Taner Lopez

I support technological development, but not at the expense of our farmland, natural resources, property rights, or rural communities.

That is why I proposed the Data Center Community Consent Act, one of my five major legislative initiatives. It would require independent environmental and infrastructure impact studies paid for by developers, along with approval from two-thirds of directly affected property owners. Developers must also cover infrastructure costs rather than passing them on to residents and taxpayers.

My American Working Farms Act complements this proposal by reducing federal tax burdens on working farms and helping preserve their economic viability.

Local governments should maintain land-use authority while ensuring transparency and protecting agricultural land, water resources, and neighboring property owners.

Technological progress should strengthen our communities, not come at the expense of the people and farmland that sustain them.

Healthcare should be affordable and accessible without forcing Americans into financial hardship. I believe we need more competition, greater price transparency, and fewer unnecessary regulations that drive up healthcare costs.

I would support expanding access to independent clinics, allowing patients to compare prices before receiving treatment, and reducing administrative burdens that increase costs without improving care. We should also encourage competition in prescription drug pricing.

For our veterans, I have proposed the Veterans 28 Act, requiring timely VA appointments and access to community care when the VA cannot provide treatment within established deadlines.

I also believe Congress must prioritize healthcare needs here at home, eliminate wasteful spending, and ensure that essential services reach the people who need them.

My goal is a healthcare system where patients have more choices, providers face fewer unnecessary barriers, and families can afford the care they need.

Yes. Rural communities, veterans, expectant mothers, and people with disabilities often face additional barriers to healthcare. I support targeted solutions that address these challenges without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.

For rural communities, I would encourage independent clinics, telehealth services, and incentives for healthcare professionals to practice in underserved areas. I also support improving access to prenatal and maternity care, particularly where hospitals have reduced services.

My proposed Veterans 28 Act would require VA appointments within 28 days, or 20 days for mental healthcare, with timely access to community care when those deadlines cannot be met.

For people with disabilities, I support strengthening access to home- and community-based services, reducing caregiver shortages, and protecting individual choice.

Healthcare policies should recognize that different communities have different needs while ensuring every American has a fair opportunity to receive timely, affordable care.

I support technological innovation and economic development, but Virginia families and small businesses should not be forced to subsidize the enormous electricity demands of private data center developments.

My proposed Data Center Community Consent Act would require developers to pay the full costs of infrastructure improvements their projects create, including electrical grid upgrades, without passing those expenses on to residential customers.

I would also support transparent utility pricing and stronger safeguards to ensure that large industrial electricity consumers pay their fair share of the costs they impose on the grid. Independent assessments should determine those costs before projects receive approval.

Data centers can bring investment and tax revenue to our communities, but those benefits must be weighed against their impact on electricity rates, infrastructure, and natural resources.

The principle is simple: Virginia families should not pay higher electricity bills to finance the infrastructure needs of multibillion-dollar corporations.

As a former university instructor, I understand the importance of qualified teachers and the challenges they face. I believe education decisions should remain primarily with states, local school districts, educators, and parents rather than being dictated by Washington.

I support reducing unnecessary administrative burdens, expanding alternative teacher certification pathways, and allowing qualified STEM professionals to transition into teaching without excessive licensing obstacles.

I would also encourage partnerships between schools, universities, and private-sector employers to provide mentorship, professional development, and practical STEM learning opportunities.

For special education and early childhood programs, I support improving teacher preparation, classroom resources, and retention while protecting the educational rights of students with disabilities.

Our priority should be helping qualified teachers enter the classroom, supporting those already teaching, and giving local communities the flexibility to address their specific shortages.

As a Libertarian, I believe scientific innovation should be driven increasingly by private initiative, competition, and collaboration rather than dependence on federal funding. I would support a gradual transition that encourages greater private-sector investment through targeted tax deductions and incentives for corporations funding legitimate scientific and medical research.

On the other hand, I strongly believe that federal funding should prioritize essential research that serves the public interest, particularly projects that the private sector cannot reasonably support on its own. I would also demand transparency, measurable results, and accountability for taxpayer dollars.

My objective is to expand scientific research while gradually reducing dependence on federal borrowing and government spending.

We should encourage innovation through private investment, not assume that every scientific advancement requires more government spending and debt.

As a Libertarian, I believe federal funding should focus on essential public responsibilities while encouraging efficiency, accountability, and greater private-sector participation.

I would support maintaining qualified federal civilian professionals in critical areas such as public health, disease prevention, scientific research, and national preparedness. However, funding decisions should be based on demonstrated needs and measurable results rather than automatically expanding federal agencies.

I would also encourage public-private partnerships, targeted tax incentives, and collaboration with universities and independent research institutions to gradually reduce dependence on federal spending without disrupting essential services.

My goal is not to eliminate valuable federal positions, but to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, avoid duplication, and ensure taxpayer dollars directly support meaningful scientific and public health outcomes.

We need an effective federal workforce, not necessarily a larger one.

As a former university instructor with a background in research and national security, I strongly believe scientific evidence and expert knowledge should inform responsible policymaking.

However, science should guide decisions, not replace public accountability, individual freedoms, or democratic debate. I would seek input from independent experts, universities, private-sector researchers, and affected communities while encouraging transparency and open discussion of competing findings.

Scientific understanding evolves, and elected officials must be willing to acknowledge uncertainty, reconsider assumptions, and adjust policies when credible new evidence emerges.

I would communicate clearly to the public what we know, what remains uncertain, and why decisions are being made. I would also distinguish scientific findings from political judgments.

Good policymaking requires evidence, transparency, intellectual honesty, and respect for individual liberty.