On the Issues
Affordable Healthcare
When I was 16, my dad had to fly to his home country of Korea to undergo life-saving surgery after being diagnosed with cancer. As a small business owner, he couldn't afford the necessary care in the United States; it was actually easier and more affordable for him to travel across the globe than it was for him to get the surgery in the United States. No family should have to go through that.
That's why you can rely on me to always fight for access to affordable, high-quality healthcare for all Virginians. I’m committed to tackling the healthcare challenges facing our state, including the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs and the inaccessibility of vital healthcare needs. Just this past year, I successfully introduced and passed a bill to provide healthcare access for adult children with developmental or intellectual disabilities of state employees. The 2021 “Surprise Billing” bill, which protects patients from unexpected out-of network healthcare charges, as well as President Biden’s “Affordable Insulin Now” act are both steps in the right direction towards leveling the playing field between healthcare providers, insurance companies, and patients. Democrats’ bipartisan proposal to create a Prescription Drug Accountability Board was passed by members of the senate but blocked by Republicans in the House. If passed, it would establish a commission to review and set the prices of exorbitantly expensive prescription and give oversight of pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, I support funding more Medicaid waivers and ending the waitlist.
Mental health care is healthcare. I believe that affordable and quality coverage must include mental health treatment. I support universal screening in our schools to detect early signs of mental health issues, integrating mental and physical health systems so that mental healthcare is included in primary care, and ensuring all mental health disorder prevention tools are available to different language communities. As a Delegate, I will continue to work with my bipartisan colleagues and community stakeholders to make sure every Virginian has the care they deserve.
Reproductive Freedom
I firmly believe that every person has the right to bodily autonomy. During my first term as Delegate, I voted to ensure that access to abortion care, reproductive healthcare, contraception, and other family planning services are protected in Virginia. After the Supreme Court rolled back nearly 50 years of precedent with the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision in 2022, I recommitted myself to ensuring Virginians have access to high quality reproductive healthcare.
In 2023, we’ve seen the drastic effects of abortion bans proliferate across the country, but especially in the South. Virginia remains a safe haven for abortion access – ours is the only state in the South without draconian abortion bans in place. Patients from across the Commonwealth and many other states will continue to travel throughout Virginia to access the time-sensitive care they need.
Policies that restrict reproductive rights and access disproportionately affect low-income women and women of color. Reproductive health care tends to be extremely time-sensitive. We are already seeing maternal mortality rates increase at an alarming speed. I will always be a fierce advocate for reproductive rights and bodily autonomy.
I will continue to fight to ensure every person is able to decide how and when to start a family, to make birth control affordable and accessible to all, and to end pregnancy discrimination in the workplace. I know how important it is that we are able to make our own decisions for our bodies and futures, and I won’t back down in fighting for reproductive rights.
Protecting Our Environment
Climate change and environmental degradation are hurting Virginians every day. The General Assembly needs to recognize the urgency of taking care of our planet. I support moving toward a 100% net renewable energy standard for electricity production, reducing mobility carbon pollution by making roads more accessible to bikers and pedestrians, continuing to increase affordable transit access, and transitioning our vehicle sales and publicly owned vehicle fleets to electric power. Keeping Virginia green means we have to defend the Clean Cars Act and Virginia’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
It is paramount that we prioritize climate justice. Climate change disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable members of our communities, making it imperative for us to strive to protect everyone from the adverse effects of environmental harm. I firmly believe that clean and affordable access to public water is a fundamental right. During the pandemic, when national and state health officials were emphasizing the importance of frequent handwashing and sanitization, some families in Virginia had their water service disconnected due to overdue utility bills. That was unacceptable. I worked with others to pull together a resourceful coalition of organizations to quickly restore water service and resolve the issue. As Delegate, my commitment remains steadfast in ensuring that such shut-offs no longer occur during public health emergencies or extreme weather conditions.
Voting Rights and Democracy Reform
My entire career has been dedicated to fostering an accessible, multiracial, and inclusive democracy for all. I currently lead a non-profit that focuses on enhancing civic engagement for Virginians, particularly among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. In a time of hyper-political attacks on the integrity of our democracy, it’s important to send champions to Richmond who will preserve our democracy and fight to make it more inclusive.
Over the years, I have been a part of the fight to expand voting rights in Virginia. I’ve advocated for an accessible absentee voting option for all, repealing photo ID requirements, pre-paid postage on mail ballots, and automatic as well as same-day voter registration. In 2020, I was a part of a coalition of voting rights organizations that sued the state to extend the voter registration deadline when the state’s website went down, which helped ensure 24,000 Virginians were able to make their voices heard in the November election. As Delegate, I support automatic restoration of voting rights to individuals who have been convicted of felonies.
We also know that Big Money is flooding our politics, and is creating a system in which elected officials are more accountable to special interests than they are to constituents. Virginia has some of the weakest campaign finance laws in the country. Currently, there are no limits of any kind on campaign donations and few limits on how campaign funds can be spent, including on personal expenses. As a Delegate, I will take a comprehensive approach to reforming our campaign finance system to limit the ability of special interests to influence politics and put power back in the hands of the people. That’s why I released my Ethical Virginia Campaign Reform Package.
My plan has four components:
A complete ban on campaign fundraising during all General Assembly sessions including special sessions – legislators should not be voting on bills and the budget while soliciting campaign contributions for re-election. Elected officials need to focus on working for their constituents, not their re-election, while being paid by taxpayers.
Enhance accountability of state resources. Public resources should not be used for campaign or personal communications. We need a firewall between official work such as constituent services, public employees, and political activities. Elected officials shouldn’t be able to use public resources to conduct campaign activities towards re-election or to promote private business.
Prohibit using campaign funds for personal expenses. Currently, Virginia has no limitations on using campaign funds as a personal expense account. I will continue to work to ban this practice.
Any ethics reform needs increased fines and enforcement to be effective. The existing Virginia Conflicts of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council was created to “encourage and facilitate compliance” with state law, with little in the way of enforcement and consequences for violations. I’ll work to reform campaign finance law and make sure penalties for campaign and fundraising violations are vigorously enforced for the public interest.
Last session, I put forward a bill to make sure penalties for campaign and fundraising violations are vigorously enforced for the public interest. Unfortunately, the bill did not pass, but I won’t stop fighting until Virginia law takes campaign finance restrictions seriously.
Criminal Justice Reform and Fighting Racial Injustice
Our criminal justice system is broken, and is inherently biased against people of color and the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable communities. Amongst many other measures, we need to advance equity in our school system and ease formerly incarcerated people’s reentry into society. As your Delegate, I have fought to end harmful practices like mass incarceration, mandatory minimums for non-violent felonies, price-gouging in jails and prisons, allowing localities to hire law enforcement officers previously disciplined or terminated for violating civil rights in other jurisdictions, and contracts with private prisons. In 2022 and 2023, I introduced a bill to alleviate and end the exorbitant fees charged to inmates in local and regional jails for telecommunications and commissary goods.
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Representation
Anti-AAPI rhetoric and violence have been on the rise in recent years, exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis and xenophobic language used during the last administration. As an Asian-American, these attacks are heartbreaking and infuriating. Now, more than ever, it is crucial that our community is not only heard but also visible and represented at the decision-making table.. I am committed to ensuring the protection of our AAPI communities, and while I am the first Korean American woman member of the House of Delegates, I will most certainly not be the last.
I’m proud to belong to the Virginia Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus and to work alongside my colleagues to advance legislation that increases resources for language access, investments in AAPI small businesses, ending AAPI hate, and other priorities to lift up the AAPI community.
LGBTQIA+ Rights and Inclusivity
I take great pride in being an ally of the LGBTQIA+ community and am unwavering in my commitment to fighting for full and equal rights for all. It is essential that every individual feels safe and protected within the Commonwealth, and that we champion diversity and inclusivity—celebrating the rich tapestry of identities within our community and fostering a society where everyone thrives.
Virginia still has work to do to fully secure the safety and well-being of our LGBTQIA+ community, especially in light of the recent attacks on transgender and nonbinary youth. We must repeal the Marshall-Newman amendment in Virginia, which currently prohibits gay marriage. It's also crucial that we repeal the conscience clause that allows adoption agencies to deny LGBTQIA+ families the opportunity to adopt children. Additionally, addressing the harassment that students often encounter in schools based on their sexual orientation and gender identity, and mandating anti-bullying training, is essential. I am deeply committed to creating safe, inclusive, and affirming learning environments for all our students.
Gun Safety
We must urgently enact comprehensive and sensible gun legislation to safeguard our communities. Far too often, the devastating consequences of gun violence have been met with deafening silence and politicians who push to dismantle vital common sense gun regulations. As your Delegate, I will continue to uphold our current laws and fight for additional measures to enhance the safety of our communities.
I staunchly support a ban on assault weapons, recognizing the grave threat they pose to public safety. Mandatory background checks on all gun sales are a necessary step to ensure that firearms don't fall into the wrong hands. Additionally, I firmly endorse a ban on ghost guns, which are insidious 3D-printed plastic firearms lacking serial numbers, rendering them undetectable by metal detectors and posing an alarming security risk. I also support strengthening red flag laws, or extreme risk protection orders, to temporarily remove firearms from the possession of those who pose a significant risk to themselves or others.
Additionally, we must engage students in these conversations and validate their experiences, as they have grown up with the very real fear of school shootings hanging over their heads. Their voices and perspectives are invaluable as we work collectively to address this pressing issue and create safer communities for all.
Immigration
As the daughter of Korean parents who immigrated to the United States, I understand first hand how our diverse society is the result of our multi-ethnic and multicultural origins. After years of targeted actions against immigrants, it is important to show everyone in our community that they are welcome here, and to provide access to the same resources as all Virginians.
That’s why I have advocated to enact driving privilege cards and in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants in Virginia. I’ll always stand for comprehensive immigration reform that creates a path to citizenship for families and DREAMers already working and living in the United States. I will also advocate for the closure and de-licensing of the Farmville ICE detention center, to end the ability of the state to license private prisons, and to expand driving access to include full drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants. Additionally, I oppose efforts to shift federal immigration enforcement responsibilities to state and local authorities, as the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 287(g) Program mandates. I will always be a tireless advocate for our immigrant communities in the General Assembly.
Education
Every child in the Commonwealth deserves a quality, world-class education. I am proud to have worked with a bipartisan coalition of legislators to secure funding for our schools and prioritize the well-being of our dedicated faculty and staff.
As Delegate, I will continue to champion universal pre-K as a crucial step in addressing educational disparities and ensuring that all our students begin their academic journeys on even footing. Education is an important equalizer in our society and early learning is a fundamental means by which we prepare our children for success. Universal pre-K must be a priority to provide every Virginian child a chance at success. I have voted for higher wages for our incredible teachers, and have championed the allocation of essential resources to meet the unique needs of our students. The continued support and enhancement of our public education system will remain a central focus of my legislative agenda.
Fairfax County is grappling with a student meal debt nearing $1 million. This underscores the pressing need to address systemic issues within our education system, including food security for our students. As Delegate, I am committed to working collaboratively to find effective solutions that not only alleviate this debt burden but also ensure that every student in our Commonwealth has access to nutritious meals without the specter of debt hanging over their heads. I was proud to support two pieces of legislation which have passed the House and Senate, both patroned by Delegate Danica Roem, which seek to expand access to SNAP benefits, make the application process easier, and increase access and affordability of free and reduced lunch school lunches.
In recent times, Virginia has been at the forefront of debates surrounding the content of our school curricula. Rest assured, I firmly believe in a curriculum that addresses racial inequities and recognizes the existence and struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community, rather than erasing them. I am dedicated to fostering an inclusive and comprehensive educational environment for all our students.
Working Families
In my role as Delegate, I am committed to championing the implementation of paid sick leave for all Virginians. It is essential that we ensure working individuals have the assurance of paid sick days and the ability to take paid time off when caring for a family member. This not only bolsters our families and local communities but also strengthens our economy and safeguards public health.
Too often, families have to make difficult choices in order to support and provide for their families. People are forced to choose between paying medical bills or paying for groceries; forced to choose between working for a paycheck or staying at home to care for a child. This is unacceptable.
In addition, I will keep fighting for Universal Pre-K and affordable childcare in Virginia because we need to prioritize early childhood education. Universal Pre-K enables parents and guardians to get back into the workforce more quickly. When we support working families, that means supporting good paying jobs, public education, affordable healthcare, and everything in between.
Labor & Collective Bargaining
Across Virginia, workers should have the right to engage in collective bargaining, and I will actively advocate for localities to authorize collective bargaining agreements with public employees. As the daughter of an SEIU home care worker, my commitment to upholding the dignity and addressing the needs of domestic and home care workers is deeply personal.
I wholeheartedly endorse Project Labor Agreements (PLAs), which strengthen regulations governing workplace health and safety while fostering equal employment opportunities and maintaining labor standards. I am equally supportive of expanding apprenticeship training opportunities, especially at community colleges, to equip our workforce with high-level skills, thereby enabling employers to enhance retention rates.
Furthermore, I support legislation that will repeal Virginia’s outdated and anti-organizing “Right to Work” provisions. Empowering workers with a voice on the job has a ripple effect, elevating the well-being of everyone and contributing to the cultivation of a more robust and equitable economy for all Virginians.
Affordable Housing
For far too many Virginians, securing safe and affordable housing remains a daunting challenge. This issue holds profound implications for our society, particularly as it pertains to racial and economic equity. The historical legacy of housing discrimination has left communities of color disproportionately affected, exacerbating disparities that persist to this day. Likewise, low-income families often bear the brunt of housing insecurity, as they struggle to secure homes that won't force them to make agonizing choices between paying rent and covering other essential needs.
By championing affordable housing initiatives, we not only alleviate immediate housing needs but also work to rectify historical wrongs, close the racial wealth gap, and create equitable opportunities for all. Affordable housing is the foundation upon which families build their futures, children grow and learn, and communities flourish. I’m proud to have been a chief co-patron on the Delegate Clark’s rent stabilization bill (HB1532) during the last legislative session as well as voting to support Delegate Carr’s bill (HB2046) to establish a statewide report assessing housing needs every five years.
The housing shortage in all of Northern Virginia is a pressing concern that needs to be addressed urgently. In recent years, the demand for housing has outpaced the available supply, leading to skyrocketing costs that burden families, young professionals, and seniors alike. A report from 2018 concluded that Fairfax County fell short by 45,000 units of meeting housing needs in the community. Every Virginian deserves the dignity of a home; whether that is affordable or workforce housing or the opportunity to build generational wealth through homeownership.
No Casinos in Fairfax County
I am opposed to the development of a casino in Fairfax County, VA. I believe that communities should be involved in decisions that will impact their day-to-day lives, and the message from residents of Fairfax County has been loud and clear. I stand with the Reston Association Board of Directors, the Reston Citizens Association, and the 2,900+ individuals who are united against the development of a casino in Reston and Tysons.