in Jobs: Create good-paying jobs and build workforce training pipelines so communities can increase supply and reduce the pressure that shortages place on working families.

• Stop Hidden Fees and Unfair Pricing: I will strengthen consumer protection agencies to require clear price transparency, crack down on hidden fees and predatory practices, and protect renters, borrowers, and utility customers so families know what they’re paying and aren’t quietly overcharged.

• Use the Federal Budget to Lower Everyday Costs
  I will fight to use Congress’s control of the budget to focus on what families actually need—affordable healthcare, housing, and good-paying jobs—especially in rural and border communities, so money helps people, not bureaucracy.

• Confront Debt, Inequality, and Rising Costs Head-On- Families are relying on credit cards just to get by, with credit card debt now topping $1.2 trillion nationwide. Auto loan delinquencies—especially among subprime borrowers—are at record or near-record levels, showing that many working families are falling behind just trying to get to work. At the same time, the top 1% owns roughly 50% of all stocks, while everyday costs keep rising for everyone else. I will push back against policies such as unfair tariffs, corporate price manipulation, and tax advantages for the wealthy that raise prices and leave working families carrying more debt (Vigeland, 2025).

• Tackle Affordability as One Connected Problem
  I will push for a full affordability plan that connects healthcare, housing, jobs, and insurance costs—health, car, and home—so families can afford to live, work, and plan for the future without going into lifelong debt.

INVEST IN EDUCATION

• Stand firm to reject any effort to weaken or dismantle the Department of Education so rural and border schools continue to receive federal support, oversight, and protections they rely on.

• Propose a “no transfer, no abolition” law to protect core Department of Education functions.
  Propose a law stating that essential responsibilities of the U.S. Department of Education—such as enforcing civil rights, overseeing special education under IDEA, and administering Title I funding—cannot be transferred to another agency or eliminated unless Congress explicitly approves it in law.

• Fight for full, reliable education funding that keeps rural schools open, class sizes manageable, and essential programs intact. Increase funding for school-based mental health professionals to support student mental health.

• Invest in educators serving rural and border communities by improving working conditions, strengthening professional support, and protecting their rights.

• Advance equity-driven education policies to ensure students in rural and border areas have the same access to quality education as any other zip code.

• Use strong congressional oversight to protect civil rights, special education services, and core education functions in communities that are too often overlooked.

• Fair Funding for Rural and Military-Connected Schools- Protect and expand Impact Aid so schools serving military families and federal lands in Arizona’s District 6 are not shortchanged. These schools educate our children while carrying costs they cannot raise locally.

• Support English Language Learners and Dual Language Programs with resource—because bilingualism is a strength, not a weakness, and rural border communities deserve investment, not neglect.

• I will cosponsor the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act to keep Immigration and Customs Enforcement out of schools so students can learn without fear and educators can focus on teaching—not crisis management.

• Stop the Privatization of Public Education- I will oppose efforts to drain public dollars into privatization schemes and instead invest in Title I schools to reduce class sizes, hire and keep strong teachers, and give every child a fair chance—no matter where they live.

INVEST IN EDUCATION

• Stand firm to reject any effort to weaken or dismantle the Department of Education so rural and border schools continue to receive federal support, oversight, and protections they rely on.

• Propose a “no transfer, no abolition” law to protect core Department of Education functions.
  Propose a law stating that essential responsibilities of the U.S. Department of Education—such as enforcing civil rights, overseeing special education under IDEA, and administering Title I funding—cannot be transferred to another agency or eliminated unless Congress explicitly approves it in law.

• Fight for full, reliable education funding that keeps rural schools open, class sizes manageable, and essential programs intact. Increase funding for school-based mental health professionals to support student mental health.

• Invest in educators serving rural and border communities by improving working conditions, strengthening professional support, and protecting their rights.

• Advance equity-driven education policies to ensure students in rural and border areas have the same access to quality education as any other zip code.

• Use strong congressional oversight to protect civil rights, special education services, and core education functions in communities that are too often overlooked.

• Fair Funding for Rural and Military-Connected Schools- Protect and expand Impact Aid so schools serving military families and federal lands in Arizona’s District 6 are not shortchanged. These schools educate our children while carrying costs they cannot raise locally.

• Support English Language Learners and Dual Language Programs with resource—because bilingualism is a strength, not a weakness, and rural border communities deserve investment, not neglect.

• I will cosponsor the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act to keep Immigration and Customs Enforcement out of schools so students can learn without fear and educators can focus on teaching—not crisis management.

• Stop the Privatization of Public Education- I will oppose efforts to drain public dollars into privatization schemes and instead invest in Title I schools to reduce class sizes, hire and keep strong teachers, and give every child a fair chance—no matter where they live.

SUPPORT VETERANS & MILITARY COMMUNITIES

• Deliver care without excuses- Make sure veterans get timely healthcare, mental health services, and VA support without red tape or long waits.

• Legislate to protect housing and stability for veterans- Expand veteran housing and homelessness prevention so no veteran is left without a safe place to live.

• Create real paths to jobs and opportunity- Help veterans turn military skills into good-paying civilian jobs through training, credential recognition, and local partnerships.

• Support rural veterans where they live- Expand telehealth, mobile clinics, and transportation help so rural veterans get the same care as anyone else.

• Protect funding for Arizona’s military bases- Fight for strong, stable funding for Davis–Monthan Air Force Base and Fort Huachuca to keep jobs, readiness, and missions secure.

• Demand accountability and transparency- Hold the VA, Department of Defense, and Pentagon accountable so decisions are data-driven, public, and responsible.

ADVANCE SMART, HUMANE, LAWFUL IMMIGRATION

• Hold federal agencies accountable by requiring clear identification, lawful conduct, and consequences when enforcement officers abuse their power.

• Protect communities from unlawful federal actions, including raids in sensitive locations, while ensuring families know their rights and the law is followed.

• Create realistic legal pathways for long-standing community members—including Dreamers, DACA recipients, veterans, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders—so families aren’t trapped in uncertainty for decades.

• Defend due process and access to legal counsel, especially for children, and end family detention and profit-driven detention centers.

• Use Congress’s budget and oversight authority to stop mass-deportation policies that rely on fear instead of lawful, accountable enforcement.

• Legislate to impact the immigration system by cutting red tape, reducing backlogs, and speeding up work permits so people can work legally and contribute.

• Uphold asylum law and reject policies that illegally block people fleeing violence or humanitarian crises.

PEOPLE-CENTERED FOREIGN POLICY

• Put diplomacy first and prevent endless wars by strengthening international alliances, using multilateral institutions, and requiring congressional authorization before the U.S. enters new military conflicts as a last resort, consistent with constitutional war powers and peace-building research.

• Support a just and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians by backing diplomatic efforts that ensure security for Israel, humanitarian relief for Gaza, Palestinian self-determination, and a viable two-state solution, ceasefire efforts, and grounded in equal rights and dignity for all people.

• Reassert congressional oversight over military action, including holding any administration accountable for unauthorized strikes or escalation, while preventing nuclear proliferation and avoiding another costly, open-ended war in the Middle East.

• Restore and protect U.S. foreign aid programs that reduce hunger, disease, and instability—because evidence shows humanitarian aid lowers conflict risk, saves lives, and reduces future military involvement.

• Address the root causes of global conflict, including climate change, poverty, and forced displacement, which national security experts identify as major drivers of instability and migration pressures worldwide.

• Advance diplomacy-led solutions to current global conflicts, including Ukraine and the Middle East, by working with allies, the United Nations, and regional partners to pursue ceasefires, humanitarian access, and negotiated paths to lasting peace.

• Protect civilians and uphold international humanitarian law by supporting the immediate delivery of food, water, and medical aid in conflict zones, safeguarding children, and ensuring hostages and detainees are reunited with their families.

PROTECTING CIVIL RIGHTS

• Require identification and accountability for federal enforcement actions, including clear ID requirements and reporting standards for ICE and other agencies interacting with the public.

• Protect bodily autonomy and healthcare freedom by supporting federal law that restores abortion access nationwide, safeguards medication access approved by the FDA, and expands contraception and Title X funding.

• Stand up for basic fairness by advancing federal protections to make sure no one is mistreated or denied opportunity because of their race, gender, religion, disability, immigration status, or who they love.

• Move from outrage to enforcement by strengthening oversight, investigations, and consequences when federal agents abuse power, violate civil liberties, or operate without transparency.

• Use federal authority to protect vulnerable communities, including LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, workers, and communities of color, from politically motivated targeting or intimidation.

• Combat hate-driven violence and domestic extremism by restoring and strengthening prevention tools that address antisemitism, Islamophobia, white nationalism, and ideologically motivated attacks—without profiling or abuse.

• Uphold tribal sovereignty and Indigenous rights by respecting treaty obligations, protecting voting access, and ensuring tribes have a real seat at the table in federal decision-making.

• Defend democracy and equal participation by enforcing voting rights, opposing voter suppression, and ensuring every eligible American can cast a ballot freely and have it counted.

PROTECTING OUR LAND, WATER, AND COMMUNITIES

• Create good-paying local jobs by investing in solar and clean energy projects that use Arizona workers, lower energy costs, and help rural communities grow without losing their way.

• Protect our water by funding local projects that save water, fix aging systems, and clean up contamination—so farms keep farming, families have safe drinking water, and rural and border communities in Arizona’s 6th District can keep growing.

• Stand with communities harmed by pollution by holding polluters accountable, securing cleanup funding, and making sure rural, tribal, and border voices in Arizona’s 6th District are heard in Congress