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Jim Himes' Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.
Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, but Vote Smart inferred this issue based on the candidate's public record, including statements, voting record, and special interest group endorsements.
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Jim Himes did not provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2024 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

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Issue Positions

For Presidential and Congressional candidates who refuse to provide voters with their positions, Vote Smart has researched their public records to determine their likely responses. These issue positions are from 2024.

  • "In 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, taking away federal protections for a woman’s right to choose. Since then, dozens of states have implemented near, if not full, abortion bans. Jim knows a woman’s right to choose is paramount. He’s stood against Republican attempts to defund family planning and community health centers, and he opposed multiple efforts to ban abortion at the federal level. He’ll continue fighting against these attacks and working to enshrine the right to an abortion for every woman in our country." (www.staging3.himesforcongress.com)
  • Rated 100% by Planned Parenthood Action Fund (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8296: "Women's Health Protection Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8297: "Ensuring Access to Abortion Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "1 in 5 Americans rely on Social Security. Jim understands that Social Security is a critical part of our promise and support and stability to the American people. He’s proud to stand against any efforts to privatize Social Security, and he’s going to continue working hard to put Social Security on a path to long-term stability." (www.staging3.himesforcongress.com)
  • "Seniors and social security recipients deserve to receive their hard-earned benefits. Monthly checks help cover the costs of housing, food, and prescription drugs. That’s why I proudly support @RepJohnLarson's Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust to enhance and protect benefits." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 95% by Alliance for Retired Americans (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The path hasn’t been smooth, but we are very close to historic change: universal pre-K, child care, a huge step forward on climate, PLUS a bipartisan investment in infrastructure. I’ll put that up against Trump’s $2 trillion in tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations any day." (x.com)
  • "The problem is that the American Right cherishes ideas that aren’t true: tax cuts pay for themselves, climate change is a hoax, masks don’t work, Trump won." (x.com)
  • Rated 8% by National Tax Limitation Committee (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 1 "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Bottom line on #BuildBackBetter: @GOP used reconciliation to pass a $2 trillion dollar tax cut, 83% of which went to the richest 1% and corporations. Democrats used reconciliation to give America universal pre-K, lower drug prices and address climate change. You be the judge" (x.com)
  • "The path hasn’t been smooth, but we are very close to historic change: universal pre-K, child care, a huge step forward on climate, PLUS a bipartisan investment in infrastructure. I’ll put that up against Trump’s $2 trillion in tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations any day." (x.com)
  • Rated 8% by National Tax Limitation Committee (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 1 "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 92% by End Citizens United (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 94% by Common Cause (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to Janet Yellen, Secretary of the Department of the Treasury and Charles Rettig, Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service: "We write to urge the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to reverse the Trump Administration's decision to eliminate disclosure requirements for certain tax-exempt organizations that engage in political activity. As it stands, this policy weakens federal tax laws, campaign finance laws, and longstanding efforts to prevent foreign interference in U.S. elections." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1: "For the People Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • "The House of Representatives has done its job today and acted on behalf of the people," said Himes. "The Justice in Policing Act will bring reforms to police departments across the country, increasing accountability and showing a commitment to change and improvement." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "As Ranking Member of the House Permanent Committee on Intelligence, Jim oversees 17 federal agencies that make up the U.S. Intelligence Community. Jim is dedicated to upholding the legacy of skilled, active global leadership, ensuring the safety of every American, strengthening our partnerships, and investing in national security. Keeping the United States at the forefront of innovation is critical to maintaining our robust national defense system. Jim understands that Congress plays a central role in advancing security technology and has advocated for legislation to increase private-public partnerships so that our government remains a global leader in everything from artificial intelligence to spyware. Our intelligence systems must also remain compatible with Americans’ constitutional rights. Jim works every day to ensure those civil liberties are upheld. He has introduced legislation to improve intelligence community oversight, and as part of a bipartisan coalition, passed the USA FREEDOM Act which ended bulk collection programs." (www.himesforcongress.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2670: "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4350: "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7900: "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • "Building a strong economy starts with investing in education, infrastructure, and research. Jim supported the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which has created hundreds of thousands of new clean energy jobs (and counting!) and boosts American manufacturing. Jim was also proud to support the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which has already brought over $2.9 billion in funds to Connecticut to support manufacturing jobs, improve public transportation so Americans can get to work, school, the doctor, or the grocery store, ensure clean water, access to high-speed internet – a necessity for Americans to do their jobs, stay connected, and access healthcare – and more. And so far over $1.9 billion has been announced in major infrastructure projects right here." (www.staging3.himesforcongress.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1319 "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2: "Moving Forward Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "I’m very honored and doubly committed to keep fighting for affordable housing." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8294: "Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4346: "Supreme Court Security Funding Act of 2022 (CHIPS and Science Act of 2022)" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7688: "Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Tonight the House passed #HR4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore key provisions of the #VotingRightsAct I know my friend John Lewis is proud to see this passed before the anniversary of the #MarchOnWashington this weekend." (x.com)
  • Rated 94% by Common Cause (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4: "John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5746 "Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Jim knows how important it is to prioritize building a clean energy economy and good-paying jobs, and he works every day to invest in America’s resiliency, and future. Connecticut’s Green Bank led the way and has made over $2 billion in investments in Connecticut’s green energy economy – it has become a model for other green banks across the country. Jim introduced the National Green Bank Act, and now, with the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act we’re investing $27 billion in the future of green banks and other organizations to partner with private investors and finance clean energy and zero-emission projects. America’s dependence on foreign oil and coal has decreased every year since Jim took office, while sustainable energy generation continues to grow. But we need to speed up this process to achieve true sustainability for future generations. Jim knows that our greatest renewable resource is innovation, and he’s fought for forward-thinking energy policies that reduce costs for families and businesses and drive economic growth." (www.staging3.himesforcongress.com)
  • Rated 100% by League of Conservation Voters (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4447: "Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 9: "Climate Action Now Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 1: "Lower Energy Costs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 6285: "Alaska's Right to Produce Act of 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1146: "Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1941: "Coastal and Marine Economies Protection Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Jim fights every day to make Medicare sustainable for future generations, improve the Affordable Care Act, which ensured millions of Americans’ health coverage, and prioritize access to quality, affordable healthcare for all Americans." (www.staging3.himesforcongress.com)
  • "The ACA isn’t perfect, but that doesn’t mean we throw it out. That means we sit down and fix it." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1425: "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "At midnight last night, the House passsed a bipartisan bill to support the financial security of families impacted by the #coronavirus outbreak. The Senate and President must act immediately to pass it into law. I will put out more info soon. In summary, the bill includes: Paid sick leave. Two weeks of paid sick leave and up to three months of paid family and medical leave so that workers can stay home if they are sick." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6201 "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Can’t remember a town hall meeting when someone didn’t stand up to speak about difficulties paying for prescription drugs. For the first time ever, we are pushing those prices downward. Americans shouldn’t pay much more than Canadians, Brits and Germans for medication." (x.com)
  • "Jim fought to help pass and make law the Inflation Reduction Act, which capped out-of-pocket prescription drug costs at $2,000, capped insulin at $35 and allows Medicare to negotiate drug costs." (www.staging3.himesforcongress.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3 "Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6833 "The Affordable Insulin Now Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Democrats have and will fund border security. We won’t fund the campaign dream of a President who knows nothing about security and who has consistently lied about the threat." (x.com)
  • Rated 8% by NumbersUSA (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 2: "Secure the Border Act of 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 5525: "Continuing Appropriations and Border Security Enhancement Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3033: "Solidify Iran Sanctions Act of 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6015: "Iran Sanctions Accountability Act of 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8030: "Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8035: "Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8035: "Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5692: "Ukraine Security Assistance and Oversight Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6833: "Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S3522: "Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7520: "Protecting Americans' Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 7521: "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act" (votesmart.org)

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