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Economy – Jobs – Cost of Living

(Senator Mike Katz delivers address to physicians, nurses, and business people at The Medical Society of Delaware about the State of Delaware's Economy, Small Business, Health, Education, and Transportation. Senator Katz served on the Delaware Senate Small Business, Banking, Education, and Energy/Transportation Committees - 2012)

A robust U.S. economy opens doors for every American, offering better job prospects, increased wages, improved well-being, and the means to access goods and services that enhance their quality of life.

Dr. Mike Katz, with his extensive business and executive leadership experience, is prepared to lead in the U.S. Senate by directing and executing comprehensive policies and strategies that fortify the nation’s economy.

As an independent servant leader, devoted solely to the best interests of all Delawareans rather than a political party, Mike is well-positioned to unite Senators and Congress members from both political parties, fostering collaboration to enact legislation that improves the lives of all Americans.

Dr. Mike’s focus revolves around crucial areas and strategies aimed at building a competitive and resilient American economy that solves complex upstream challenges:

• Invest in education and workforce development to equip America’s workforce with the skills required for future jobs.
• Incentivize private sector investment in research and innovation.
• Upgrade and modernize infrastructure, including transportation and energy, through public-private partnerships to support economic growth.
• Promote small business growth and job creation by implementing policies that alleviate regulatory burdens on small businesses and start-ups, providing access to capital and resources.
• Introduce tax reform policies that spur economic growth, reduce corporate tax burdens, and provide incentives for business investment.
• Simplify the tax code to ensure simplicity, fairness, and competitiveness.
• Ensure financial stability through a well-regulated financial system, instilling confidence in the American banking and financial sectors.
• Foster energy independence and sustainable energy source development.
• Encourage businesses to adopt emerging technologies for increased productivity and competitiveness.
• Streamline and enhance government operations to improve efficiency.
• Embrace fiscal responsibility by passing balanced budgets and implementing a plan to pay down America’s national debt.

A strong American economy requires comprehensive policies grounded on upstream problem-solving that addresses the multifactorial interconnected issues defining our economy.

 

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Dr. Mike Katz brings over forty years of dedicated service to the U.S. healthcare industry, a journey that began as a teenager working as a phlebotomist in New Haven hospitals. His diverse roles have ranged from caring for critically ill children as a pediatric critical care anesthesiologist to managing and advising surgical facilities and health systems, focusing on operational efficiencies and health system integration. He has devoted decades of his career to the tireless pursuit of refining and advancing healthcare policies at both the state and national levels. Dr. Mike possesses a profound understanding of America’s health system, acknowledging its strengths, successes, weaknesses, and instances where it has fallen short, impacting patients and communities.

(Dr. Mike Katz Discusses Delaware Healthcare Issues with Senator Tom Carper - 2008)

 

Undoubtedly, America’s healthcare sector, comprising seventeen percent of the nation’s GDP, stands as one of the most complex industries. Its sheer size and complexities, coupled with the gravity of life-and-death decisions, defy conventional business models fixated on profit maximization. Guided by dedicated and tirelessly committed highly skilled nurses, doctors, technicians, and aids, the system strives to deliver care within limited resources, safeguarding precious lives rather than adhering strictly to profit-oriented models.

Yet the current state of America’s healthcare is marked by excessive costs, inefficiencies, and fragmentation, lacking coordination among providers and services. It is a system characterized by chaos, bloat, and poor management, exacerbated by evolving public health demands and reactive political policies. Despite substantial yearly expenditures, the system often overlooks and harms individuals, failing to contribute to the creation of a healthy society.

(Dr. Mike Katz and other physicians meet with U.S. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell on Capital Hill to review U.S. Senate Healthcare Legislation - 1994)

 

Dr. Mike Katz is steadfast in his commitment to ensuring universal access to high-quality, affordable healthcare, regardless of zip code. His plan requires a paradigm shift in the focus of America’s health system – from treating illness to preventing it by advocating healthy behaviors and lifestyles, starting from the prenatal and early childhood years. Additionally, he emphasizes the critical integration of mental health into health and secondary education systems, recognizing its significance in promoting the well-being of both children and adults.

Dr. Mike possesses the medical, business, and policy knowledge, experience, and upstream leadership skills necessary to guide the U.S. Senate and Congress in establishing a health system focused on coordinated population and community health. Such a system will provide high-quality, affordable healthcare for every citizen, integrating not-for-profit, academic, and for-profit systems to enhance consumer choice and operational efficiencies.

(Speaking with U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman, Dr. Mike Katz provides update on U.S. Health system nursing and physician shortages - 2008)

 

An upstream-driven U.S. Health System that recognizes the interconnectedness of health, education, and economic success, promises consistent access to high-quality affordable healthcare. Dr. Mike Katz’s integrated approach leaves no community out-of-reach of living meaningful healthy lives, from America’s urban centers, to its remote farmlands.

 

The dedicated service of America’s active military and veterans has left an indelible and multi-generational impact on our society, significantly shaping our nation’s development, values, overall well-being, and quality of life. Rooted in democratic principles, the military institutions stand as guardians of our nation, shielding its citizens from aggression, upholding the security and sovereignty of our land, and safeguarding the democratic values and freedoms we hold dear. Sustaining a robust military force and veterans’ community is essential for America’s continuous ability to preserve global peace, maintain international stability, foster economic prosperity, and protect human rights.

Beyond their military service many veterans continue to serve our communities, seamlessly transitioning into roles as volunteers and leaders. Armed with strong work ethics, discipline, unique skills, and a profound sense of mission, they contribute significantly to the civilian workforce, often finding themselves at the forefront as first responders in law enforcement and public safety.

Recognizing and honoring the service and sacrifices of our active military and veterans is not only a moral obligation but a national imperative. This entails an unwavering commitment to safeguarding their health, ensuring their safety, and promoting their overall well-being. Gratitude must be extended for the freedoms and safety they have selflessly secured for our nation.

The challenges faced by veterans are numerous, spanning mental health issues, physical health concerns, post-service employment, continuing education, housing, and legal matters. Addressing these challenges is paramount in promoting their overall well-being and facilitating a successful transition to civilian life.

The military community, encompassing both active service members and veterans, deserves profound recognition and gratitude for their unwavering dedication to protecting our cherished values and democracy. Effectively addressing the issues faced by the military and veterans necessitates a comprehensive and collaborative approach, involving coordinated problem-solving efforts between military, government agencies, and the private sector.

 

VA Advanced Medical Facility in Southern Delaware: A Commitment to Our Veterans

 

Veterans residing in Kent and Sussex counties in Delaware urgently need accessible, advanced medical care services tailored to their unique health challenges, including cancers, mental health issues, and service-related disabilities. Currently, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) is falling short of its mission to provide these critical services to veterans in Southern Delaware.

 

Current Challenges

1. Geographic Barriers: The only advanced care VA medical facility in Delaware is located in Wilmington, creating a significant barrier for veterans in the southern part of the state. The long-distance travel required effectively denies these veterans timely access to essential medical services.
2. Community Care Program Shortcomings: The VA’s Community Care program, which is supposed to supplement care for veterans, is also failing. It suffers from a severe shortage of medical and support staff, making it difficult for veterans to access the care they need in a timely manner.

 

Action Plan

As Delaware’s next United States Senator, I will begin to resolve the critical issue of Southern Delaware’s Veterans access to advance medical services within the first ninety days of taking office. I will leverage my decades of experience as a physician with expertise in healthcare operational efficiencies and health system design and integration. My plan involves a multifaceted approach:

1. Collaboration and Partnership: I will work closely with Delaware’s veterans, the VA, and both federal and state agencies to address the current shortcomings. This collaborative effort is essential to ensure that the needs and concerns of our veterans are optimally addressed.
2. Site Identification and Development: One of my top priorities will be to identify a suitable site in Southern Delaware for the new advanced care medical services center. This will be done in partnership with the Eastern Shore region of Maryland to maximize resources and accessibility.
3. Facility Construction and Staffing: I will advocate for and secure the necessary funding to build a state-of-the-art medical facility. Additionally, I will ensure that it is fully staffed with qualified medical professionals and support personnel to provide comprehensive and timely care.
4. Operation and Oversight: Establishing a robust operational framework will be crucial. This will include implementing best practices for medical care, patient management, and administrative oversight to ensure that the facility operates efficiently and effectively from day one.

 

Benefits to Veterans

This new facility will provide:

-Advanced Medical Services: Comprehensive care for veteran-specific conditions, including specialized treatment for cancers, mental health services, and management of service-related disabilities.

- Improved Accessibility: Reducing travel times and providing local access to advanced medical care will significantly improve the health outcomes and quality of life for veterans in Southern Delaware.

- Enhanced Community Support: A local facility will also serve as a hub for community support services, helping veterans integrate more seamlessly into civilian life.

 

Conclusion

The establishment of an advanced medical facility in Southern Delaware is not just a healthcare improvement; it is a moral imperative. Our veterans have sacrificed for our nation, and it is our duty to ensure they receive the highest standard of care. By addressing the current gaps in service and providing a dedicated, state-of-the-art medical center, we can honor their service to our country with the quality healthcare they deserve and have earned. This initiative will not only benefit Delaware's veterans but will also set a precedent for how we care for our heroes across the nation.

Delaware’s first responders are the guardians of our communities – they are not just public servants but our neighbors, friends, and pillars of strength. Operating tirelessly around the clock, these dedicated individuals, comprising police, fire, and emergency medical staff, go above and beyond to ensure our collective health and safety. In their unwavering commitment to service, they often endure long, challenging shifts, putting themselves at personal risk to assist those in need.

These true examples of servant leaders embody resilience in the face of understaffed, overworked, and underpaid conditions. Despite these challenges, they faithfully report for duty day and night, securing our communities and allowing us to rest peacefully. Their motivation isn’t grounded in the pursuit of recognition, but rather in the satisfaction of a job well done in the service of others.

(Senator Mike Katz meeting with Delaware Firefighters Leadership - 2011)

It’s time for our society to recognize the invaluable contributions of these first responders. Their indispensable role in maintaining the safety and well-being of our communities ensures the smooth functioning of our civil society. As a collective responsibility, we have an obligation to solve the problems faced by our first responders, including staffing and pay deficits, equipment and resource shortages, physical and mental health needs, workplace violence, and the obligation to demonstrate unwavering community support.

These dedicated individuals consistently prioritize our safety and well-being, executing complex life-saving tasks that demand important skills and sacrifice. Yet, their efforts often go unnoticed. By making a comprehensive commitment to support the needs of our first responders, we demonstrate our recognition and gratitude for their service. It’s time to unite and reassure our first responders, those who selflessly serve us, that we steadfastly appreciate them, support them, and that we unequivocally “got their back”.

Education

As a pediatric trained anesthesiologist and critical care physician, Dr. Mike Katz understands the critical role that early childhood and secondary education play in enabling children to discover and develop their interests and talents, and for preparing young minds for success in both academic and life pursuits.

Dr. Mike believes that the United States education system has failed to ensure universal access to high-quality education for every child. This systemic shortcoming has hindered America from realizing its full potential in terms of overall well-being, prosperity, and the enduring sustainability of our society. Mike prioritizes his commitments to addressing and rectifying these educational disparities to foster a more prosperous future for every child, regardless of zip code.

Early childhood education plays a critical role in shaping a person’s success throughout life. The experiences and learning opportunities provided during a child’s earliest years have a lasting impact on all aspects of their development. The early years of a child’s life are a period of rapid brain development. Quality early childhood education programs facilitate cognitive, emotional, and academic development by providing experiences that facilitate neural connections. This early foundation sets the stage for future learning that affects future social, emotional, language, cognitive and behavioral development.

Children who receive a strong early childhood and secondary education are more likely to pursue higher education that directly impacts their health and economic success throughout life. And a healthy well-educated society makes for a strong competitive America.

The “American Dream” is based on the foundational principles of freedom and individual rights with the idea that every individual can pursue their own ambitions and goals. The Dream represents the belief that every American, regardless of their background, has the equal opportunity for prosperity and upward mobility through hard work.

Dr. Mike Katz knows that, along with education and financial success, Homeownership is an integral part of the Dream, based on the idea that through hard work, Americans can achieve a higher standard of living and provide a better life for their families.

Unfortunately, for many Americans. The dream of homeownership remains out of reach due to various factors, including high mortgage rates, a diminished supply of affordable housing, escalating housing prices, and inflation coupled with stagnant real wages. In Delaware, the median sales price for a home surged from $221,100 in 2018 to $339,400 in 2023, making a significant fifty-three percent increase (source).

Reviving the dream of homeownership for working families, especially young first-time homebuyers, demands a comprehensive upstream federal and state policy approach. This includes implementing tax incentives and discounted interest rates for first-time homebuyers, augmenting the supply of affordable homes, and implementing zoning changes aimed at reducing the cost of housing construction while encouraging the commencement of affordable housing projects.

Dr. Mike Katz is committed to introducing and championing policies, working with all members of Congress, to make homeownership once again attainable for working families.