High costs are harming everyday Americans, from groceries and healthcare to housing and childcare. Millions of people are getting by paycheck to paycheck. One in five children in Oklahoma is living in poverty.

We need solutions that will work for every American, not just the very richest among us.

We live in a wonderfully rich and bountiful country---and an economy that powers the economic engine of the world. There is no reason why any American should be sitting on the sidelines or underemployed. Every able-bodied American has the right to work for a wage that does more than help them merely survive. And if Americans can't find those jobs, they should be able to go to work for their country--- repairing roads, building bridges, updating schools, and re-establishing rural hospitals.

Housing has become unaffordable for many, causing some families to spend over 50% of their income on rent. That leaves very little for utilities, and virtually nothing for emergencies, school costs, sports, and so much more. It's a common story that unfortunately is being experienced by more and more Oklahomans.

But we can stop it.

We must end the practice of allowing investment firms to buy up entire swaths of neighborhoods and cities. We must end the ability of a handful of individuals to drive up the cost of home ownership and pricing out the middle class. We must work with landlords and property owners to find humane and fair practices for resolving rental disputes. And we must work to build many more affordable housing units across the country over the next decade. Together, we can work to eliminate homelessness and raise the level of home ownership in our state and country.