Brad Meyer (D) for Congress, Indiana's 9th, 2026

The Problem ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/economic-policy at this heading)
The numbers are clear: 15 of our 18 counties are growing slower than the national average. Six shrank. This is not what a healthy region looks like.
People are leaving their hometowns because they can’t build a future here anymore. Those who stay are finding it harder to hold onto what they have. Retirees are trying to make fixed incomes last. Working families are stretched thin. Young adults are struggling to get started.
This reflects decisions made over time that are holding this region back.
The economy is being shaped by decisions that concentrate power, wealth, and opportunity in fewer hands. The result is a system where people are working hard but falling behind.
Productivity has risen, but wages have not kept up. The cost of housing, healthcare, education, and childcare continues to rise faster than income. Market rules increasingly favor large corporations, reducing competition and putting pressure on small businesses. When the economy becomes unstable, losses fall on the public while gains are protected elsewhere.
This goes beyond normal market forces. It reflects a system where more money leaves communities than returns to them.
The strain is being felt across the entire community. Retirees are watching what they earned lose ground. Working families are doing more to stay in place. Small businesses are trying to compete in markets that are harder to enter and harder to survive in. Young adults are facing higher costs and fewer opportunities than the generation before them.
When all of these pressures show up at once, communities weaken, growth slows, and confidence in the future breaks down.
An economy only works when the rules are fair, enforced, and built to reward work. Workers should be able to earn a living. Entrepreneurs should be able to start and grow businesses in their own communities. Families should be able to build a stable life and plan for the future.
I am not running to describe these problems. I am running to fix them.
The path forward is to restore what has been lost, protect what people rely on, and build what comes next so hard work pays and opportunity grows. That means raising wages, lowering the cost of essentials, strengthening competition, and rebuilding the systems that allow communities to compete and grow.
We need to invest in infrastructure, small businesses, and workforce development so this region can move forward again.
The sections that follow show how these challenges play out across the economy and what we can do to fix them.
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WHAT WE FACE ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/economic-policy at this heading)
The promise of a stable retirement is slipping away, replaced by growing vulnerability for those who have contributed to our society for a lifetime. For many, retirement is defined by rising healthcare costs and the fear that their savings will not last. This erosion of security reflects policy choices that put profit ahead of long-term retirement stability. Efforts to privatize essential services have opened the door for profit-taking within systems designed to provide stability.
WHAT WE NEED TO CHANGE ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/economic-policy at this heading)
Medicare remains incomplete, lacking essential coverage for dental, vision, and hearing care. This forces retirees to spend down fixed incomes on basic health needs that should be covered. The current model relies heavily on for-profit intermediaries, driving up administrative costs, increasing financial burdens, and complicating access to care.
Social Security must be protected so people can count on it when they need it. These gaps allow the highest earners to contribute a smaller share relative to their income, weakening long-term stability for future generations.
HOW WE GET IT DONE ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/economic-policy at this heading)
We must protect what retirees have earned and make sure it keeps up with the real cost of living to ensure that healthcare and income security are guaranteed rights for every retiree, funded through a more equitable and transparent system.
Expand Medicare to include dental, vision, and hearing.
Reduce out-of-pocket Medicare costs.
Strengthen Medicare Part D bargaining to lower prescription drug costs.
Increase the FICA tax cap to strengthen Social Security for the long term.
Working people are doing everything right and still falling behind as the basic promise that hard work leads to a better life continues to break down. The daily reality for most is a race against rising costs, where wages stall while housing, food, and transportation consume nearly 60 percent of every paycheck.
This reflects a system where the rules have changed in ways that weaken workers’ financial security while protecting those at the top. Worker productivity has surged by over 60 percent since 2000, but workers have seen only a fraction of that gain in their paychecks. This gap between effort and reward has left 60 percent of adults living paycheck to paycheck, while 37 percent are one $400 emergency away from falling behind.
The balance in our economy has shifted away from workers and toward those who profit from their work. Real wages have not kept pace with the wealth workers are helping create, leaving households unable to absorb even small unexpected expenses. This insecurity is compounded by a tax code that places a heavier burden on work while deliberately giving an advantage to income that comes from wealth.
As worker bargaining power has been weakened, job quality has declined and families have lost the ability to build savings or move ahead. As core expenses take up more of each paycheck, gaps in overtime protections and restrictive contracts like non-compete agreements keep workers stuck and limit their ability to move ahead.
We will make sure hard work actually pays, protect wages from being undercut, and create real paths to get ahead.
Wages and Worker Power
Establish a $20/hour national minimum wage.
Raise the non-exempt salary threshold for overtime to $100,000.
Expand eligibility for overtime pay.
Pass the PRO Act to protect the right to organize.
Ban restrictive barriers like non-compete agreements.
Fair Taxes
Make the first $20,000 of all income tax-free.
Tax capital gains for top earners as regular income.
Eliminate tax loopholes used by the ultra-wealthy.
Increase funding for tax enforcement on high-income evaders.
Lower Costs and Household Stability
Directly reduce the cost of higher education.
Roll back tariffs that drive up the daily cost of goods for families.
Growth, Infrastructure, and Workforce Alignment
Invest in national broadband and physical infrastructure.
Restore full funding to the Small Business Administration.
Invest in vocational training and robust workforce pipelines.
Align immigration policy with actual workforce and economic needs.
Young adults have always faced challenges getting launched into adulthood, and that transition has never been easy. What is different now is the presence of systemic barriers that are changing the outcome. For the first time in modern American history, upward mobility is no longer the norm. The likelihood of earning more than one’s parents has fallen from roughly 90% to less than 50%, not because young adults are working less, but because the system they are entering has been changed in ways that make it harder to get ahead.
This is the result of multiple pressures hitting at once. Housing costs have moved from roughly three times income to five or six times income in many markets, locking first-time buyers out of the market. Tuition has nearly tripled, and student debt now follows borrowers for decades. At the same time, wages have not kept pace with productivity and the cost of living, breaking the link between work and getting ahead.
Young adults are entering a labor market that offers less stability than the one before them. Entry-level jobs with benefits and clear advancement pathways have been replaced by contract work, limited benefits, and frequent job changes just to maintain income. Healthcare, childcare, and insurance costs consume a growing share of earnings early in life, leaving little room to save or build anything for the future. Asset growth in housing and financial markets continues to accelerate, but many are locked out, falling further behind each year.
This is not just a difficult start. It is a system that takes more at every stage of early adulthood, delaying homeownership, family formation, and long-term financial stability.
THE DEBT WE OWE TO THE NEXT GENERATION ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/economic-policy at this heading)
Each generation is supposed to pay it forward. The generation in power is supposed to help the next get established, build a life, and move forward. That is how this country is supposed to work.
That is not what is happening today.
The policies being set now shift resources away from future growth and increase costs for the next generation. Gains built over generations are being used up, leaving younger Americans with higher costs, more risk, and fewer opportunities.
We were given a system that worked. We are handing back one that does not.
We must restore a system where early adulthood is a launch point, not a financial trap that holds people back before they even get started. That means realigning policy so that work once again leads to stability, and stability leads to opportunity. The current structure shifts risk onto individuals while concentrating gains with those already ahead. That balance must be reset.
The cost of entry into adulthood must come down. Education, housing, and healthcare can no longer function as barriers that delay progress for decades. At the same time, wages must reflect the value of work, and labor markets must provide pathways to build careers, not just cycle through jobs.
We also need to restore access to wealth-building. Prior generations were able to buy homes, save early, and benefit from long-term asset growth. Today’s system restricts that access, widening the gap over time. Policies must ensure that young adults can participate in the same mechanisms of growth, rather than being locked out of them.
Finally, we must reconnect education, training, and employment. A system that produces degrees without opportunity and jobs without qualified workers is fundamentally broken. Public investment must be tied to outcomes that create real mobility, not just credentials or short-term fixes.
We will lower the cost of entry into adulthood, strengthen earnings, and create direct pathways to stable careers and long-term financial security. These are not isolated fixes. The challenges facing young adults are cumulative, and they require a coordinated set of policy changes to restore a viable path to stability and growth.
Lower the Cost of Getting Started
Make the first $20,000 of income tax-free to provide immediate financial relief.
Make public colleges and trade schools tuition-free for low-income families.
Implement a universal free-first-year policy for all public college students.
Cap and renegotiate student loan interest rates to prevent long-term debt traps.
Raise Wages and Strengthen Worker Stability
Pass the PRO Act to restore the right to organize and strengthen bargaining power.
Restore Access to Wealth-Building
Expand pathways to homeownership through targeted first-time buyer support and increased housing supply.
Align federal housing policy to reduce cost pressures and increase availability in high-demand areas.
Align Education with Real Opportunity
Mandate public reporting of post-graduation employment and salary outcomes.
Coordinate workforce programs, apprenticeships, and training with actual employer demand.
Expand vocational training, registered apprenticeships, and career pipeline programs.
Reduce Structural Barriers to Mobility
Ban non-compete agreements that prevent workers from advancing or starting businesses.
Reduce healthcare costs through a non-profit universal system (Medicare for All) so coverage is not tied to employment.
The American dream of homeownership is being pushed out of reach, leaving working families renting with no clear path forward. A home once cost roughly three times a family’s annual income; today, it costs five or six times, putting the primary path to building generational wealth out of reach for most families.
This crisis reflects policy choices that pulled support away from middle-class ownership while pushing housing costs beyond what wages can support. This has pushed families to spend over 30 percent of their income just to keep a roof over their heads. This shortage limits savings, drives up debt, and replaces the stability of ownership with the uncertainty of long-term renting.
The core problem is a housing shortage driven by years of decisions that failed to keep supply aligned with demand. Public policy has shifted away from supporting homeownership and toward a rental market that favors those who own property over the families trying to buy it. This has been made worse by rising material costs and labor shortages that make new construction more expensive and less frequent.
The market is further distorted by large investors who treat local neighborhoods as financial assets, outbidding families and taking homes that would otherwise go to them. Without action, the path for first-time buyers will continue to narrow, leaving the next generation without a realistic way to put down roots or build equity.
We must increase the supply of homes and make sure they are available to working families, not bought up by large investors before people can get a fair shot.
Expand construction of entry-level housing through direct federal incentives.
Leverage the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and infrastructure funds to expand middle-class housing development.
Strengthen federal loan programs so first-time buyers can compete in the market.
Ban interstate corporate speculation to prevent companies from buying up family homes.
Stabilize mortgage markets so they remain accessible to working families.
Local entrepreneurs and small business owners are being pushed out of the communities they built, forced to compete in an economy that favors distant conglomerates over local businesses. In places like Southern Indiana, job growth is being held back by rising input costs, uneven market conditions, and a chronic lack of accessible capital.
This decline reflects a policy environment that prioritizes short-term gains for a few over long-term investment in local economies. By shifting gains upward while pushing risk onto local economies and working families, the system has produced lower wages and underinvestment in the infrastructure small businesses depend on. The result is direct pressure on the systems small businesses rely on to survive and grow.
The cost of doing business must come down to restore the stability small businesses need to compete and grow. This requires ending erratic tariffs that drive up the cost of essential materials and make it harder for businesses to plan and invest. We must also strengthen the middle class so local businesses have a reliable, well-paid customer base instead of a community struggling to make ends meet.
Healthcare costs must be reduced as a primary business barrier, leveling the field between small businesses and large corporations that can absorb these expenses.
We must reverse cuts to the Small Business Administration, including the 33% workforce reduction and the $167 million reduction in entrepreneurial development. These cuts limit the ability of startups to launch and existing businesses to expand, weakening local ownership that forms the backbone of our economy.
We will strengthen small businesses so they can compete and grow without being pushed out by larger players with advantages they cannot match.
Lower Costs and Reduce Barriers
Ban non-compete agreements to encourage talent mobility and new business formation.
Roll back tariffs that drive up the cost of raw materials for small producers.
Expand Access to Capital
Restore SBA staffing and funding to ensure small businesses have access to technical support.
Expand SBA lending capacity and support so small businesses can actually access the capital they need to compete and grow.
Seed community loan funds through public-private partnerships to increase access to local capital.
Use federal guarantees to expand access to capital for local businesses that struggle to secure financing.
Build Infrastructure and Workforce Capacity
Complete the build-out of high-speed rural broadband.
Invest in physical infrastructure and workforce development tailored to local industry needs.
Align immigration policy with specific regional labor demands.
Ensure Fair Competition
Enforce labor laws to ensure a fair playing field for businesses that follow the rules.
Strengthen Local Innovation
Strengthen research and innovation partnerships between universities and local businesses.
We are paying for a world-class healthcare system and receiving a predatory one, with high costs and limited options.
The American healthcare system is a failure of both economics and ethics. We spend twice as much as peer nations, yet Americans die four years earlier than those in France. Medical debt is now a leading driver of bankruptcy, and 80% of those affected already have insurance.
This system is not just expensive. It is built in a way that does not work for the people paying into it. It ties coverage to employment, turning premiums into a permanent, private cost on every paycheck. It leaves families with plans they can barely afford to use, while consolidation increases and rural hospitals continue to disappear.
This is not a gap we can patch. It is a system that has to be replaced. We need Medicare for All, a non-profit model that removes profit from basic care, guarantees coverage, and brings costs back under control. That is why I am a member of Physicians for a National Health Program.
This transition will be executed through a disciplined three-year rollout that ensures people keep their care and are not put at risk at any point:
Year 1: Maintain all existing coverage, cap immediate costs, and begin enrolling the uninsured so no one is left without access.
Year 2: Expand automatic enrollment and transition employer contributions into the system without reducing take-home pay or forcing provider changes.
Year 3: Complete national automatic enrollment and eliminate premiums and deductibles in favor of a predictable, lower-cost public system.
We will stabilize current providers while building the infrastructure for a universal system that prioritizes rural access and mental health.
Immediate Cost Relief and Access Stabilization
Restore ACA subsidies to slash immediate out-of-pocket costs.
Increase federal reimbursement rates for low-volume and rural medical facilities.
Directly fund rural maternity care and mobile EMS units in underserved areas.
Guarantee 12 months of continuous postpartum care for all new mothers.
Eliminate prior authorization requirements and administrative barriers to care.
Fully fund the 988 crisis line and shift mental health response from jails to treatment-based care.
Enforce strong financial penalties and criminal accountability for corporate healthcare fraud.
Near-Term System Expansion and Capacity Building
Invest in school-based early intervention and provider loan forgiveness for high-need areas.
Complete the transition to a non-profit, Medicare for All model.
Long-Term Structural Guarantee
Pass a Constitutional Amendment establishing healthcare as a right so it cannot be taken away.
Rural communities are being hollowed out as investment has been pulled back over decades, putting their long-term viability at risk. When the bridge is closed, the hospital shuts down, and broadband is unavailable, opportunity does not just stall, it leaves. Families have to travel further for basic care, and young people leave when their hometown can no longer support their ambitions.
This decline reflects years of decisions that left entire regions without the core systems needed to compete. Investment follows reliability, and for too long, rural infrastructure has fallen behind as funding has been inconsistent and delayed.
The physical systems we rely on every day are reaching a breaking point. Indiana currently has over 1,000 structurally deficient bridges, with thousands more needing upgrades to keep commerce moving. Our aging electric grid is under strain and does not have the capacity to support new industrial demand or future energy needs.
The lack of universal high-speed broadband and modernized water systems creates a divide where rural communities fall behind in health, education, and economic opportunity. Strategic bottlenecks, such as congestion around Louisville crossings, slow movement across the entire region and limit economic growth. We need to overhaul the fragmented federal funding process, where delayed budgets and poor coordination slow down projects and limit results.
We will align federal funding with the community development plans already established by local and regional leaders so communities actually get the resources they need to fix what is broken and support growth.
Project Acceleration and Core Infrastructure
Repair and replace all structurally deficient bridges to secure commerce routes.
Upgrade electric grid capacity and resilience to meet future industrial demand.
Modernize aging water and wastewater systems to protect public health.
Broadband Access and Affordability
Complete the expansion of rural broadband through BEAD, ReConnect, and RDOF.
Restore the Affordable Connectivity Program to ensure internet remains affordable.
Financing and Local Investment
Deploy Community Development Block Grants directly for local infrastructure needs.
Expand USDA Rural Development and Rural Utilities Service financing.
Scale up Rural Business Development Grants and Community Facilities Loans.
Leverage EDA, RAISE, and INFRA grants to fund large-scale regional projects.
Expand SBA lending and Treasury-backed CDFI programs for local growth.
Workforce Alignment
Align WIOA workforce funding with actual employer hiring outcomes so people are trained for jobs that are in demand.
Governance and Coordination
Mandate on-time federal budgets to provide stable, multi-year project funding.
Unify federal tools into single, coordinated regional investment strategies so communities are not forced to navigate fragmented systems to get results.
Education is not just a childhood experience. It is a lifelong system that includes K-12, career and technical training, postsecondary education, and continuing education that workers rely on to adapt and grow. When that system breaks down at any stage, it weakens the entire economy. Education is a foundational pillar of long-term growth, workforce readiness, and national competitiveness.
Public education is no longer functioning as an engine of opportunity, leaving a generation in a system that favors those who start ahead. For the first time in American history, young adults can no longer expect to outpace their parents. The promise that hard work leads to progress is breaking down as outcomes become more tied to family wealth than individual effort.
This is not a temporary economic shift. It reflects decisions that are changing how opportunity is built and who it is available to. Funding is being pulled away from the public systems that serve the vast majority of Americans, while the cost of every educational milestone continues to climb. College has been turned from a public good into a high-stakes private risk, with tuition costs nearly tripling and student debt surging. At the same time, continuing education and workforce retraining pathways remain underfunded and disconnected from actual job demand.
The results are measurable. Upward mobility has plummeted to less than 50%. Young adults are entering the workforce burdened by debt, delaying homeownership, family formation, and long-term financial stability. What should be a system that builds capability across a lifetime has become one that takes more at every stage.
To restore mobility and long-term growth, we must rebuild education as a complete system that supports Americans from early learning through career advancement. Each generation is supposed to help the next get established and move ahead. Today, policy is doing the opposite by taking from the future instead of building it.
Redirecting K-12 funding away from public schools weakens outcomes and widens the gap between those with resources and those without. Higher education has become a debt-driven system where financial support has not kept pace with rising costs. Continuing education and workforce retraining remain disconnected and difficult to access, limiting the ability of workers to adapt to a changing economy.
At the federal level, proposals to eliminate the Department of Education would remove more than $3 billion in funding that currently supports schools, students, and communities. This sets up a funding shift that reduces accountability and weakens long-term investment.
Eliminating the Department of Education also removes a critical layer of transparency and community visibility. Without consistent federal reporting and oversight, families, educators, and local leaders lose clear insight into how schools are performing and where resources are going. That loss of visibility makes it easier for funding to be redirected without public oversight, further undermining trust and outcomes.
Workforce systems must also be realigned. Education, training programs, and employer demand cannot continue to operate in silos. Federal resources must be simplified and directed toward measurable outcomes that connect education directly to jobs and long-term mobility.
We will align federal education and workforce funding with the specific needs of local schools, training programs, and employers to create a clear path from early education through career advancement while removing financial barriers at every stage.
Lower Costs and Expand Access
Expand Pell Grants and other forms of need-based financial aid.
Expand work-study and service-based education pathways.
Fix Student Debt and Financial Barriers
Cap and renegotiate predatory student loan interest rates.
Strengthen K-12 Investment and Accountability
Fully fund Title I to ensure low-income school districts have the resources they need.
Strengthen federal oversight to ensure education funding reaches the classroom.
Align Education with Workforce Outcomes
Coordinate WIOA, CTE, and apprenticeship programs to match local employer demand.
Expand Registered Apprenticeship and Job Corps programs across the region.
Increase Perkins funding to modernize career and technical education.
Support adult retraining through fully funded AEFLA programs.
Simplify and Target Federal Funding
Simplify federal education grants to ensure they are accessible for local use.
Streamline the flow of federal funding to communities with the highest economic need.
Farmers are being pushed out of their own livelihood, forced to work harder for a smaller share of the value they create. The independence of the American farm is being replaced by a dependence on volatile global markets and rising input costs that leave families with less control over their own land.
For years, trade decisions have relied on reactive tariffs that drive up the cost of equipment and fertilizer while limiting access to the export markets farmers rely on. This instability is compounded by corporate consolidation, where a handful of firms now dictate the price of seeds, processing, and distribution. By prioritizing short-term gains over long-term resilience, the system pushes risk onto the farmer while profits are captured elsewhere.
To sustain the family farm, we must move away from reactive bailouts and toward a foundation of predictable, functioning markets. Trade policy must be stabilized to ensure farmers can plan for the next decade rather than the next news cycle. Market concentration has reduced competition, weakened price transparency, and left producers with little negotiating power.
Rising barriers to entry are making farm succession increasingly difficult, so family farms are more likely to be absorbed by a larger operation rather than passed to the next generation. We must address the rising costs of essential technology and inputs that are increasing faster than farm income. Without enforcing antitrust laws and protecting the right to repair, independent farmers will continue to lose control over how they operate and what they earn.
We will restore stability for farmers by strengthening competition and establishing trade and labor policies that support long-term planning.
Fair Markets and Competition
Enforce the Packers and Stockyards Act and antitrust laws to break up corporate consolidation.
Expand regional processing capacity to increase competition for farm products.
Mandate transparent USDA price reporting to ensure fair market value.
Lower Input Costs and Strengthen Supply Chains
Roll back tariffs to lower input costs and restore stable export relationships.
Incentivize domestic fertilizer production to reduce reliance on foreign supply.
Expand the Rural Energy for America Program and invest in precision agriculture tax credits.
Farmer Independence
Codify the national “Right to Repair” for all farm equipment.
Limit corporate overreach on seed patents and genetic materials.
Labor and Risk Management
Reform the H-2A program and align immigration policy with actual agricultural labor needs.
Lock in permanent disaster relief and expand Whole Farm Revenue Protection insurance.
Access to Capital and Generational Continuity
Increase Farm Service Agency loan limits and support for beginning farmers.
Incentivize generational land transfers to keep farms in the family.
Expand the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program to protect farmland from development.
Predictable Policy
Shift federal support from ad hoc bailouts to predictable, market-based structures.
The American consumer is being turned into a source of data and risk, trapped in a system where gains are kept private while losses are pushed onto the public. When reckless financial practices fail, the public is forced to absorb the damage, while the architects of those failures walk away with their profits intact. This is a deliberate shift in the balance of power.
Families are increasingly exposed to complex, opaque financial products designed to obscure predatory lending and hidden fees. This vulnerability is amplified by technology. Personal data is collected, sold, and used to make decisions about credit and employment without clear consent or accountability.
This reflects reduced enforcement that leaves consumers exposed to higher costs, hidden fees, and limited recourse. As oversight has been weakened, the system has shifted away from protecting consumers and toward exposing them to manipulation and loss.
To restore trust, we must move away from a “buyer beware” economy and rebuild a system where transparency and accountability are required. Financial markets require clear, proactive rules that prevent deceptive practices before harm occurs, rather than reacting after families have already lost their savings.
Individuals must have clear ownership and control over their personal data, replacing the current fragmented system with one that requires meaningful consent and provides clear recourse.
We must expand access to fair credit through community-focused institutions to replace the gaps currently filled by high-cost lenders. This requires rebalancing the tax and regulatory structure so the economy no longer favors capital over working households. Without these changes, risk will continue to fall on those least able to absorb it, weakening the stability of the entire market.
We will protect individuals by enforcing clear standards for data use and financial behavior so fair practices are the only way to do business.
Data Rights and AI Transparency
Establish a Data Bill of Rights guaranteeing access, deletion, and portability.
Mandate transparency and independent audits for all algorithmic and automated decisions.
Require explicit disclosure for all AI-generated content and political advertisements.
Enforce strict federal data breach notification and protection standards.
Grant data protection authorities enforcement and subpoena power.
Consumer Financial Protection
Strengthen and expand the capacity of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Ban exploitative lending traps, including balloon payments and predatory refinancing.
Access to Fair Credit
Expand federal support for credit unions and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs).
Seed community loan funds through public-private partnerships to replace payday lenders.
Use federal guarantees to expand access to fair, small-dollar lending.
Tax Fairness
Increase the federal standard deduction to $20,000 to provide immediate relief.
Tax non-homestead capital gains as regular income for top earners.
Eliminate the tax loopholes used by the ultra-wealthy to bypass public obligations.
Fully fund enforcement of existing tax laws to ensure compliance.
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Heading as listed on bradmeyer.org/economic-policy ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/economic-policy at this heading)

I’ll fight this administration’s efforts to dismantle public education.
America was made great by providing public education to all. That greatness came in the form of a promise: every child, no matter what their background or challenges, deserves to learn the skills to lead a full and dignified life. That is how we raise the prosperity of all of our citizens, and in turn, the prosperity of our nation. The Department of Education ensures that education decisions are based on facts, that money is spent wisely and fairly, and student rights are protected from partisan politics. But now, the Department’s very existence is under threat from the Trump administration.
We must keep the promise of public education alive for every child across this country. I will take this message to Washington. That is why I am running for Congress.
While the Constitution places responsibility for education with the states, a focused federal role strengthens local authority rather than override it. The Department of Education helps build and protect the foundation of democracy. It is essential for national strength and long-term competitiveness.
Education needs improvement, and the federal role must be seen again as an investment in a skilled workforce and equal opportunity for every child. The Department operates like a national scorekeeper. It ensures the game is tracked fairly, transparently, and consistently across states.
Without the Department, there would be no reliable scoreboard. There would be no objective understanding of what works, and no impartial checks when rights are violated, and no way to assess if funds are misused. It serves as a trusted observer, offering a common base of facts so that educators, families, and communities can improve outcomes together.
The Department of Education performs four key functions that help ensure accountability, fairness, and continuous improvement across the country.
Providing Objective Evidence for Smarter Decisions ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/education-policy at this heading)
Families, educators, and community leaders need trustworthy information to make good decisions. The Department provides this through tools like the National Center for Education Statistics, the College Scorecard, and IPEDS. These resources offer neutral, standardized data that empowers parents to compare schools, helps educators identify what works, and gives policymakers the tools required to improve outcomes. They also help hold systems accountable, identify gaps, and share successes that can be scaled.
The Department also provides information on long term policy changes that states make, such as voucher and charter programs, using facts rather than political spin. Since not all state leaders can be trusted to honestly assess their own programs long term success, federal data ensures everyone is able to see the real score. While some wish the federal government could block harmful policies outright, its power is limited. Its influence comes through funding, transparency, and evidence. The real fight still happens in statehouses and local school boards, but it is a stronger fight when backed by national facts.
Evaluating Reforms and Protecting Taxpayer Investments ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/education-policy at this heading)
The Department does more than collect data. It helps improve education through pilot programs, grants, and independent evaluation. It tests new ideas, measures what works, and helps local districts adopt proven strategies that deliver real results. It also conducts audits and investigations to stop fraud, waste, and abuse through its Office of Inspector General. This protects taxpayer dollars and ensures money goes where it is needed most.
Distributing Targeted Funding That Levels the Playing Field ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/education-policy at this heading)
When local tax bases fall short, federal aid makes a critical difference. The Department supports local control while requiring results. Key allocations include:
60% ($160.7 billion) for Federal Student Aid, including Pell Grants, work-study, and federal loans.
25% ($68.1 billion) to help states address local education needs.
15% ($39.9 billion) for K–12 grants, including:
7% ($18.8 billion) for Title I support in low-income areas.
6% ($15.5 billion) for special education under IDEA.
2% ($5.5 billion) for school improvement.
These programs help close opportunity gaps and ensure continuity when state budgets fluctuate. They allow young people to pursue education, economic stability, and mobility, even when their communities face hardship.
Enforcing Civil Rights and Legal Compliance ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/education-policy at this heading)
The Department enforces federal laws that protect students from discrimination. It intervenes when public funds are misused or when students are treated unfairly. This work is legal, not political. It focuses on transparency, compliance, and equal access. Despite some opponents calling it ideological, the Department’s core responsibility is enforcing the law fairly.
This protection is especially important for students with physical, emotional, or learning-related disabilities. Just a few decades ago, many of these children were denied an education and pushed to the margins. That began to change with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the work of families and advocates. Special education programs have opened doors and helped students pursue lives of independence and dignity.
That progress takes resources. It requires trained teachers, adaptive tools, and time. The Department helps schools cover these costs and ensures IDEA is enforced. Without this support, many schools simply would not or could not serve these students well.
Still, too many students fall through the cracks. A grandmother told me how her son had to sue the local school district to get her grandson the services the district unjustly withheld. When summer school came, the district placed him in a general class with no support. They checked a box but failed the child. This child may not grow up to lead a Fortune 500 company, but he will grow up. He will live in our neighborhoods, work in our communities, and vote in our elections. And he will do all that without his parents there to fight for him. We owe it to him to make sure he is ready.
When that happens, the Department is often the only authority with the power to intervene. Despite its national role, it operates lean. Fewer than 4,000 employees oversee a $268B budget, with over 90% of that money going directly to states, students, and institutions. Eliminating the Department would force each state to recreate these services at great cost, with less consistency and weaker accountability.
Why the Oversight Matters ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/education-policy at this heading)
The Department of Education serves as our national scorekeeper. It ensures education decisions are based in facts. It ensures money is spent wisely and protects student rights without partisan bias.
Its core functions are not partisan. They are about fairness, accuracy, and responsible use of public funds. Without the Department, powerful interests could push untested ideas without evidence, avoid scrutiny, and sidestep consequences. The cost of that failure would fall hardest on the most vulnerable students. And the damage would harm public trust and national unity well beyond classrooms.
The Call to Action ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/education-policy at this heading)
The Department of Education supports local control, not by commanding schools, but by protecting fairness, promoting efficiency, and providing honest information for families. Efforts to eliminate the Department remove vital oversight and accountability, pushing unproven ideas without evidence. Eliminating it is like ripping out the scoreboard mid-game: no one can track results. No one is held responsible. That isn’t how you win; it’s how you cheat.
This moment transcends policy; it challenges whether we will defend fairness, demand results, and safeguard the opportunity system that prepares every American for their future. It is a system absolutely worth protecting.
Yet, the Department of Education is under direct threat, its funding, authority, and very existence targeted. Silence will undo decades of progress, leaving students with disabilities, those in poor communities, and all who rely on public schools behind. We cannot let this happen.
Now is the time to act. Speak up. Defend public education. Protect the Department of Education, our nation’s scorekeeper, ensuring fairness and accountability. Let us stand. Stand for the belief that every child deserves a fair chance and a strong future. The promise of public education is on the line; we must rise to meet this moment and keep that promise alive for every child, in every classroom, across this country.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · bradmeyer.org/education-policy

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We can’t let the polluters, and the politicians in their pockets, sabotage our future.
When we speak of protecting the environment, we really mean protecting our health. Indiana ranks among the worst for polluted rivers and air quality. Industry avoids responsibility and passes off the costs and the harms to us. Every one of us breathes the same air and drinks the same water. Environmental harm does not stay in distant forests or faraway rivers; it finds its way into our bodies, our families’ food, our homes, and our communities. This is not some abstract concept. This is directly connected to how we make a living and lead a decent life.
Environmental decline is no longer a distant or hypothetical concern. This is a public health issue, an economic risk, and a test of whether the government will act in the public interest.
I will go to Washington and fight for the safety of our communities. It’s time someone stood up and called out the polluters and the politicians who allow this to continue. That is why I am running for Congress.
INTRODUCTION+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/environmental-policy at this heading)
Protecting the environment is, above all, a moral responsibility. This country is our inheritance, but it is the birthright of future generations. We are not owners of the land, but stewards of it.
It is also a deeply practical concern.
From rising cancer rates linked to air and water pollution to the intensifying threat of wildfires, floods, and extreme heat, the consequences of inaction are being felt across communities, industries, and ecosystems. The United States has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2035. That is a timely but achievable goal that offers economic opportunity, public health gains, and long-term resilience. This paper outlines the roots of the crisis and the policy steps necessary to build a healthier, safer, and more secure future for all Americans.
BEFORE YOU TUNE OUT, READ THIS+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/environmental-policy at this heading)
Some readers may be tempted to stop reading at the mention of climate change. Before turning away, please read this section.
Let us set climate change aside for a moment and talk about something everyone can recognize: old-fashioned water pollution. Years ago, the Cuyahoga River in Ohio was so contaminated with oil and chemical waste that it actually caught fire. A river on fire. It is hard to imagine how polluted water must be to ignite, or how anyone allowed it to get that bad in the first place. The answer is simple: money.
In the absence of clear environmental standards, companies prioritized cost efficiency. Without legal or financial pressure to prevent pollution, harmful practices were the norm.
Politicians often backed down in the face of claims that stronger environmental protections would threaten jobs. This is a familiar pattern: regulations are labeled “job killers,” and elected officials retreat from their responsibilities.
The fire was a national embarrassment. It sparked outrage, led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and inspired the Clean Water Act. For the first time, businesses were required to account for the environmental damage they caused. Their pollution had to be included in the price of doing business.
That was in 1969. In Ohio.
SURELY THINGS ARE BETTER IN INDIANA TODAY, RIGHT?+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/environmental-policy at this heading)
Unfortunately, they are not.
Air pollution: In 2025, the American Lung Association ranked Indianapolis the 11th-worst metro area in the country for year-round particle pollution. The state ranks 19th for ozone and 45th for short-term particulates. These statistics represent real health risks, including asthma attacks, heart disease, and reduced life expectancy.
Water pollution: Indiana leads the nation with over 25,000 miles of polluted rivers and streams. The Grand Calumet River is one of the most contaminated in the entire Great Lakes region. In Kokomo, vinyl chloride in the groundwater has triggered Superfund status, a designation for sites of extreme chemical danger.
And once again, the root cause is the same: money. To keep their costs low, industry is targeting the EPA.
It hires lobbyists to argue that regulations are “overreach.”
It pressures Congress to cut the agency’s enforcement budget.
It installs leadership at the EPA that is actively working to weaken it.
Lee Zeldin, the current EPA Administrator, was appointed with a clear mission to weaken it. He has begun rolling back rules, restructuring the agency, and reducing its scientific workforce. Recent results include:
388 probationary employees were fired in early 2025.
Up to 1,155 scientists at risk of layoff, more than 75 percent of the EPA’s research division.
Over 300 career staff resigning in protest.
Net reduction: nearly 2,000 staff in less than a year.
Pollution is always about shifting costs from a company’s books onto the public. These costs end up in our lungs, in our water, and in our children’s future.
This is not a new tactic. The first Surgeon General’s warning that smoking was dangerous came out in 1964. Yet some schools still had student smoking areas almost 20 years later. It took so long because tobacco companies used every tool at their disposal to delay action: phony science, expert witnesses, fake grassroots groups, and denial. They insisted that smoking was not harmful, especially not to children. And for years, people believed them.
The same thing happened with lead in gasoline. It took decades to remove it. Industry used the same playbook: fund fake science, discredit real scientists, and claim economic catastrophe if change occurred. They warned that removing lead would destroy cars, kill jobs, and crash the economy. None of that happened. They lied, because the lie protected their profits.
Today, fossil fuel companies are using the same strategy to discredit climate science. They cast doubt, manipulate public opinion, and flood the media with distractions. The tactics have not changed. The excuses have not changed. The goal has not changed.
What has changed is the scale. Today, what is at stake is not just millions of dollars but $8.32 trillion in annual fossil fuel revenue. And as history shows, when someone has that much to lose, they will do everything in their power to keep it.
Let us not be fooled again.
BARRIERS TO PROGRESS+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/environmental-policy at this heading)
The core failure in our environmental policy is this: polluters do not pay for the damage they cause. The real cost of fossil fuels, including cancer, asthma, agricultural losses, and climate instability, is paid by the public while companies profit. That is a market failure. The price of pollution appears in hospital bills, insurance premiums, property damage, and reduced productivity, not in corporate financial statements. This allows pollution to continue, because there is no direct financial incentive to stop.
We have tools to fix this. But powerful interests have delayed or blocked progress.
Carbon Pricing
Carbon taxes and cap-and-trade systems assign a cost to emissions. These approaches encourage cleaner alternatives by making polluters pay. Industry lobbyists and misinformation campaigns have weakened or defeated most of these proposals.
Clear and Consistent Standards
Fuel economy rules, emission limits, and clean air laws are effective when implemented. Unfortunately, these standards are frequently rolled back under political pressure.
Subsidy Reform
Fossil fuels still receive billions in government subsidies. A fair market would redirect these funds toward renewable energy. That shift remains blocked by entrenched interests.
Legal Accountability
Some states and cities have sued polluters to recover damages. Legal complexity and corporate resources make progress difficult and slow.
Transparency and Disclosure
Requiring companies to report emissions and risks helps markets and communities make informed decisions. Voluntary frameworks are not enough. Rules must be enforceable.
Until pollution has a cost for polluters, clean alternatives will remain disadvantaged. This is not a technology problem. It is a political one.
POLICY PRIORITIES FOR A FAIR, RENEWABLE FUTURE+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/environmental-policy at this heading)
Accelerate Renewable Energy
End fossil fuel subsidies.
Invest in wind, solar, geothermal, and local energy options.
Modernize the grid.
Ensure Clean Air, Water, and Soil
Replace lead pipes and upgrade water systems.
Enforce pollution limits near schools and neighborhoods.
Fund farmland conservation and soil health.
Restore Ecosystems and Protect Land
Reforest, conserve wetlands, and restore native habitats.
Safeguard biodiversity and natural flood protections.
Prioritize Environmental Justice
Target cleanup in overburdened communities.
Require cumulative harm analysis for new projects.
Fund local-led air and water monitoring.
Build a Green Economy
Support jobs initiatives in infrastructure and restoration.
Expand training for renewable and conservation sectors.
Reduce Waste and Expand Recycling
Set national recycling standards.
Incentivize composting and reusable packaging.
Build regional recycling infrastructure.
Expand Civic Engagement and Oversight
Require corporate environmental disclosures.
Expand public access to data and hearings.
Promote environmental education and local input.
CALL TO ACTION ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/environmental-policy at this heading)
Environmental protection is not a partisan issue. It is a matter of national health, prosperity, and security. The technologies exist. What we need now is leadership, responsibility, and public demand.
Clear and consistent rules protect public health, provide certainty for businesses, and foster innovation. Investing now in renewable energy and ecosystem resilience avoids far higher costs later. These are not speculative claims. They reflect the reality already unfolding in communities across America.
We must act not only to prevent harm but to build something better: energy independence, local resilience, high-quality jobs, and a healthier environment for all. Embracing innovation and responsible resource management is not a partisan agenda; it is an American imperative.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · bradmeyer.org/environmental-policy

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We are becoming the kind of threat we once stood against,
bullying our neighbors, ignoring diplomacy, and eroding the trust of our allies. We are replacing principled leadership with brute force and using our military power not for defense but for intimidation. This is strategically short-sighted and surrenders our leadership among nations to stand for peace and international stability.
In the face of this, it is more dangerous for our nation to stay silent than it is to speak plainly.
RESOURCE CONTROL+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/foreign-policy at this heading)
The administration’s actions are driven by an open pursuit of resource control and strategic leverage. History shows that when this happens, confrontation becomes inevitable, and it leads to needless wars.
I will go to Washington to work to put America back on the path that led us to be leaders of the Free World. That is why I am running for Congress.
Among the world’s most mineral-rich nations, the closest to Washington are Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, and Greenland. Each of them now faces escalating pressure and direct threats to their sovereignty from us. The Administration calls this strength, but it is predation— a strategic weakness that isolates nations and accelerates opposition. Every American — regardless of party — will bear the consequences of a foreign policy built on pressure rather than principle.
This approach rejects the core American traditions of discipline, constitutional limits, and the understanding that unchecked power is dangerous. It violates principles valued by conservatives and liberals alike: restraint, discipline in the use of force, and constitutional boundaries. These were the guardrails that prevented miscalculation and protected American credibility for generations. We built partnerships that prevented wider wars and kept whole regions stable for generations.
RESPONSIBLE AMERICAN POWER+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/foreign-policy at this heading)
We once understood this. When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait to seize its oil, it was a Republican president who set the standard for responsible American power. He said we must build “a world where the rule of law supplants the rule of the jungle… a world where the strong respect the rights of the weak.” That clarity helped prevent a wider war. It protected allies and upheld American leadership.
Today, those foundations are being abandoned. Renaming the Department of Defense as the Department of War and changing Veterans Day to Victory Day pushes the nation toward glorifying conflict. The Secretary of War said, “We also don’t fight with stupid rules of engagement… You kill people and break things for a living.” Their definition of “stupid” appears to be anything that limits their ambitions. His description reduced a constitutional duty to brutality, an insult to service members who defend the Constitution and protect the country. I have seen the quiet professionalism of those who serve, and we owe them leadership that values their lives over spectacle.
NOT A PACIFIST OR A WAR HAWK+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/foreign-policy at this heading)
I am not a pacifist. I am an electromagnetic warfare expert. As a civilian Navy engineer, I worked on systems that protected sailors from missile attack. I understand both the purpose and the cost of military power.
A Navy SEAL I worked with once said he hoped he would be the last generation in his family who ever had to fight. That hope depends on leaders who understand both the cost and responsibility of wielding force. It reflects the strategic wisdom that it is better to negotiate, build alliances, and use American strength to keep the peace rather than provoke conflict.
ACTING ON IMPULSE+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/foreign-policy at this heading)
Conservatives have long argued that the most dangerous foreign policy is one driven by impulse rather than strategy.
This trajectory will lead to a pattern of repeated conflict with every nation whose resources we covet. We are being conditioned to see intimidation as patriotism, refusal as enmity, and dominance as leadership. If this pattern continues, young Americans will pay the price — in conflicts created by leaders who never intend to bear the cost themselves. And the economic fallout will fall hardest on them as well — in higher costs, disrupted supply chains, and instability that reaches every household.
And we will risk the lives of service members who pledged their own so that force would be used only to protect, never to plunder.
This is a danger to us as much as it is to the rest of the world. History shows that once governments normalize the use of coercion abroad, they soon apply it at home. In the same meeting where the Secretary of War dismissed rules of engagement, no matter who holds office, the use of military power inside civilian communities must remain bound by strict constitutional limits. President Trump said the military should practice in our cities — a statement that crosses a line every democracy must hold. No American president has ever used civilian communities as training grounds for military force.
Those pushing this strategy ignore the long-term interests of the United States. The greatest generation built international cooperation on realism, restraint, and alliances because they had seen the cost of unrestrained power. Yet we now find ourselves repeating the very patterns they warned against.
There are real threats in the world, and we do need reliable access to critical resources. But threatening allies and neighbors — even those we do not like — to obtain them is not leadership. It is strategic incompetence. Nations pushed too far will turn toward our adversaries. Short-term dominance will become long-term isolation. And young Americans will inherit a more dangerous world shaped by our failure to act wisely today.
PLAIN TRUTH+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/foreign-policy at this heading)
America cannot afford leaders who mistake provocation for strength; we need leadership that restores stability rather than accelerates danger.
Plain truth is required, because avoiding it now will cost far more than facing it. Moments like this define not only what we stand against, but what we stand for as a nation.
Call to Action ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/foreign-policy at this heading)
We have always pulled together when it really counted. It counts now. The choice before us will determine whether America restores the principles that kept us stable for generations, or descends into a future shaped by our failure to act.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · bradmeyer.org/foreign-policy

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I won’t stop working
until every Hoosier has access
to affordable healthcare.
In America, healthcare is treated as a profit center, leading to tragically poor outcomes. Medicare for All is a proven solution. By building on programs like Medicare, we can guarantee coverage for every resident, end medical bankruptcies, and free people to choose their doctor without fear of financial ruin. It’s time to demand a system that serves people, not profits.
Chances are, you know someone (a family member, a friend, or a neighbor) who has been crushed by medical debt, who has delayed care because they couldn’t afford it, or who lives in fear of losing insurance. This isn’t just a personal issue; it’s a public crisis that affects all of us.
Join me in demanding that Congress face the facts: that our current healthcare system is dragging families into debt, delivering worse outcomes, and derailing our prosperity.
This is the message I will bring to Washington. This is why I am running for Congress.
THE HUMAN COST OF A FAILED SYSTEM+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/health-care-policy at this heading)
For working families, seniors, and rural communities, the cost of our broken system is measured in lives lost and futures stolen. Compared to other nations, we suffer
the worst infant mortality,
the worst maternal mortality,
the most preventable death, and
on average, Americans die four years earlier than in countries with nonprofit healthcare systems.
All of this, despite paying the highest healthcare costs in the world. In Indiana, it is worse; we rank 39th in the US for life expectancy, and in our rural areas, it is even worse. These deaths are a direct result of political choices.
These are not just statistics. They represent the stress, suffering, and loss of our neighbors, our families, and ourselves. I have met parents caring for adult children with disabilities. Their greatest fear is what happens when they are gone, leaving their kids to navigate a system designed for denial. These are not rare cases; they are a national failure that touches every family.
THE ECONOMIC INJUSTICE OF PROFIT-DRIVEN CARE+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/health-care-policy at this heading)
The national health failure shows up not only in our life expectancy but in the stability of our communities. It is a fundamental injustice that we may go broke just trying to stay alive. Two-thirds of personal bankruptcies are caused by medical debt; a crisis that happens only in the U.S. In Indiana, it is worse; we have the 11th-highest share of residents with medical debt.
Even with insurance, 40 million Americans can’t afford their co-pays or deductibles, and one in five are forced to skip doses of their prescriptions because of high prices. For many families, critical care is delayed because they are forced to battle paperwork and billing disputes instead of focusing on recovery. In a country that values freedom, no one should have to choose between their health and their financial survival. With guaranteed care, you will be free to start a business, change jobs, or pursue your dreams without fear of losing coverage.
BUILDING ON A PROVEN SOLUTION+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/health-care-policy at this heading)
We are told that Medicare for All is an impossible dream. This is a lie. It is the global standard. More than 30 peer nations, covering 600 million people, have different versions of universal healthcare that deliver superior outcomes at lower costs. Every challenge (including cost, implementation, access, and staffing) has already been solved many times by many countries. The UK, for example, transitioned to a universal healthcare system in just three years, proving that smart reform can be fast and effective.
We do not need to start from scratch; we can build on what works. Our own government-administered systems (Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP) already serve over 100 million Americans and are more efficient than any private insurer. Medicare’s administrative cost is just 1.3 percent, compared with 12 to 18 percent for private insurers. That is money we could put into saving lives instead of padding corporate profits. This efficiency could save $450 billion each year.
THE POLITICS OF PROFIT AND OBSTRUCTION+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/health-care-policy at this heading)
Why are we stuck with a system that underperforms? Because of the politics of profit and obstruction. This broken system funnels billions into the pockets of a few corporations, and they will do anything to keep it. They keep us sick with six tricks—six lies that prevent real reform:
False Universality: They claim they want everyone covered, but what they really want is everyone covered in the high-cost system that lines their pockets.
Incremental Stalling: They offer “gradual” fixes that stall progress while 68,000 Americans die every year.
Sabotage of Public Systems: They weaken what does work, like Medicare and Medicaid, so people fear public solutions. Privatization is piracy.
Complexity as a Smokescreen: They bury us in details to make change feel impossible. But the UK did it in three years—complexity is no excuse.
Empty Advocacy: They profess to care but do nothing.
Diversions into Niche Models: They distract with “innovations” like concierge care or health-sharing plans that leave millions behind.
The Affordable Care Act was a compromise that got millions covered. Opponents tried to repeal it nearly 100 times, and failing that, they undercut it to drag it into the same failure as the rest of the for-profit system. We must not let the same sabotage happen again.
A WARNING WE CANNOT IGNORE+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/health-care-policy at this heading)
This is not an academic exercise. It is life and death, and the suffering of all of us. New budget cuts are threatening hospital closures and eliminating vital services for children and adults with disabilities. Medicare for All means keeping rural hospitals open and saving local jobs. It means equal access for rural communities, not just big cities.
Some in Congress are advancing privatization proposals that weaken the programs Americans rely on. The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is a prime example, seeking nearly $500 billion in Medicare cuts over ten years, imposing work requirements for Medicaid recipients, and eliminating minimum staffing requirements in nursing homes. We cannot let them succeed.
THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/health-care-policy at this heading)
The bottom line is clear: This for-profit healthcare system does not profit us. Medicare for All is not just a policy; it is a promise of freedom, security, and fairness. It works better, costs less, and saves lives.
Imagine an Indiana where no parent has to choose between their child’s health and their family’s financial future. Imagine a state where every person has access to the care they need, not just the care they can afford. That’s the future we can build together.
HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/health-care-policy at this heading)
Join advocates like Medicare for All Indiana or Hoosier Action.
Ask every candidate about Medicare for All —watch for evasions.
Tell them your vote equals healthcare.
Vote and hold leaders accountable.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · bradmeyer.org/health-care-policy

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I’ll bring a new approach to protect our borders and provide legal paths for immigration.
Immigration is really an economic issue. The solution is clear: match immigration with legal hiring needs. We need workers, and immigrants need jobs. Illegal hiring drives undocumented immigration. Rather than design a lawful, workable system, we spend billions on policies that tear families apart and chase symptoms rather than fix the cause: illegal hiring. I will pursue reforms that address both sides lawfully, fairly, and in line with our values.
I will bring clear thinking and solid, workable solutions to Washington. That is why I am running for Congress.
“… rather than design a lawful, workable system, we spend billions on policies that chase symptoms rather than fix the cause.” – BRAD MEYER
A SYSTEM THAT FAILS EVERYONE+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/immigration-policy at this heading)
A broken immigration system hurts every American. But there’s a clear, practical path to fix it, one that strengthens our economy, honors our values, and protects our future.
Contrary to how it may seem in today’s political debate, immigration does have a clear solution. For decades, we’ve been stuck in a system that is not only unsustainable but also deeply harmful. The way forward is not through the political extremes, but through the practical, principled middle ground. While we may differ on the causes or ideal outcomes, there is broad agreement that the current system fails all of us and needs to be fixed.
At its core, this is an economic issue. Our economy needs the labor, and there are people eager to fill those jobs. By failing to acknowledge the economic roots of this problem, our current policies do more than just fall short. They also weaken respect for the rule of law and create unnecessary human suffering by forcing millions into the shadows. We don’t need to choose between a secure nation and a compassionate one. We can, and must, have both.
This crisis touches employers, workers, families, and communities alike. Current policies often drive illegal hiring, which in turn incentivizes more undocumented immigration. Without a viable legal framework that reflects our labor needs, the system invites abuse and breeds instability. The reality is simple: so long as the only way to fill critical jobs is to break the rules. Many will take that route out of necessity or survival.
The irony is that we need this labor force, and they want to contribute. But rather than design a lawful, workable system, we spend billions on policies that chase symptoms rather than fix the cause.
THE ECONOMICS OF DYSFUNCTION+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/immigration-policy at this heading)
Immigrants are vital to our economy. In 2022 alone, undocumented immigrants paid $76 billion in taxes. Legalizing the status of those already contributing could boost GDP by over $1.7 trillion and create hundreds of thousands of additional legal jobs while stabilizing our labor market and tax base.
At the same time, nearly $400 billion has been spent on border enforcement since 2003 without solving the problem. Mass deportation would cost billions more and shrink the economy. While we must enforce our laws, we also need to recognize what compels people to come here in the first place: the pursuit of work. Many walk hundreds of miles, endure hardship, and risk death just for a chance to earn a living. Their willingness to endure such hardship speaks to the depth of their need, not a disregard for the law.
This doesn’t excuse unlawful entry. But it makes one thing clear: enforcement alone cannot fix a system that invites the very behavior it seeks to punish.
ILLEGAL HIRING AND THE ROOT OF THE CRISIS+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/immigration-policy at this heading)
At the heart of our 40-year failure is this: while billions have been poured into border security, very little has been invested in ending illegal hiring or building legal pathways to match our labor needs. That imbalance fuels both undocumented migration and unfair competition.
“If we don’t address this imbalance, we will never achieve true border security, no matter how much we spend, how high we build a wall, or how aggressively we patrol”
We rarely talk about illegal hiring. Crossing the border without authorization is a federal misdemeanor. But under U.S. law, a pattern or practice of knowingly hiring undocumented workers is a felony. Yet enforcement overwhelmingly targets workers, not the employers who drive demand.
This is not a call to round up employers as we’ve tried to do with immigrants. It is a call to finally confront the root cause: an immigration policy failure that focuses on symptoms while ignoring the underlying system breakdown.
When following the law puts businesses at a disadvantage, it should come as no surprise that some break the rules to survive. If there are no legal pathways to hire needed workers, both employers and workers are pushed outside the system.
We should not criminalize honest employers trying to fill essential jobs, or desperate people trying to earn a living. Instead, we must build a system that reflects our values, supports lawful opportunity, and levels the playing field for everyone.
THE CASE FOR PRACTICAL REFORM+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/immigration-policy at this heading)
“These are not demands from the extremes. They are practical solutions from the middle.”
Based on clear labor market data that defines how many workers we need and where
Backed by secure, orderly, and humane border and visa enforcement
Reinforced by fair labor standards and strong penalties for illegal hiring
Guided by our humanitarian responsibilities and rule-of-law traditions
OUR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSIBILITY+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/immigration-policy at this heading)
The United States seeks to be a light to the world, and has a moral obligation to lead with both strength and compassion. That means prioritizing vulnerable refugees and those seeking asylum from the abuse of dictators. But that also means careful vetting, and ensuring that those who arrive can contribute meaningfully to our future as well as theirs.
New immigrants should receive support such as language training and community programs for successful integration—which also strengthens our national identity and provides shared opportunities for the immigrants and the businesses which need them.
A SHARED SOLUTION FOR A SHARED FUTURE+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/immigration-policy at this heading)
Real progress demands an approach that balances enforcement of our immigration laws, a recognition of our economic need for workers, and a respect for human dignity. This path requires all groups to lead with their values, not surrender them. We must enforce the laws, honor the workers, and restore trust in each other. A successful path recognizes the potential for undocumented immigrants to become contributing members of the American story through legal pathways. Moreover, it recognizes that employers are vital players in rebuilding a fair system.
Recognize the shared accountability between immigrants and employers
Create pathways that match labor supply with demand
Maintain secure and humane border enforcement
Put an end to illegal hiring
Make a renewed commitment to our humanitarian principles
CONCLUSION: STANDING UP FOR THE MIDDLE PATH ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/immigration-policy at this heading)
We have a solution. We just need the people in the middle to stand up and demand it; real progress won’t come from the extremes.
Together, we can confront this divisive issue, solve it, and make A Stronger Future.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · bradmeyer.org/immigration-policy

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Protecting the Economy for Everyone ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/policy-overview at this heading)
I will fight to end policies that keep us living paycheck to paycheck.
For decades, our economy has been rigged to favor billionaires and corporations at the expense of working families. Our vision holds corporations accountable and makes strategic public investments that truly serve the interests of our citizens. I want to put American families at the center of decision-making.
Health Care Should Be A Right ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/policy-overview at this heading)
In America, healthcare is treated as a profit center, leading to tragically poor outcomes. Medicare for All is a proven solution. By building on programs like Medicare, we can guarantee coverage for every resident, end medical bankruptcies, and free people to choose their doctor without fear of financial ruin. It’s time to demand a system that serves people, not profits.
Democracy is based on the Rule of Law.
A party with a narrow majority is imposing their will upon our citizens without limits, leaving nearly half the population with no voice and no protection. My policies will seek to restore respect for truth, respect for human dignity, and responsibility for those in power. Laws and institutions must serve the Constitution, not one person’s ambition.
I’ll fight this administration’s efforts to dismantle public education.
Public education is a promise: every child, no matter their challenges, deserves the skills for a full, dignified life. The Department of Education ensures education decisions are based in facts, that money is spent wisely, and student rights are protected without partisan bias. But now, the Department’s funding, authority, and very existence is under direct threat. We must keep the promise of public education alive for every child across this country.
We can’t let the polluters, and the politicians in their pockets, sabotage our future.
Polluters dump their poisons and their costs onto us, into our lungs, water, and future. Indiana ranks among the worst for polluted rivers and air quality. Industry avoids responsibility through denial, delay, and public confusion. But we are stewards, not plunderers. With clean energy, fair rules, and public oversight, my policies can restore health, jobs, and trust. The damage is real, and so is the opportunity for real change. I won’t stop working until every Hoosier has access to affordable healthcare.
We can’t step away from our government’s stake in the global stage.
The Executive branch is responsible for foreign affairs, but Congress has the power to Declare War, set budgets that support foreign policy, and be a strong voice in our overseas actions. I am not a war hawk, nor am I a pacifist. I believe the use of force should always be a last resort. I want just, peaceful, and long-term solutions wherever possible. We must unite a broad coalition that can restore common sense in foreign affairs and make America truly secure. I’ll stand up for our courts, equal justice, and civil liberties—they’re for every American.
I’ll bring a new approach to protect our borders and provide legal paths for immigration.
Immigration is really an economic issue. The solution is clear: match immigration with legal hiring needs. We need workers, and immigrants need jobs. Illegal hiring drives undocumented immigration. Rather than design a lawful, workable system, we spend billions on policies that chase symptoms rather than fix the cause (illegal hiring). I will pursue reforms that address both sides lawfully, fairly, and in line with our values.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · bradmeyer.org/policy-overview

Heading as listed on bradmeyer.org/policy-overview ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/policy-overview at this heading)

Economic Status of People with Disabilities ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/disabilities-round-table-economics at this heading)
One in four Americans reports having a disability. People with disabilities are more likely to be poor, especially in rural areas. In 2019, nearly half (46%) of people with disabilities lived in households with financial hardship. 18% were below the Federal Poverty Level. An additional 29% were classified as Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE), earning more than the poverty level but not enough to cover basic living expenses. According to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Labor, people with disabilities earn roughly 31% to 37% less than their non-disabled peers.
People with disabilities in Indiana have substantial barriers to employment and disproportionately high rates of unemployment or underemployment. In 2019, people with disabilities were nearly four times more likely to be out of the labor force than people without disabilities (57% vs. 16%).
Employment ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/disabilities-round-table-economics at this heading)
Lack of employment and economic opportunities is the primary reason for the poverty of individuals with disabilities. People with disabilities face substantial barriers to employment and disproportionately high rates of unemployment or underemployment.
Common obstacles in order of their mention by people at the roundtable were
insufficient public transportation,
fear of loss of health insurance through Medicaid,
lack of access to workforce development programs,
low wages,
loss of social security and supplemental securing benefits and
employer attitudes about disabilities.
Housing ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/disabilities-round-table-economics at this heading)
Lack of affordable, accessible housing and limited stock can lead to housing instability, and discriminatory housing practices persist. The U.S. housing crisis is worse for people with physical disabilities for two reasons. First, affordable housing is a challenge because people with physical disabilities are twice as likely to be low income. Second, accessibility is a challenge because significant and costly renovations are often required for people with physical disabilities.
US Housing and Urban Development recommends that households spend no more than 30% of their income on housing. In 2019, 31% of people with disabilities were renters and they are spending more than 50 percent of their monthly income on rent, mortgage, and utilities. Inadequate support, Medicaid Waiver waiting lists, and limited housing options make housing for people with significant disabilities even more difficult.
The Solution ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/disabilities-round-table-economics at this heading)
People with disabilities want to work and studies show there is benefit to both the individual and the community when they do. When people go to work there is a reduction in public assistance while improving the person’s quality of life. But many federal benefit and assistance programs that are ESSENTIAL for success place unnecessary limits on earnings and assets. These provide huge disincentives. Part of making housing more affordable for people with disabilities is to address the systems that keep them in poverty.
Enabling people to work in the community requires a multifaceted approach focusing on removing administrative barriers, providing accommodations, fostering inclusive cultures, and building strong partnerships, involving strategies like accessible recruitment, customized job training, flexible work options (telecommuting, adaptive tech), disability awareness training for staff, and co-creating solutions with disabled individuals to ensure genuine inclusion and empowerment.
To change federal policies for disability employment, focus on reforming benefit systems (like increasing asset limits for SSI), expanding inclusive workforce programs (apprenticeships, Employment First), improving federal agency practices (fast-track hiring, better accommodations), enhancing data collection, and strengthening legal advocacy, all aiming for Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) and removing systemic barriers to fair access and retention. Make employment support services available earlier, even to those applying for disability benefits, to help them prepare for work.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · bradmeyer.org/disabilities-round-table-economics

Heading as listed on bradmeyer.org/disabilities-round-table-economics ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/disabilities-round-table-economics at this heading)

Report	Raised in the period	Spent in the period	Cash on hand at its close
JULY QUARTERLY 2025 through Jun 30, 2025	$3,439	$557	$2,883
OCTOBER QUARTERLY 2025 through Sep 30, 2025	$15,173	$14,412	$3,643
YEAR-END 2025 through Dec 31, 2025	$21,212	$12,377	$8,835
APRIL QUARTERLY 2026 through Mar 31, 2026	$22,861	$18,650	$13,047
PRE-PRIMARY 2026 through Apr 15, 2026	$3,037	$5,578	$0
JULY QUARTERLY 2026 through Jun 30, 2026	$39,789	$30,328	$17,840
OCTOBER QUARTERLY 2026 through Sep 30, 2026	$89,716	$54,804	$52,752
PRE-GENERAL 2026 through Oct 14, 2026	$8,185	$32,131	$28,807

Name		Amount
Indiana home122 contributions · 98%		$70,479
Florida1 contribution · 0.7%		$500
Utah2 contributions · 0.6%		$450
Colorado1 contribution · 0.3%		$250

Employer as filed		Amount
Not employedWritten instead of an employer · 41 contributions · 60% of ranked		$23,825
Programmer1 contribution · 8.8% of ranked		$3,500
Becky Wann Real Estate Services1 contribution · 7.5% of ranked		$3,000
Physician2 contributions · 3.8% of ranked		$1,500
Humana3 contributions · 3.2% of ranked		$1,275
IU Health Bloomington Hospital2 contributions · 3.1% of ranked		$1,250
IU Health2 contributions · 2.5% of ranked		$1,000
Indiana University3 contributions · 1.9% of ranked		$752

Occupation as filed		Amount
RetiredWritten instead of an occupation · 48 contributions · 46% of ranked		$33,042
Not employedWritten instead of an occupation · 34 contributions · 24% of ranked		$16,825
Realtor3 contributions · 9.2% of ranked		$6,595
Self-employedWritten instead of an occupation · 4 contributions · 6.3% of ranked		$4,500
Candidate7 contributions · 2.3% of ranked		$1,650
IU Health2 contributions · 2.1% of ranked		$1,500
IT Program Manager3 contributions · 1.8% of ranked		$1,275
Helathcare Professional2 contributions · 1.7% of ranked		$1,250

Name		Amount
ADP47 payments · 13% of all spending		$21,493
Indiana Democratic Congressional Victory Committee1 payment · 8.9% of all spending		$15,000
PC Signs6 payments · 6.3% of all spending		$10,636
Scale to Win2 payments · 3.7% of all spending		$6,188
Meyer, Bradley Allen2 payments · 2.7% of all spending		$4,496
Act Blue57 payments · 2.5% of all spending		$4,240
MY Sports Locker4 payments · 2.4% of all spending		$4,024
Hallmark, Grant1 payment · 2.4% of all spending		$4,000

Brad Meyer

SummaryAt a glance

Their wordsWhat does Meyer say they will do?

1Priority 1: Economic Policy 13 statements

The Problem ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/economic-policy at this heading)

2Priority 2: Solutions 142 statements

WHAT WE FACE ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/economic-policy at this heading)

WHAT WE NEED TO CHANGE ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/economic-policy at this heading)

HOW WE GET IT DONE ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/economic-policy at this heading)

THE DEBT WE OWE TO THE NEXT GENERATION ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/economic-policy at this heading)

3Priority 3: Education Policy 23 statements

Providing Objective Evidence for Smarter Decisions ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/education-policy at this heading)

Evaluating Reforms and Protecting Taxpayer Investments ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/education-policy at this heading)

Distributing Targeted Funding That Levels the Playing Field ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/education-policy at this heading)

Enforcing Civil Rights and Legal Compliance ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/education-policy at this heading)

Why the Oversight Matters ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/education-policy at this heading)

The Call to Action ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/education-policy at this heading)

4Priority 4: Environmental Policy 40 statements

INTRODUCTION+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/environmental-policy at this heading)

BEFORE YOU TUNE OUT, READ THIS+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/environmental-policy at this heading)

SURELY THINGS ARE BETTER IN INDIANA TODAY, RIGHT?+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/environmental-policy at this heading)

BARRIERS TO PROGRESS+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/environmental-policy at this heading)

POLICY PRIORITIES FOR A FAIR, RENEWABLE FUTURE+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/environmental-policy at this heading)

CALL TO ACTION ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/environmental-policy at this heading)

5Priority 5: Foreign Policy 20 statements

RESOURCE CONTROL+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/foreign-policy at this heading)

RESPONSIBLE AMERICAN POWER+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/foreign-policy at this heading)

NOT A PACIFIST OR A WAR HAWK+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/foreign-policy at this heading)

ACTING ON IMPULSE+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/foreign-policy at this heading)

PLAIN TRUTH+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/foreign-policy at this heading)

Call to Action ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/foreign-policy at this heading)

6Priority 6: Health Care Policy 22 statements

THE HUMAN COST OF A FAILED SYSTEM+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/health-care-policy at this heading)

THE ECONOMIC INJUSTICE OF PROFIT-DRIVEN CARE+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/health-care-policy at this heading)

BUILDING ON A PROVEN SOLUTION+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/health-care-policy at this heading)

THE POLITICS OF PROFIT AND OBSTRUCTION+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/health-care-policy at this heading)

A WARNING WE CANNOT IGNORE+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/health-care-policy at this heading)

THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/health-care-policy at this heading)

HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/health-care-policy at this heading)

7Priority 7: Immigration Policy 26 statements

A SYSTEM THAT FAILS EVERYONE+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/immigration-policy at this heading)

THE ECONOMICS OF DYSFUNCTION+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/immigration-policy at this heading)

ILLEGAL HIRING AND THE ROOT OF THE CRISIS+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/immigration-policy at this heading)

THE CASE FOR PRACTICAL REFORM+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/immigration-policy at this heading)

OUR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSIBILITY+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/immigration-policy at this heading)

A SHARED SOLUTION FOR A SHARED FUTURE+ ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/immigration-policy at this heading)

CONCLUSION: STANDING UP FOR THE MIDDLE PATH ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/immigration-policy at this heading)

8Priority 8: Policy Overview 13 statements

Protecting the Economy for Everyone ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/policy-overview at this heading)

Health Care Should Be A Right ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/policy-overview at this heading)

9Priority 9: Frequently Asked Questions 4 parts

9.1Priority 9.1: Economic Stability and Prosperity 12 statements

1. Top 3 Legislative Priorities ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/brads-faqs at this heading)

9.2Priority 9.2: Personal Rights and Protections 5 statements

7. Position on Healthcare ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/brads-faqs at this heading)

8. Position on Reproductive Rights ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/brads-faqs at this heading)

9. LGBTQ+ Protections ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/brads-faqs at this heading)

10. Position on Gun Control ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/brads-faqs at this heading)

9.3Priority 9.3: Supporting Key Constituencies and Systemic Integrity 9 statements

9.4Priority 9.4: National and Global Strategy 2 statements

16. America’s role in global conflicts ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/brads-faqs at this heading)

10Priority 10: Restoring the Guardrails 3 statements

11Priority 11: Disabilities Round Table—Economics 10 statements

Economic Status of People with Disabilities ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/disabilities-round-table-economics at this heading)

Employment ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/disabilities-round-table-economics at this heading)

Housing ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/disabilities-round-table-economics at this heading)

The Solution ↗ (opens bradmeyer.org/disabilities-round-table-economics at this heading)

12Priority 12: Preamble 1 statement

MoneyWho pays for the campaign, and where does it go?

Raised, spent and cash over time by FEC report

Where the money came from $203,411 reported receipts

Largest donors

EndorsementsWho does Meyer’s campaign say backs them?

BallotWhen is Meyer on the ballot?

AboutWhere does this page come from?

Earlier cycles

Federal records

Campaign pages read 11 pages

Who lent it

Where the donors live $71,679 placed by state