Bajun Ray Mavalwalla, candidate for Congress
I invite people to take a minute to check out these policy briefs to know more about me and my candidacy. - Bajun
Bill of Rights
Freedom of Speech
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
The language and intent are clear. A government that restricts its people and press is not free. An administration that punishes people who speak out against it is undemocratic. A country that merges theology with governance is not just. I stand with peaceful protestors who gather to express their grievances across the district and around the nation.
Right to Bear Arms
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." The Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed the right of individuals to keep and bear arms. The government cannot disarm the populace with impunity. I own multiple firearms and love sending rounds downrange, but guns are dangerous tools. See my Gun Violence policy for more information.
Education
Our future depends on access to education and what that education entails. It is clear the American public education system needs revitalization. Our children deserve to be prepared for the modern world. We must modernize our schools, increase funding, and improve teacher retention and pay, and encourage student-centric learning. Throughout the course of my childrens' educations, they attended regular public schools, a charter school, a magnet school, a private high school, and even some homeschooling, so I have experience with multiple systems. Each has its advantages, but public schools are for the public good - we made decisions based on their needs at the time and did not seek taxpayer funds to subsidize our choices.
Environmental Protection
Our natural spaces are an invaluable part of Eastern Washington life. We must balance protecting our natural spaces with maintaining robust local industries such as farming, logging, and power generation.
Climate Change
Climate change is a scientific fact that is not subject to political debate. Agricultural production, national defense, and public well-being are already being impacted by climate change.
Dams
Dams are critical infrastructure for renewable energy and agricultural & industrial transportation. While I recognize and acknowledge the concern about the environmental impacts dams have on our waterways and especially the salmon population, I am opposed to removing Snake and Columbia River dams at this time. For the next 8 years, this issue has been settled between the Tribes and the Government. Now we should plan for the future. We can and should implement and update policies and systems to mitigate the environmental impacts, such as fish ladders, sediment and flow management, and properly funded programs responsible for maintaining and upgrading aging infrastructure.
Farming
I grew up on a farm. Farmers are the backbone of nations, and we must ensure family farmers are able to operate without "The Swamp" muddying things up. Farmers and ranchers need access to a regular and robust Farm Bill, but they don't need money-laundering schemes disguised as bailouts. That money simply pass through farmers on its way to Big Ag; they can't use bailouts to invest in their futures - it goes straight to fertilizer manufacturers, bank loans, and equipment and fuel companies. On top of that, unnecessary tariffs and trade wars have hurt our exports, and outdated ecological policy creates a long term drain on farmers' abilities to keep up with increasing stressors driven by climate change.
Green Energy
Green energy IS energy independence. Despite what big oil lobbyists say, it is feasible and logical to phase out oil and natural gas energy systems in favor of more renewable sources. Eastern Washington already has strong green energy energy infrastructure, but it is often underutilized. In 2024, Avista stated that while 60% of our energy could come from renewable sources (mainly hydroelectric and wind), in practice less than half (48%) was actually renewably sourced.
Free and Fair Elections
Voting is an unalienable right enshrined in the Constitution. I vehemently oppose the SAVE Act and other efforts to disenfranchise American voters, especially women and people of color. Voter suppression under the guise of election security is un-American. Lobbyists and big money PACs with international interests have NO PLACE in deciding policy or influencing elections. We must protect systems that improve voter turnout and reject draconian policies that hinder a government of, by, and for the people.
Mail-In Voting
I am a big proponent of Washington's mail-in voting system. It gives voters more time to make informed decisions and improves voter turnout.
Voter Enfranchisement
While main-in voting is a big step toward voter enfranchisement, that alone will not be enough. We must prevent and eliminate practices designed to suppress the vote, including Voter ID laws, voter roll purges, attempts to seize private voting records, polling place closures, excessive recounts, and illegal investigations.
Gun Violence
America has a gun violence epidemic. The US ranks higher in gun violence than several nations in active conflict, and gun homicide rates are 26 times higher than other high-income countries. No other nation in the world experiences gun violence like the United States, yet our representatives refuse to do what is necessary to prevent this. While I am a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment, we must ensure that our children don't need bulletproof backpacks and active shooter drills, young adults can go to clubs without fear of terrorism, our houses of worship are safe from extremist attacks, and our public events are safe from unstable people who should never have access to firearms in the first place. I fully support policies for waiting periods, extensive background checks, pre-ownership training requirements, community violence intervention programs, and cracking down on ghost guns.
Healthcare
Opioid Epidemic
The opioid epidemic remains a serious problem. We can't simply imprison addicts and blame China and Mexico in the hopes the problem will go away; we must approach the problem from multiple angles. The first priority has to be saving lives, including harm reduction (Naloxone access, test strips, etc), treatment and recovery programs (medication-assisted treatment and mental health integration), and patient-centered pain management that prioritizes non-opioid treatments.
Women's Health
I am pro choice. It is patently absurd for big government to be forcing regressive policies on over half the population. I support full spectrum women's health issues, including right to choose, access to family planning programs, and availability of IVF treatments.
Universal Healthcare
I've traveled all over the world - over 50 countries. All modern nations have a national healthcare program. The first thing we need to do is ensure the existing ACA is not gutted and keep as many Americans insured as possible. Then we need to work on improving the system. I will support proven, rational, science-based healthcare systems that increase Americans' access to quality healthcare, but it only works if everyone is on it. If we can pass a comprehensive, single payer program such as Medicare for All or other national healthcare program, I will support it.
Immigration
America is built on immigrants. My father came to the US from India when he was a teenager, seeking a better life with the opportunities that come from living in the richest country in the world. Immigrants pick our food, build our homes, clean our offices, and work tirelessly to make their lives better. While we must ensure our borders are secure, we cannot conflate security with isolationism. The vast majority of "unauthorized immigrants" are seeking asylum or safety from violence. I reject the false narratives that they are criminals, don't pay taxes, or that they vote illegally.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
ICE must be dismantled. We cannot simply eliminate the fundamental mission of enforcing immigration laws, but it is clear that as an agency ICE is a threat to American Citizens and legal residents. To dismantle ICE, we must first redistribute its basic missions to existing federal agencies capable of Constitutionally handling those tasks, such as the FBI, ATF, Border Patrol, DEA, and US Marshals. Then all current ICE personnel must be dismissed, investigated, and barred from future federal employment. All electronic devices must be submitted for criminal forensic examination regarding civil rights violations and criminal activities, and anyone found to have committed crimes must be tried in court. Any replacement or interim agency must have strict guardrails that clearly forbid unnecessary force, wearing masks, writing their own warrants, treating enforcement like an invasion, and other abuses of power.
Fair Taxation
Billionaires need to pay their fair share in taxes. No one benefits more from the American system than the ultra wealthy. Blatant favoritism of the top 1% is destroying our middle class, impoverishing millions of people, and tanking local economies. We must implement strong taxation of people who make more money in a single day than most Americans earn in a year. Income inequality is a threat to Democracy.
LGBTQ Rights
There is no compromising with human rights; I stand with the queer community. I will fight any policies designed to disenfranchise and oppress LGBTQ groups. I will support legislation - including constitutional amendments - that ensure rights to marriage, trans healthcare, and protection from hate crimes.
Military and Veterans
I am a proud military veteran with a military family. I served for 26 years - 17 years as an enlisted man and then received a direct commission. I served two tours in Afghanistan and two years in Iraq, and my second deployment to Afghanistan overlapped my son's first deployment. I went to school on the GI Bill, bought a home with a VA loan, and use the VA for all my healthcare. These programs are neither handouts, nor benefits; they are a compact with the American People.
Full Care for Veterans
Our veterans served our country and deserve full and easily accessible healthcare. Eastern Washington has a higher veteran population (~10%) than the national average (~7%). Sadly, Michael Baumgartner continues to support VA cuts that pare down its services in the region, including closing satellite clinics, cutting staff, and eliminating emergency room services while delaying 24hr urgent care. Our local VA hospitals should not be used as kickback-fueled test cases for deadly computer software. Rural veterans shouldn't have to travel 2+ hours to receive primary care, and no veteran should have to navigate the process of getting emergency care from non-VA hospitals, which often attempt to charge veterans for services despite being covered by the VA.
Strong, Defense-Focused Military
It is the Department of Defense, not the Department of War. 19th Century mindsets have no place in a modern military. US troops should never be used on US soil against US persons. I oppose the "Epstein Wars" that do not have clear military and political objectives. The United States Armed Forces should be entirely merit-based - the blatant dismissal of proven, battle-hardened commanders based on gender and race by Pete Hegseth is a threat to national security that requires immediate congressional oversight. The men and women who serve locally and across the force deserve to be promoted based on their abilities and performance, NOT political alignment.
A modern military is needed to fight modern wars, and a modern mindset is needed to win them and keep the peace. The Iran debacle and Ukraine's highly effective (and cheap) drones and proven tactics, techniques, & procedures are proof that our addiction to billion-dollar systems doesn't always produce results. America's soft power is just as crucial to our defense, and the State Department, USAID, Peace Corps, and alliances such as NATO are all parts of comprehensive defense.
War Criminality
Pete Hegseth is a war criminal. His airstrikes against boats allegedly used for drug smuggling are illegal and puts our military members into the impossible position of being liable for war crimes. Disregard for the Geneva Convention and international law means that any captured American troops are at even greater risk of being tortured and ransomed. War Powers rest with Congress. Oversight rests with Congress. Michael Baumgartner is putting our soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen into double jeopardy by neglecting his responsibilities in order to please Mike Johnson. Neither of these men have served like the millions of men and women who defend this country, and their blatant disregard for the laws of war threatens to turn American servicemembers from liberators into oppressors.
Worker Rights
Living Wage
I strongly support a living wage. It used to be that a family could survive on a single income, but too many families now struggle to make ends meet even with both parents working multiple jobs. Wage stagnation is a multi-faceted problem, which must be address comprehensively. See my policies on Fair Taxation, Unions, and Universal Healthcare for some examples.
Unions
I completed the apprenticeship program and turned out as a journeyman in Piledrivers Union Local 34. Unions are the power of collective bargaining realized. Big businesses and multinational corporations can afford to pay a living wage and benefits. I support the growing Unionization movement in Eastern Washington.
Let's Take Our Country Back!
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