Protecting communities from wildfires requires a comprehensive approach encompassing preparation, response, and recovery.

Effective fire season preparation is time-sensitive. Politically motivated delays and program cancellations, as seen under the previous administration, endanger lives and communities without meaningfully reducing government spending. Congress must guarantee prompt and efficient funding for Californians and act swiftly if a president unilaterally interferes. Expanding U.S. Forestry Service personnel is essential for better management of federal lands in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, alongside reducing barriers to federal, state, local, and tribal coordination.

Wildfire response and recovery demand seamless cooperation among federal, state, and local officials to save lives and aid families in rebuilding. Cuts to FEMA jeopardize communities' ability to respond to and recover from devastating wildfires. While state agencies should lead emergency response, FEMA remains vital for mobilizing resources from other parts of the country.

The soaring costs of homeowner's insurance have reached crisis levels, with some households facing double or triple premiums or even losing coverage entirely. To reduce fire insurance costs in the long term, we must mitigate the impact of fires. This necessitates consistent, reliable federal funding for annual community preparedness, alongside investments in research, innovation, and new strategies to reduce long-term wildfire costs. Identifying human-made causes of wildfires and holding negligent individuals and companies accountable is also crucial. This complex challenge can be addressed through smart investments and strategic planning.

Our healthcare system is fundamentally broken. Billions of dollars are siphoned from American households and government programs like Medicare and Medicaid into corporate shareholders, driven by profiteering from insurance and pharmaceutical companies. This enriches corporations at the expense of working and middle-class families and taxpayers. Reforming our healthcare system means enhancing the quality of life for Americans, generating household savings, and reducing government expenditure without cutting vital programs for seniors, individuals with disabilities, veterans, children, or low-income households.

True healthcare reform begins with price transparency. Americans deserve to know the full cost of common medical procedures upfront, just as they would for a plumber or car repair. These costs must be readily available, easy to understand, and all-inclusive. While executive actions have initiated progress in hospital price transparency, Congress must expand these efforts to cover all medical procedures.

Our current prescription drug system excessively enriches companies under the guise of funding research. In reality, Americans pay significantly more for identical prescription drugs than consumers in other countries. Congress must empower Medicare and Medicaid to negotiate drug prices, thereby reducing costs for American taxpayers and households. Additionally, new regulations are urgently needed for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), whose opaque operations as middlemen between drug companies and insurance providers primarily serve to enrich themselves at the expense of Americans.

Medi-Cal

Michael believes we must safeguard Medi-Cal. Stripping services from people without creating an alternate option for healthcare access risks leaving hundreds of thousands of people in the 5th District, including tens of thousands of children, without the healthcare they need.  Cutting Medi-Cal access also increases the risks of closing rural hospitals, clinics, and healthcare providers who rely on patients using Medi-Cal to stay open. Tom McClintock is gambling with the lives and healthcare of his own constituents, rather than fighting for them. Michael Masuda will fight to preserve Medi-Cal access and work with Democrats and Republicans to find cost savings through a healthcare system that prioritizes better outcomes for patients and less profiteering from major corporations.

Rural Healthcare

Maintaining accessible rural hospitals and services is critical. For thousands in the 5th District, their local hospital may be the sole emergency or specialty care center within a 50-mile radius, necessitating hours of travel for care otherwise. This imposes significant stress, time burdens, and costs on rural households, particularly for elderly patients and veterans.  Michael will safeguard rural healthcare by protecting the government funding that sustains rural hospitals and clinics and keeps rural healthcare providers employed.

Veterans Healthcare

Our veterans served and protected our nation; now we must serve and protect them. Substantial improvements are needed to ensure timely access to veteran healthcare. We require a massive expansion of mental health services and outreach, specifically targeting invisible illnesses like PTSD. Furthermore, expanding healthcare options in rural areas, including partnerships with non-VA facilities, should be an option when VA services are not available or sustainable in rural areas.

Drug Overdoses & Opioid Crisis

Over 100,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2023, with synthetic opioids accounting for nearly 73,000 of these deaths. The nation is in a multi-decade battle with drug overdose, disproportionately affecting young people. The rise of synthetic opioids has led to a surge in addiction, compounded by increasing inaccessibility of mental health services. Current U.S. policy primarily focuses on the supply of illegal opioids, which, while important, is only part of the solution.

To combat this crisis, Michael will fight to:

• Invest significantly in drug addiction treatment to save American lives.

• Expand access to and reduce costs for addiction recovery services for individuals and families.

• Reform federal drug laws to prioritize mental health and addiction recovery over incarceration for drug users.

• Aggressively target mid- and high-level leaders in drug distribution networks to disrupt supply, rather than solely emphasizing the source of drugs.

• Provide mental health and financial support for low-level drug distributors, who are often also users, to facilitate their recovery and legitimate employment opportunities.

Mental Health

California faces a significant mental health crisis, impacting thousands of individuals and their families. Approximately one in seven California adults experiences mental illness, with one in twenty-six having a serious mental illness that severely disrupts daily life. Alarmingly, nearly one in fourteen children in California experiences a serious emotional disturbance. Youth mental health is a growing concern, necessitating urgent attention to the increasing number of adolescents requiring support for emotional or mental conditions and the provision of resources for both young people and adults. It is imperative that we collectively work to destigmatize mental health challenges; prioritizing personal and communal well-being is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Michael Masuda will:

• Collaborate with social media companies to develop more effective safeguards for youth, given the established link between social media use and increased rates of anxiety and depression among young people.

• Increase investments in mental healthcare services and resources.

• Reduce stigma and foster open dialogue about mental health to encourage individuals to seek help without shame.

• Support legislation aimed at expanding access to care, including increasing the number of mental health professionals, improving insurance coverage, and leveraging telehealth services, particularly for rural areas within our district.

• Additionally, Michael will seek to address social determinants of mental health, recognizing that factors such as poverty, housing instability, and adverse childhood experiences significantly contribute to mental health challenges.

Housing Affordability 

The skyrocketing housing market in our district is significantly higher than the national average. Rising home and rent prices puts stress on household budgets, puts new home buyers at a financial disadvantage, and leads to rising homelessness. Rising home prices are being driven by many factors: environmental and building regulations that slow new home construction, rising cost of materials and appliances due to tariffs, local zoning laws that limit multi-family housing, the rising prevalence of short-term rentals, and tax incentives that encourage corporations to purchase homes. Federal, State, and Local governments must start working together to address how these issues are driving the cost of home prices. 

California recently took big steps to reduce regulatory burdens for building new housing through reforms to the California Environmental Quality Act. This is an important step for making housing more affordable for owners and renters. We must also tackle profiteering from large corporations and short-term rental markets that leave homes vacant for an extended period of the year while pricing out families, especially in rural areas. We should continue tax breaks that encourage first-time home buying, and create pathways for lower-income households to get to home ownership.  Federal support for low-income housing can also help address homelessness and help struggling families get on their feet.

Homelessness

Homelessness in District 5 is driven by systemic factors like underfunded affordable housing programs and inadequate support for individuals discharged from foster care, rehabilitation, and the justice system. 

The trauma of homelessness, combined with a lack of access to care, deteriorating physical health, social isolation, and stigma, contributes to profound feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, depression, and other mental health conditions. A significant portion of homeless adults also experience complex behavioral health needs, frequently cycling between hospitals, jails, and the streets without their underlying housing and mental health needs being addressed.  Addressing homelessness doesn’t just help individuals, it strengthens entire communities and saves taxpayers money.

If elected, Michael will tackle:

• The affordable housing crisis, which is a contributor to chronic homelessness

• Advocate for voluntary mental health treatment and expansion of access for those in need.

• Create clear pathways to navigate mental health services, housing programs, and other social support.

As a former federal civil servant, Michael will be the first to talk about inefficiencies and waste within government. While tackling fraud and waste is crucial, initiatives like the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have cost taxpayers billions while dismantling critical operations. Michael will support legislation to establish a  genuine Department of Government Efficiency with experts that understand the federal government and have the authority to change it as part of a strategic, deliberate plan to save taxpayers money.

National Debt

The U.S. National Debt is nearly $37 trillion, driven by large deficits and poor policies that disproportionately benefit the wealthy through tax cuts while taking away services for working and middle class people in the 5th District.  Trickle-down economics has failed; the 2017 tax cuts enriched the rich while ballooning deficits. Fiscal reform requires acknowledging and addressing income inequality.  Michael will pursue reforms so we stop funneling money from working people to the wealthy: simplifying our tax code, increasing the progressive tax rate on highest earners, increasing taxes on capital gains, and closing loopholes that only advantage the uber-wealthy.

Eliminating Money in Politics 

Our Constitution’s foundation rests on protecting individual rights and liberties, establishing checks and balances to prevent overreach. This balance has been jeopardized by blindly partisan politicians, public office profiteering, and corporate lobbying that have eroded public trust in our government.

To restore faith, Congress must reassert its authority, holding the Executive Branch accountable for ignoring laws and investigating financial and ethical conflicts. We need campaign finance reform with transparency and donation limits, and bans on individual stock trading and outside income for members of Congress and Supreme Court Justices. Renewing trust begins with those who make the rules.

Education is fundamental to our nation's future, laying the groundwork for skill development, critical thinking, problem-solving, and confidence. It guides individuals toward career opportunities, financial stability, and strong communities. Reduces the risk of criminal behavior. Decades of underinvestment, rigid curricula, and overreliance on standardized tests have hampered our education system. Students are also still recovering from the academic and socio-emotional impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. America's approach to public education requires significant reform, and we can lead this change.

K-12 Education

Growing up in Amador County, Michael experienced the profound impact of dedicated teachers who served as mentors, coaches, and family friends. Like many educators across the 5th District and the country, these teachers are passionate about education and deeply committed to their communities. Michael believes every child deserves access to quality education from pre-kindergarten through high school, a goal that begins with understanding and addressing teacher needs. Our long-term objectives for the U.S. education system should include:

1. Reducing class sizes to a maximum of 15-20 students. Current class sizes of 25-30 students overburden teachers and create distracting learning environments.

2. Developing curricula with a greater emphasis on career-aligned and hands-on learning, such as woodworking, digital literacy, foreign languages, arts, and off-campus apprenticeship programs, fostering skills applicable to diverse career paths.

3. More school counselors to facilitate better mental health, conflict resolution and violence prevention, and student career success.

Michael will support federal policies that:

• Provide funding to public schools for new construction and the upgrade and modernization of existing facilities.

• Supplement local and state funding for expansion of curricula that incorporate career-oriented and hands-on learning that supplements core curricula (reading, writing, history, math, and science).

• Supplement local and state funding to hire more school counselors.

• Fund special education obligations. 

• Expand the Head Start program, offering essential educational opportunities for economically disadvantaged children and support for low-income and single-parent households.

• Reducing training requirements for Head Start teachers. to expand program accessibility.

• Expand the Head Start program, offering essential educational opportunities for economically disadvantaged children and empowering parents.

Teachers are the cornerstone of our education system, and their insights must guide our reforms. K-12 education forms the bedrock of a student's academic journey, providing foundational knowledge and critical thinking skills essential for higher education and professional careers.

Vocational Training, Apprenticeships, and College

While college is a valuable choice for many young adults and mid-career professionals, numerous other pathways lead to long-term careers and financial security. With rising college costs and increasing student debt, alternative routes are more crucial than ever.

Michael Masuda will advance legislation that:

• Supports and advocates for robust vocational training programs.

• Creates career materials for graduating high school students to consider entering a vocational or trade school program.

• Work with trade unions, community colleges, high schools, and other organizations to develop educational curricula and on-the-job training programs that meet high school and post-high school education requirements. 

Science Research and Funding

Michael Masuda strongly advocates for American science and research, viewing it as an investment in our future. Funding for scientific research provides invaluable hands-on training in STEM fields for young people, equipping them with critical thinking, problem-solving, and technical skills essential for high-demand careers. This also inspires American students to pursue challenging and creative paths that benefit their communities. Furthermore, research is vital for addressing major challenges such as curing diseases, protecting against wildfires, improving agriculture, ensuring clean air and water, safeguarding computer networks, and strengthening national defense.

If elected, Michael Masuda will support legislation to:

• Increase federal funding for U.S. scientific research agencies that offer crucial hands-on learning and positive role models for young people, including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Geological Survey, Environmental Protection Agency, and NASA.

• Create incentives, such as tax breaks, for companies to invest in research jobs, infrastructure, and activities.

• Protect the independence of scientific research at U.S. universities, ensuring that politics does not interfere with the discovery and innovation that have made the United States a global leader.

America benefits significantly from immigrants who contribute to our economy and enrich our communities. While aggressive deportation of violent criminals, thieves, traffickers, and gang members is needed, current immigration policies from President Trump and Congressional policies are primarily targeting non-criminal individuals that pose no threat to our communities.  Data from the Trump administration shows that over 6 in 10 people deported, so far, have no criminal background. Many being deported have had their legal status removed by the administration.  These overly aggressive, cruel tactics are destroying families, ripping local communities apart, sowing distrust of law enforcement, and undermining our legal immigration system. We are wasting billions of hard earned tax payer dollars deporting hardworking people that contribute to our economy and culture, while failing to enhance community safety.

Michael intends to work across the aisle on bipartisan, common-sense reforms to our immigration system focused on community safety, protecting jobs for Americans while growing our economy, and reducing the cost burden on taxpayers. Michael will support policies that remove people convicted of violent crimes allowing hardworking immigrants to continue living peacefully while pursuing legal status.   

Michael will support legislation that:

• Invests in stronger, effective border security utilizing proven approaches and new technologies to stop drug smuggling and human trafficking.  

• Streamlines the path to citizenship with efficient, comprehensive background checks. 

• Creates incentives that encourage hard working immigrants to use the legal process and call for the end of actions that cause distrust of the legal process. 

Michael will work with Republicans and Democrats to ensure our immigration laws and system work for our communities.

ICE Enforcement Tactics

The enforcement tactics employed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the Trump Administration warrant serious public concern. A free society cannot tolerate masked, plain-clothed federal officers apprehending individuals without warrants, explanation, or identification. Such tactics erode public trust in law enforcement, incite anger and fear  toward officers, and endanger citizens and police officers. Congress must immediately enact legislation to restrict the use of face masks and similar anonymizing tactics during routine law enforcement activities, thereby safeguarding American liberties and promoting a transparent deportation process.

Forest Policy

Effective forest management is crucial for mitigating uncontrolled wildfires that threaten communities and preserving the environment and water resources originating in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Policies should prioritize community safety while protecting natural resources and the environment. Forest management decisions should not solely originate from Washington, D.C. Local leaders, community organizations, and experts have a direct stake and, in partnership with federal expertise and funding, can achieve better outcomes that balance safety with forest sustainability. Limited private sector timber harvesting and sales should be authorized to reduce wildfire risks and promote healthier forests when in the best interest of community safety and long-term environmental sustainability.

Global Warming and Climate Change

Man-made climate change presents a clear and immediate threat. In California, this manifests as hotter, extended dry seasons and diminished snowpack, directly imperiling communities. While some claim that combatting climate change is too expensive, evidence from states like Texas demonstrates that climate action can stimulate economic growth and job creation. Strategic investments in new energy sources and infrastructure, coupled with labor policies that prioritize jobs for local communities, will generate local employment and bolster businesses. Given California's significant hydroelectric capacity, the 5th District should strategically expand its investment in green energy sources such as solar and biomass to fully leverage the job-creating potential of the "green economy."

America was founded on the basic human principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  The fundamental rights shared by each and every American binds us together as a nation built on freedom.  As a Congressman, Michael will support civil liberties, equal protection under the law, and equal access to services and opportunities that help create strong communities.  That means protecting LGBTQ+ youth and community members from violence, discrimination, and bullying as we do all other minorities, and supporting equal opportunities to pursue education and career prospects after graduation.  Michael will support strong enforcement of anti-discrimination laws in schools, the workplace, and in public spaces. He will address hate crimes by working with local law enforcement to ensure thorough investigation and prosecution, and that victims receive adequate support. 

Addressing the 5th District’s mental health issues is a key priority for Michael.  For the LGBTQ+ community, that means tackling the higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation, particularly among our communities youth. Expanding access to therapists and counselors who are knowledgeable and affirming of these identities is an important aspect of addressing these mental health issues.

America's national defense priorities must shift. Military power alone won't solve modern threats like pandemics, cyberattacks, or climate change. True defense requires strategic planning, diplomacy, and investment. The Cold War model is obsolete. Congress and the President must reorient America's talent, resources, innovation, and global goodwill to protect the nation for the new threats we face

National defense begins at home with updated infrastructure—railways, highways, electrical grids, and computer networks. We must strengthen energy independence through renewables, nuclear power, domestic oil, and next-generation technologies. Expanding our diplomatic influence by rebuilding USAID is crucial. We must invest in education so we have a workforce capable of meeting the demands to modernize our infrastructure, meet national defense needs, strengthen our economy, and retain our technological advantage.