What I Believe

America is strongest when we lead with diplomacy, respect international law, and keep our commitments.

For too long, Washington has treated foreign policy like a game played by lobbyists, defense contractors, and political insiders. Meanwhile, rural communities like ours were told there was never enough money for health care, infrastructure, or schools.

Endless wars cost trillions of dollars while our communities were left behind.

Foreign policy should protect American security, strengthen our economy, defend human rights, and prevent conflict, not enrich contractors or drag our country into wars without accountability.

Congress must reclaim its constitutional authority over war. Human rights must apply to everyone. And American workers and manufacturers must be protected from unfair global competition.

Diplomacy & Peace

What I Believe

War should always be the last resort.

Strong diplomacy, international cooperation, and conflict prevention keep Americans safer than reckless escalation.

Policy Priorities

Restore diplomacy as the first tool of foreign policy.
Reinvest in diplomatic capacity, international partnerships, and conflict prevention.

Support Ukraine while pursuing negotiated peace.
Ukraine has the right to defend itself against Russian aggression. The United States should continue supporting Ukraine while working aggressively toward a negotiated settlement that prevents a prolonged war.

Strengthen alliances.
Partnerships with democratic allies create stability and reduce the risk of conflict.

War Powers & Military Accountability

What I Believe

The Constitution is clear: Congress, not the President, has the power to declare war.

Presidents of both parties have stretched that authority for decades.

Policy Priorities

Repeal outdated war authorizations.
The 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force have been used far beyond their original purpose.

Restore congressional oversight of military action.
No president should be able to launch wars or military strikes without congressional authorization.

Reduce Pentagon waste and contractor profiteering.
America’s defense budget should prioritize real security, not corporate profits.

Democracy & Human Rights

What I Believe

Human rights and international law must apply consistently. Selective enforcement destroys credibility and fuels instability.

Policy Priorities

Apply human rights standards to all military aid.
U.S. assistance must comply with international law and the Leahy Laws, which prohibit aid to units committing human rights violations.

End blank-check military aid.
All security assistance should be conditioned on compliance with human rights obligations.

Support free speech and civil liberties.
Americans should never be punished for participating in peaceful political movements like boycotts.

Address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Credible evidence shows Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has resulted in catastrophic civilian harm and credible allegations of genocide.
The United States must support an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian access, and a diplomatic resolution that ensures security and dignity for both Israelis and Palestinians.

Trade & Economic Fairness

What I Believe

Trade policy should work for American workers, farmers, and manufacturers, not just multinational corporations.

Unfair trade practices hollowed out rural economies and sent good jobs overseas.

Policy Priorities

Adopt fair trade standards.
Trade agreements must include enforceable labor protections and environmental safeguards.

Reshore critical manufacturing.
Strategic industries must be rebuilt in the United States to strengthen economic security.

Confront unfair Chinese trade practices.
China’s government heavily subsidizes national industries and manipulates markets to undercut American manufacturing.
The United States should respond with targeted sanctions and trade enforcement while maintaining diplomatic engagement.

Global Climate Leadership

What I Believe

Climate change is one of the greatest security threats of the 21st century.

Drought, displacement, and resource conflict are already destabilizing regions around the world.

Policy Priorities

Rejoin and strengthen the Paris Climate Agreement.
The United States must lead global climate action, not retreat from it.

End international fossil fuel subsidies.
American tax dollars should not fund fossil fuel expansion abroad. Full stop.

Invest in climate resilience and international cooperation.
Helping countries adapt to climate impacts reduces instability and migration pressures.

Nuclear Security

What I Believe

The use of nuclear weapons would be catastrophic for humanity.

Reducing the risk of nuclear war must remain a global priority.

Policy Priorities

Adopt a No First Use policy.
The United States should commit to never initiating nuclear conflict.

Rebuild arms control agreements.
Diplomacy and verification treaties are essential for global stability.

Global Development & Stability

What I Believe

Foreign aid should reduce instability, strengthen democratic institutions, and improve global health.

It should never be a blank check for corruption.

Policy Priorities

Support global health and humanitarian assistance.
Preventing disease outbreaks abroad protects Americans at home.

Invest in regional stabilization.
Economic development and infrastructure reduce forced migration and conflict.

Strengthen anti-corruption safeguards.
Foreign assistance must include strong transparency and accountability standards.

Contrast: Cliff Bentz

Congressman Cliff Bentz has repeatedly supported policies that undermine congressional oversight of war and prioritize corporate interests over accountability.

While rural communities struggle with rising costs and underfunded services, Washington continues approving massive defense budgets with little scrutiny.

I believe in a different approach:

• Diplomacy before war
• Congressional authority over military force
• Human rights applied consistently
• Trade policies that protect American workers
• Ending corporate profiteering from endless conflict

Foreign policy should serve the American people—not defense contractors and political insiders.