Shane on the Issues

Focused on real solutions for Congress District 18 families

Education

THE ISSUE:

The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution calls on our government to secure the Blessings of Liberty for ourselves and our posterity — our children and future generations. That shared responsibility should unite us all.

In California, too many students are falling behind, and our education policies are failing to deliver the results our kids deserve. We need a renewed commitment to merit-based opportunity — ensuring every child, regardless of background, has a fair shot to succeed through hard work, excellence, and real support.

We must also strengthen key education initiatives that teach core American values: personal responsibility, critical thinking, self-reliance, and civic pride. These skills are the foundation of a strong, independent, and prosperous society that works for every family.

SHANE'S SOLUTION:

Help Students Recover Act

Title I funds are intended to help the students who need the most support — especially those in our lowest-performing schools. These dollars should only flow when schools demonstrate real progress.
Requirements for funding would include:

  • A clear shift toward strong, proven instruction in core subjects: math, science, reading, history, and the arts.

  • Measurable improvement — at least 10% gains in student proficiency within one year.

  • A credible long-term plan showing how funds will be used for sustained success.

This ensures taxpayer dollars actually help kids catch up and thrive, rather than simply maintaining the status quo.

Civics for All Act

A healthy democracy depends on informed citizens. We should ensure every student in grades 3–12 receives high-quality civics education that teaches how our government works, the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, and the history and values that make America unique. This is essential for preparing young people to participate responsibly in our shared republic.

Financial Literacy and Opportunity Act

To build real economic mobility, every student should graduate with practical knowledge of personal finance, budgeting, saving, investing, and how our economy works. Schools will teach students how to turn their skills and ambitions into long-term financial independence and career success in a changing economy.

Prepare for Tomorrow Act

We must connect education to the real world. This act creates a national partnership between schools, businesses, and industry to track emerging job sectors, growing career fields, and shifting workforce demands. Students will receive better guidance so they can pursue paths with strong opportunity, adaptability, and long-term stability.

Parent and Student Empowerment Act

Parents know their children best. This act gives families more say by tying a portion of education funding directly to students, increasing transparency and accountability. Public schools will have stronger incentives to meet the needs and values of the families they serve while competing to deliver excellent results.

Protect Parental Rights and Local Control Act

Parents have the fundamental right to guide their child’s education. This legislation reaffirms that authority and ensures schools respect families’ values and involvement. When serious violations of federal law occur, accountability measures protect families without punishing students — encouraging local boards to stay within legal bounds while preserving community control.

Innovation

THE ISSUE:

As Californians in the heart of Silicon Valley, we are world leaders in innovation. We believe in using technology to improve lives, create good-paying jobs, protect our environment, and build a stronger, more prosperous future for every family. We don’t have to choose between economic growth and environmental responsibility. The smartest path forward is an all-of-the-above energy strategy — one that harnesses American ingenuity, leverages our abundant resources, and delivers affordable, reliable, and cleaner energy for everyone

SHANE'S SOLUTION:

California Energy Innovation & Prosperity Act

Powering Our Future: Innovation, Reliability, and Stewardship

  • Double Down on Innovation and Emerging Technologies
    Continue bold public-private investments in Silicon Valley’s clean-tech leadership. Support breakthroughs in battery storage, advanced renewables, carbon capture, and next-generation solutions that keep California at the forefront of the global economy. These investments create high-wage jobs, attract new businesses, and strengthen our technological edge.

  • Ensure Energy Reliability with Responsible Use of Traditional Fuels
    Maintain and responsibly utilize domestic fossil fuels (especially natural gas) as a reliable bridge and backup source. This prevents blackouts, keeps energy affordable for working families and businesses, and supports a practical transition while new technologies scale up. American energy production also reduces reliance on foreign sources and strengthens national security.

  • Accelerate Clean Hydrogen Solutions
    Pursue hydrogen as a high-efficiency, versatile fuel for transportation, industry, and heavy-duty applications. California is already home to major hydrogen initiatives — let’s expand them using abundant domestic resources and renewable-powered production. Hydrogen offers a realistic path to lower emissions without sacrificing performance or economic growth.

  • Modernize and Innovate Hydroelectric Power
    Invest in next-generation hydroelectric technologies, including integration with magnetic levitation (mag-lev) systems for efficient energy transmission and infrastructure. Capture useful by-products from hydro operations to create ultra-high-efficiency cycles and new economic opportunities. This builds on California’s existing hydro assets while advancing cleaner, more productive energy systems.

  • Foster a True All-of-the-Above Approach
    By combining innovation, reliability, and stewardship, we can:

    • Lower energy costs for families and manufacturers

    • Create jobs across the energy spectrum — from Silicon Valley engineers to skilled trades

    • Reduce emissions through smarter technology rather than mandates alone to ease regulations

    • Ensure the grid remains resilient against extreme weather and rising demand (from AI, EVs, and population growth)

Immigration

THE ISSUE:

Immigration reform is one of the most urgent challenges facing our nation. It affects every community — not just the border — and demands practical, modern solutions that work for everyone.

Migrants who cross the border do not remain there. They arrive in our local neighborhoods, where cities and counties have no budget or infrastructure prepared for sudden large influxes. This strains our schools, increases homelessness, raises unemployment, and puts pressure on healthcare systems already serving American families.

When the federal government fails to enforce consistent, predictable immigration policy, it leaves local governments — and the taxpayers who fund them — to bear the cost. That’s unfair to everyone.

Real reform must be multi-pronged and balanced.

A PERSONAL INTEREST IN IMMIGRATION REFORM:

Nearly every Californian knows someone living here without legal status. My wife and I are no different. One story, however, has stayed with me for years.

There was a bright, hardworking young man who came to the United States illegally. He fell in love with an American woman, they married, and together they had a beautiful daughter. I encouraged him many times to pursue legal citizenship, but fear held him back.

Then came the day he realized he couldn’t provide the life his family deserved in the expensive Bay Area while living in the shadows. He told his wife they might need to move south for better opportunities. Her response was simple and powerful: “I’m not moving. You’re getting your citizenship.”

With love and courage, they took the leap. Before he left to sort out his status, he looked my wife and me in the eyes and asked if we would care for his wife and young daughter. We said yes and for more than three years, they lived in our home as family. We shared meals, helped with the little girl, and prayed for his safe return.

One day he finally came back — this time as a proud American citizen. Today, he owns his own successful business, earns more than my wife and I combined, and bought a home as the proud head of his household. His wife is able to stay home with their children, their oldest daughter is in college, and they’ve been blessed with three more kids.

Their story is the American Dream in real life — made possible by the courage to choose the legal path and the love of family.

The Lesson:
We should never leave people in the shadows where they can be exploited by employers, smugglers, or even government. Every person deserves one real shot at a better life. When we encourage legal immigration with clear pathways, accountability, and opportunity, we strengthen families, communities, and our entire nation.

SHANE'S SOLUTION:

Strengthen Legal Pathways

California’s 18th District relies on a robust agricultural sector that depends on a reliable workforce. We must modernize temporary worker programs to meet labor needs without compromising security or wages.

  • Provide transportation solutions for legal pathways to come to the United States to protect against exploitation.

  • Expand and reform the H-2A visa program as a vetted, controlled tool for seasonal agricultural labor.

  • Implement rigorous vetting, background checks, and health screenings.

  • Require participants to engage in structured English-language instruction and basic civics education to promote assimilation.

  • Provide practical financial literacy training — including access to information on building wealth through wages, savings, stocks, bonds, and mutual funds — to encourage self-sufficiency, upward mobility, and financial independence.

  • Tie program participation to strict compliance with visa terms, with swift removal for violations and incentives for employers who prioritize American workers first.

This approach ensures legal, temporary workers contribute productively while protecting American jobs, wages, and community cohesion.

Enhancing Federal-Local Partnerships and Financial Relief

Immigration enforcement and adjudication must respect the realities on the ground. Local governments best understand their communities’ needs, capacities, and public safety priorities.

  • Work with the President of the United States to collaborate with local governments on fast-tracking case processing for migrants, based on local government and business recommendations for individuals demonstrating good conduct and community integration.

  • In exchange for local government demonstrated cooperation, provide targeted federal financial and technical support to localities implementing strong community-strengthening policies.

  • Empower localities with greater flexibility in areas such as resource allocation, enforcement priorities, and integration programs — including tools like retroactive legislative adjustments for approved local bonds or measures that help to reduce local tax burdens.

  • This partnership model builds good faith between federal and local levels while reversing incentives that encourage unchecked illegal immigration shifting power back to communities.

Reform Census Data and Funds for Fair Representation

Federal funds tied to Census data — totaling hundreds of billions annually to the State of California— are currently allocated based on total population counts that include non-citizens, the number of people below the poverty line, and population density. Illegal Immigration feeds directly into each of the three encouraging the state to prioritize federal dollars over Californian interests. It also directly and negatively affects skyrocketing housing costs, economic opportunity, and healthcare access.

  • Census Funds: Reserve Census-derived federal funding allocations primarily for American citizens. This ensures taxpayer dollars support the needs of our communities, schools, infrastructure, and social services as directed by the people they are intended to serve.

  • Congressional Apportionment: Amend federal law (or support legislation such as the Equal Representation Act) to count only U.S. citizens for purposes of apportioning House seats and Electoral College votes. Non-citizens, including illegal immigrants, should not influence political representation. Even small differences in counts — as few as 25 people in some scenarios — can shift priority values and seats between states, diluting the voice of citizen voters. Only citizens vote and direct our government; our system of representation must reflect that fundamental principle.

Tax Reform - Fairness and Accountability for Working Families

THE ISSUE:

Our national debt now exceeds $39 trillion — roughly $230,000 for every working American. This growing burden diverts precious resources away from education, healthcare, infrastructure, and the everyday needs of working families.

Too many Americans — across every party — feel Washington is disconnected from our lives. Waste, inefficiency, fraud, and special-interest spending have led to a system where we send too much money to a government that often feels unresponsive and unaccountable.

Revenue is how citizens speak to their government. By controlling and limiting federal tax collection, we can shift Washington’s focus away from endless campaign cycles and partisan fighting — toward delivering practical results year-round and listening to the American people.

This approach will reduce our dangerous national debt, protect economic opportunity, and safeguard the rights and liberties we all value. It ends wasteful “economic experiments” that harm families and future generations.

SHANE'S SOLUTION:

Pro-American Tax Reform: Simpler, Fairer, and Focused on Working Families

1. A Low Flat Tax on Wages and Salaries
Introduce a simple, low flat tax of approximately 7% for American workers’ wages and salaries. This would cut federal tax liability for many families by about 50%, putting an average of $3,400 more back in their pockets each year. This relief helps working families better manage rising state and local costs, giving Californians more ability to hold government accountable at every level.

2. Incentives for Healthy, Responsible, and Self-Reliant Families
Americans who take proactive steps to improve their health, strengthen their families, and reduce burdens on public systems should be rewarded. The following purchases would be fully deductible from taxable income:

  • Gym memberships, classes, and home fitness equipment

  • Youth and adult sports leagues, including public school sports programs

  • Personal wellness and self-defense training

These common-sense incentives promote healthier communities, stronger families, and greater personal responsibility.

3. Reducing the Deficit and Growing Our Economy
We must bring spending under control while growing the economy. I support a responsible, gradual reduction in deficit spending by 2% annually paired with ambitious but achievable goals of 4% annual GDP growth. This balanced approach creates room for critical infrastructure investment and long-term stability without sudden shocks to our economy. It also encourages cooperation between local, state, and federal governments.

4. Bringing Jobs Home (Reshoring)
We should aggressively reshore key industries to create good-paying jobs, strengthen American supply chains, and boost communities across our district. Targeted incentives can help businesses return to the U.S., expand opportunity, and make our economy more resilient.

Water is Life

THE ISSUE:

For more than 15 years, farmers across our district have asked for help addressing water scarcity. Every year, thousands of acres of productive farmland receive insufficient water. To meet growing food demands for California and the nation, our farmers need reliable access to at least 9,000 acre-feet of water. Adding to this challenge is the invasive Golden Mussel from China, which is spreading rapidly through our waterways. Its rapid reproduction makes eradication nearly impossible, further restricting water access and driving up costs for the food we all rely on.

If we continue losing farmland, the consequences will be severe: once-productive land turning into dust bowls, increased respiratory illnesses, skyrocketing healthcare costs in rural communities, and added pressure on neighboring counties as families search for work.

My Plan: Practical Solutions That Put People and Farms First

California’s water infrastructure was built in the 1960s for a population of about 16 million. Today, nearly 40 million people call our state home — more than double — yet we have failed to meaningfully expand storage and reliability. This threatens farms, jobs, food supplies, clean energy, and public health.

As your Congressman, I will work across party lines for commonsense, results-driven solutions focused on smarter storage, clean energy, and local partnerships.

Central Valley Priorities

  • Wildfire Prevention & Watershed Protection: Regularly clear and thin vegetation around critical water sources like the Sacramento River to prevent catastrophic wildfires that destroy watersheds and waste billions of gallons of water.

  • Dam Retrofits & Reliable Clean Energy: Retrofit at least five dams to add hydroelectric capacity — generating approximately 110 MW of 90% efficient, around-the-clock clean power. Unlike large-scale solar that covers prime farmland, hydropower frees agricultural land while lowering energy costs for families and farms.

  • Reforming SGMA to Save Farmland: The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act threatens up to 1 million acres of productive farmland by 2040. I will support balanced federal legislation that protects agriculture, prevents food scarcity, and supports sustainable solutions that keep farms viable.

  • Restoring Water Rights: Treat water rights as property rights tied to farmers and food security. Reduce excessive regulations while maintaining environmental protections, giving our farmers the certainty they need to continue feeding America.

Salinas Valley & Monterey County

  • Desalinization & Groundwater Restoration: Partner with the State of California to share costs on desalinization projects and groundwater restoration to stop saltwater intrusion and protect prime farmland.

  • Dam Safety Upgrades: Complete critical repairs on the Nacimiento and San Antonio Dams for long-term water storage, flood control, and reliability.

My Commitment

Water is life — for our families, our farms, our economy, and our future. By expanding storage, investing in reliable clean energy, defending working lands, and cutting unnecessary red tape, we can lower costs, protect jobs, improve public health, and ensure California continues feeding our state and nation. These are practical solutions that work for everyone — farmers, working families, businesses, and future generations.