Issues — John Cavanaugh for Congress

Lower the Cost of Living

Trump’s chaotic tariffs and the War in Iran are hurting our economy. Working families are bearing the brunt with higher prices for groceries, gas, healthcare, housing, and childcare. And job growth is stagnant.

In the Nebraska Legislature, I repealed the state’s tax on diapers and now I am working to exempt overtime and tips from state income taxes. I also introduced bills to create a sales tax holiday for back-to-school items and to lower the cost of over the counter medicines.

I’m running for Congress to continue fighting for working families and to stand up to Trump’s billionaire-first economy. In Congress, I will vote to repeal Trump’s tariffs and reassert congressional responsibilities over trade.

I recently wrote about the economy in this op-ed — click here to read more.

Reduce the Cost of Healthcare and Improve Access

Americans should have access to healthcare at a cost they can afford, but Donald Trump and Republicans prioritized tax cuts for billionaires over healthcare subsidies for millions. Without ACA subsidies, more than 100,000 Nebraskans have seen healthcare costs skyrocket just as Trump’s tariffs and costly war are driving up gas, food, and childcare costs.

In the Legislature, I just authored an emergency plan to lower healthcare costs for more than 100,000 Nebraskans who saw their monthly health insurance bill increase this year because of Trump’s cuts.

In Congress, I will fight to fully restore the Affordable Care Act tax credits so that families can buy insurance at a lower cost. I'll also reverse Trump’s cuts to Medicaid which will impact Nebraskans starting May 1st. We need to hold Big Pharma accountable for their price gouging. And, I will remain focused on lowering the cost of prescription drugs for working families and seniors by expanding Medicare’s ability to negotiate pricing.

Trump’s attacks on our healthcare are literally life changing. I met Jennifer, a musician here in Omaha. She gets her health insurance through the ACA exchange and unfortunately needs a double lung transplant. She shared with me that she’s terrified of her family being crushed by medical bills. While she should be focused on recovering, Jennifer and her husband are worrying about their premium increasing from $690 to $2,000. Learn more about Jennifer’s story here:

Build More Affordable Homes

Young people and working families should have the ability to buy a home just like their parents and grandparents did, but the cost of buying a home today is far too expensive. In the Nebraska Legislature, I introduced legislation to help first-time homebuyers with tax credits and down payment assistance.

I also introduced legislation to crack down on predatory and hidden fees from landlords

In Congress, I’ll stop private equity companies from buying up homes and I’ll fight to increase the supply of affordable homes so more working families have the opportunity for home ownership.

Help Families with Child Care Costs

As a working father of four, I know how much it costs to raise a family and the status quo needs to change. My wife and I have spent nearly $300,000 on childcare over the years — more than our home, even more than my student loans.

In Congress, I will fight for universal paid family and medical leave, just as I fought for paid sick leave in the Legislature. I also support capping child care costs at 7% of household income for middle class families, expanding the federal Child Tax Credit, and making sure child care workers are paid a living wage.

I wrote this op-ed about child care costs and what Congress can do about it. Click here to read.

Fight for our Democracy

Trump’s attacks on our democracy are almost unfathomable. This administration has assaulted, arrested, and detained American citizens. They have tried to make it harder to vote, tore down Roe v. Wade, and allowed big corporations to run rampant. In Congress, I will work to undo all of this by co-sponsoring the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the For the People Act, both efforts to expand voting rights, address corruption, and strengthen our democracy.

Protect our Environment and Reverse Climate Change

I’ll fight for clean air and clean water while making sure we invest in good-paying jobs of the future that don’t leave workers behind. In the Legislature, I brought together farmers and climate groups to pass bipartisan legislation incentivizing solar panels on big farms. This bill was a win-win: it made farmers more profitable while allowing them to use cleaner forms of energy.

Protecting our environment and addressing climate change is important to me. I was inspired to pursue a JD and Masters in Environmental Policy after spending many a spring day in a duck blind watching the sandhill cranes.

I’m proud to have earned the endorsements of the Sierra Club and NRDC Action Fund.

Stop Violent Crime and Work for Safe Neighborhoods

Finding ways to keep our communities safe is important to me, that’s why the first bill I ever passed in the legislature was one that protected victims of domestic violence by allowing them to break a lease they held with their abuser penalty-free.

I’ve also authored legislation to lower the taxes first responders who serve our community for at least 20 years pay on their pensions. This would incentivize our first responders to continue serving Nebraskans rather than moving out of state and address staffing shortages.

I also introduced a bill to keep guns out of the hands of children in Nebraska. In Congress, I’ll continue this work so that we can reduce gun violence.

Reform Immigration Laws and Stop ICE Violence

The Trump Administration’s approach to immigration is un-American. The cruelty and incompetence we have seen from ICE does not make Nebraskans safer. All people deserve to be treated humanely and I support a roadmap to citizenship for immigrants. We should also strengthen the expansion of pathways for family unity and work opportunities, with robust labor and humanitarian standards.

Democrats must put pressure on Trump and ICE to stop the detention of American citizens, end warrantless arrests, and ban ICE agents from wearing masks. There must also be a full, independent investigation into ICE’s murders, and ICE agents should not have immunity from criminal prosecution.

Restore Reproductive Rights

MAGA Republicans want to tell Nebraskans what they can and cannot do — I disagree. Women should make the best decisions for themselves with the advice of their doctors, not Donald Trump and Brinker Harding. That is why I led the fight to block a total abortion ban here in Nebraska.

This is a fight that is personal for so many women across Nebraska and our country. In Congress, I will always stand up to anti-choice Republicans and oppose any effort to restrict birth control and reproductive care.

I will fight to restore the right to an abortion at the federal level and I’ll expand insurance coverage of fertility treatments.

Stop Trump's Corruption and Reform Congress

Corruption runs rampant in Washington and it’s making life harder for us here in Nebraska. Donald Trump is the most corrupt President in American history and in Congress, I'll hold him and his MAGA cronies accountable for their actions.

I’ll also sponsor legislation to ban members of Congress from trading stocks, won’t trade stocks myself, and support a Constitutional amendment to prevent billionaires from buying our elections. In my congressional campaign, I’m refusing contributions from corporate PACs, because I work for working families, not billionaires.

I’m proud to be running with the endorsement of End Citizens United, a leading national anti-corruption organization.

Read my oped about Trump’s corruption here.

Protect Social Security and Medicare

Every Nebraskan deserves to retire comfortably and with dignity. In Congress, I will work to expand and strengthen these programs so that seniors’ earned benefits remain protected for them and future generations.

I’ll fight against anyone who wants to privatize Social Security and gamble guaranteed monthly benefits in the stock market. In the legislature I sponsored and passed legislation that ended state income taxes on Social Security benefits. In Congress I’ll fight for Medicare to cover dental and vision coverage and allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices.

I’m proud to be endorsed by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Social Security Works.