As a middle school teacher and principal, Nikhil believes deeply in the power of education to transform lives and build social mobility. Every student deserves a high quality education, regardless of what zip code they live in. Currently, the United States ranks outside the Top 20 in global educational attainment. In Washington, Nikhil will work tirelessly to strengthen public education for all students so that every child can live a life full of choices.
Pass Universal PreK so that all kids can get a head start on learning.
Increase funding for early childcare centers to improve teacher quality and retention.
Increase teacher salaries for chronically underfilled teacher positions, like STEM and Special Education Teachers, particularly in urban and rural districts.
Make college more affordable by doubling Pell Grants and increasing funding for HBCUs.
Teaching in Grand Crossing has given Nikhil a clear look at the toll gun violence takes on our communities and children. Our country has a gun violence epidemic that needs to be solved urgently. Nothing should be more important than keeping our children safe. It’s time to take action.
Pass a bill requiring universal background checks on all gun purchases including at gun shows.
Close the “boyfriend loophole” that allows violent men to use firearms against their domestic partners.
Restore the national assault weapon ban to prevent the purchase of AR-15s used in mass shootings. We should also create a buy-back system where gun owners can trade in assault weapons for money.
Require school districts to send home information on safe gun storage to parents to prevent children from accessing firearms.
Building safe and healthy neighborhoods starts with creating an economy that works for every neighborhood. In today’s economy, too many people are left behind while wealth continues to be concentrated amongst the top 1%. Instead of waiting for wealth to trickle down, we need to build an economy from the bottom up that supports the working class.
Eliminate the Trump tax cuts that disproportionately awarded tax breaks for millionaires.
Close tax loopholes that allow domestic businesses to avoid paying their fair share with foreign bank accounts.
Provide capital and easier lending for minority-owned businesses to build wealth and opportunity in black and brown communities.
Continue to support domestic manufacturing to ensure we bring essential parts of our supply chain back to America.
The greatest existential threat to our communities is climate change. Scientists have warned that we have until 2030 to prevent “irreversible and catastrophic” damage from climate change. We also know these issues impact communities of color the hardest. We must confront this threat urgently to pass on a healthy planet to our kids.
Pass legislation that requires fossil fuel reductions and cutting harmful emissions like methane.
Invest in renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydrothermal energy.
Increase funding for public transportation to reduce vehicle emissions.
Replace lead pipes to ensure all households have access to clean drinking water.
Fund scientific research in key areas like battery storage and carbon capture.
Women were the backbone of the Bhatia household and Nikhil is an unabashed feminist. The reverse in women’s rights in our country has been extremely alarming. We need to finally, at long last, treat women like the equals that they are. This requires action from the federal government to create a more equal society.
Codify reproductive rights with national legislation to roll back the Dobbs decision.
Invest in childcare and Universal PreK so that moms can go back into the workforce and don’t have to choose between work and childcare.
Pass paid family leave so that women are not penalized for having children.
Increase foreign aid aimed at women’s education and promote women’s rights through our foreign engagements.
Our democracy was under attack long before January 6th, 2021. Our democratic system has calcified because of systems that amplify extremism and tilt policies towards special interests and the super-wealthy. We need a democratic system that actually reflects the will of voters.
Pass the John Lewis Voting Act to ensure all Americans have equal access to voting.
Create legislation to reverse the disastrous Citizens United ruling and limit corporate money in our politics.
Create term limits for legislators and judges to keep decision makers accountable to voters.
Ban gerrymandering, implement rank-choice voting, and abolish the Electoral College to ensure elected officials are aligned with voters.
