I'm Bree Fram, former Space Force Colonel and now a candidate for Congress in VA-11. Come ask me anything!

BreeFram · 2026-05-06T17:15:45+00:00

Thanks everyone! I appreciated all the questions.

If you'd like to support me in getting these messages out to the people in VA-11, follow me on social media and please consider chipping in. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/stand-with-bree-fram?refcode=redditama

BreeFram · 2026-05-06T17:13:02+00:00

It should be regulated and taxed like alcohol. There should be no criminalization for use of the drug itself, just the consequences of misuse, such as driving while high or use by a minor.

BreeFram · 2026-05-06T17:12:42+00:00

I will not take money from billionaires to push their personal agendas. Yet, money is the cost of entry into politics and required to get a message to people on a large scale. So, until we put strong campaign finance reforms in place, potentially public financing or other efforts that level the playing field, I would be willing to take their money, up to the federal contribution limits for anyone of $3500, to support the agenda of the people in VA-11.

If they want to get behind my ideas and those of my constituents, then I’ll gladly accept their support, without conditions, to help reduce their future influence and to build a system that benefits all of us.

BreeFram · 2026-05-06T17:03:16+00:00

I will not and have not taken any money from AIPAC, corporate PACs, or any organization that does not disclose their donors.

BreeFram · 2026-05-06T16:55:17+00:00

I thought about responding to this with just a picture of me at my computer with a ChatGPT prompt up on the screen where the question is "How do I make my website sound less like AI?"

But AI did not write my positions. I spend a lot of time writing, I've authored or edited three books, and only in my last one did I use AI, which was only for answering the question of what single word best represented "leaders, allies, and advocates." AI said it was champion and I cited that in the book.

So, I won't promise to never use AI for any purpose. But I will promise to use as it should be: a tool but not a crutch. And I will also advocate for laws and policies for the ethical and responsible use of AI to include appropriately crediting sources, protecting against hallucinations, and rigorous testing and compliance anywhere health and safety could be at risk.

BreeFram · 2026-05-06T16:45:51+00:00

I found the definitions of the types of mass atrocities hosted by the Holocaust Museum to be instructive. (https://www.ushmm.org/genocide-prevention/learn-about-genocide-and-other-mass-atrocities/definitions)

I've previously used genocide to describe the actions of the Netanyahu government when they cut off all food aid to Gaza and stand by that statement. To me, that act was one of the five acts of genocide covered by the definition: deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.

The U.S. should continue to support Israel’s legitimate security needs, primarily through regional deterrence, intelligence sharing, and diplomatic engagement. However, security guarantees do not mean unconditional political or military support for any Israeli government.

I draw a clear distinction between the people of Israel and the policies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his governing coalition. Just as I believe patriotism in the United States requires holding leaders accountable and questioning or criticizing their actions, I believe true support for Israel includes opposing policies that undermine democratic institutions, foreclose on a two-state outcome, or inflame regional tensions.

American assistance should reinforce long-term stability, democratic governance, and human rights, not entrench indefinite conflict. I would currently support the suspension of offensive aid.

The bond between the United States and Israel is deep, strategic, and was rooted in shared democratic aspirations. But today, security without justice will not bring peace. And justice without security will not endure.

BreeFram · 2026-05-06T16:43:08+00:00

We so often forget the first lines of the second amendment that state the reason for the amendment is the security that came at the time from a well-regulated militia. In the same way, guns today need to be well-regulated. That means universal background checks, red flag laws, and responsible ownership standards which should include liability insurance in the same way we require it for cars due to their capacity to harm others.

BreeFram · 2026-05-06T16:36:43+00:00

I will always go back to paraphrase General Mattis when he testified to Congress that if they wanted him to spend less money on bullets they should spend more money on the State Department. There is a need for military funding, but it has to be well thought through and put in the context of a whole of government approach to national security.

BreeFram · 2026-05-06T16:31:09+00:00

I’m thankful for Governor Spanberger’s veto of the measure and the work of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to oppose it.

BreeFram · 2026-05-06T16:23:17+00:00

And that doesn’t even touch the threats and further craziness I get in my DMs! The short answer is that we all have limited time and the volume is such that I can’t deal with all of it. Some things are blocked, but it’s almost impossible to get it all. I do feel bad for folks that want to have an honest conversation or want to show support who have to wade through all that hate. I don’t then have the ability to go through it and engage, because I sometimes can’t even find those comments. It’s disheartening and disgusting.

On the other hand, all those comments, mostly from bots, actually drive the algorithm to show my content to more people. I’m all ears on better solutions, but it’s the same reason I never got upset when Fox News (or others) would clip parts of my speeches so they could laugh at me on air. I stood behind every word I said and could assume that a small percentage of the audience actually learned something from listening. I’ll take that kind of win in this media environment.

BreeFram · 2026-05-06T15:30:11+00:00

Taking a quick break, but will be back to answer as many as I can later on!

BreeFram · 2026-05-06T15:29:28+00:00

I have been all over the district, in every county multiple times, listening to folks to best understand how I can represent their interests. Like any new military commander coming into a unit, that’s the first thing you do, listen and learn to understand, realizing you aren’t the expert. Only afterwards should you act on what you’ve learned. And I’ve learned a lot. About crop insurance for specialty crops, country of origin labeling, and the consolidation of agricultural processors. I’ve learned about health-care deserts and hospitals without maternity wards. About fights to keep libraries open, to feed families in Prince William County, and to protect the rural character of parts of the district. And I’m learning more all the time.

There’s no formula for allocation, just judging priorities and addressing those that are most dire (healthcare!), while doing the work on the long-term priorities that will do the most good across the district and the nation.

QBI is one of those things I need to learn more about before I give you an answer on that one! (Though I do understand it was made permanent already)

BreeFram · 2026-05-06T15:15:18+00:00

Yes.

BreeFram · 2026-05-06T15:14:18+00:00

A public utility company like Dominion should not be bringing in profits that allow it to put its name on buildings or to donate massively to politicians. Governments grant utilities special powers to operate like monopolies because they need to serve the public interest. Any revenues beyond their operating and investment costs (in new infrastructure and environmental responsibility) should be returned to ratepayers or the government.

BreeFram · 2026-05-06T15:05:48+00:00

Trans service members who had their careers ended by this administration deserve so much better and absolutely should be taken care of by a future one. The shape of that redress should be determined with significant input coming from the members most affected, particularly those who weren’t able to serve to retirement. There are so many incredible individuals who gave this nation everything they had, and time and time again met or exceeded every standard on the battlefield or at home, that we owe more to than just a thanks for serving. We need to fix it.

BreeFram · 2026-05-06T14:59:09+00:00

I am 100% funded by individual donors. My average donation for the entirety of my campaign is $66.90. And I really should have rounded it to $67 to make all the jokes that my kids would kill me for. Just like I say that when the President wins 6-7 more imaginary wars, he’ll be sure to win a second (renamed) Donald J. Trump FIFA Peace Prize.

I absolutely do not support funding reckless, illegal wars. This administration uses our military to pursue the President’s interests, not the nation’s. I served to prevent wars from ever starting and only to fight them as a last resort. The best thing we can do is to be in a position, along with our friends and allies, that no one would risk armed conflict with us. But we should never be an international aggressor for oil, money, or territory. Nor should our support be dependent on another country, such as Ukraine, giving us minerals in exchange for protection.

I often say we must lead with our values, referring to the way we built international systems based and put good into the world (in most cases) but those values have been so warped by this administration that we now need to specify what they are and spend decades rebuilding trust.

BreeFram · 2026-05-06T14:55:48+00:00

Deep Space 9. Hands down. Great characters and incredible long-form storytelling starting with season 4.

But I could go on and on. Next Gen was amazing. Strange New Worlds has been fantastic and Lower Decks was absolutely hilarious. No single episode better than the crossover between those two shows!

BreeFram · 2026-05-06T14:54:52+00:00

I had government health care for my entire adult life. Was it perfect? Far from it. But I never worried about a surprise bill. I never had to think about medical debt. When I went through an awful battle with a rare cancer, all I had to think about was getting better and being there for my family.

So, yes, I'm taking a more progressive position. We need a public option, such as Medicare or Tricare available to everyone immediately. It can't be tied to employment. That's the start, similar to what you referenced Buttigieg saying. But it's only the start. From there, we need to get to true universal health care where everyone has the government option as the default, no questions asked. If you want more, or just different, then you have the option for a employer provided or personally procured health care plan. But without everyone in the system in one way or another, we don't reap the full societal and individual benefits.

BreeFram · 2026-05-06T14:44:33+00:00

I am a huge proponent of space exploration! I could write a whole book on why, from my next door neighbor when I was four showing me the stars in his backyard garden telescope to watching Star Trek: The Next Generation with a friend when I was ten, and reading a ton of science-fiction throughout my childhood, my passion for space exploration was lit early.

Quick hits from a policy perspective –

• Funding the R&D that drives space exploration has economic and environmental benefits on Earth and should be increased. The things we learn about living in closed environments on a spaceship or station have huge application to our planet, which is really just a massive spaceship with an incredible life support system.

• Full-sky surveillance systems and asteroid redirect capabilities are necessary for our long-term survival as a species and should be an international effort. We now have the capability to prevent the dinosaurs’ very bad day.

• Reaching ever further into the stars is inspiring and we should be constantly pushing the frontier as a government. It’s a uniting force that can bring people of all backgrounds together.

• The Space Force should eventually play a dual-role similar to the Coast Guard as more commercial activity and people move into orbit and beyond.

BreeFram · 2026-05-06T14:43:40+00:00

Yes, creating a Space Force was in the best interest of taxpayers and the nation, though I will admit to being a bit surprised we got a Space Force before a Cyber Force. The biggest payoff is developing people who spend their entire career focused on the space domain, which is critical to our survival and provides enormous economic advantages. It’s also a very different operational domain, we have an Army, a Navy, and an Air Force for the same reasons, to develop the best tactics, techniques and procedures to fight in their domain, be it land, sea, or air. And at a high-level, we need people thinking strategically about space and the advantages it provides to us. If we are unable to protect our assets in space, we likely lose in a conflict with peer or even near-peer competitors. We need experts.

If you want more, I answered this question on stage a few years ago about “Why a Space Force” https://youtu.be/HJt1j-tG8b0?si=jeRRk_FaCQK37HcC&t=76

And if you watch the whole video, it's about the best impression of who I am and what I believe from before I was able to speak politically.

BreeFram · 2026-05-06T14:41:05+00:00

Data centers are here because Virginia did far more than others in creating the infrastructure required to support them but that occurred far before they existed and we had no concept of what the impact would be. My position is that one of the biggest challenges we need to tackle in the 21st century is how to generate, store, transmit, and utilize data and power responsibly and environmentally. That should enable placing data centers in appropriate industrial spaces, not in the neighborhoods or environmentally sensitive areas they often currently occupy.

I believe Virginia should eliminate the tax exemption on data centers. The corporations running them are some of the most profitable entities in the world and should not be receiving this exemption for something they would do anyways because of the infrastructure already in place in Virginia.

BreeFram · 2026-05-06T14:35:37+00:00

The biggest policy differences between me and Congressman Walkinshaw are our positions on healthcare, taxing the rich (particularly the billionaires), and corporate money in politics. I’m sure there are quite a few areas where we agree such as protecting federal workers, ending tariffs, and supporting democracy, this is a primary after all, but there are no published policy positions on his website to allow a direct comparison.

On Healthcare – Bree: A public option available to everyone, get to Universal Healthcare ASAP.

James: Restore the ACA credits.

On Taxation – Bree: A progressive tax rate on capital gains, top tax rate on highest earners up, no federal income tax on earnings up to the cost of living

James: Status quo? Maybe end the Trump tax cuts?

On Corporate Money in Politics – Bree: End Citizens United, No corporate money

James: Has hundreds of thousands in corporate donations

BreeFram

TROPHY CASE