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Chris Murphy's 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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Chris Murphy 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.

What is the Political Courage Test?

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 Washington, Chris fights to make sure that everyone receives equal treatment under the law. That means standing up for women’s rights and fighting to ensure women — no matter where they live — have access to abortion and contraceptives. After the right-wing Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, Chris helped reintroduce the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would guarantee equal access to abortion, and the Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act, which would protect the rights of Americans to cross state lines to receive reproductive health care." (chrismurphy.com)
  • "Make no mistake - this bill is explicitly intended to overturn Roe and punish women. I am going to keep fighting to make sure women can access the full spectrum of reproductive health care and make these personal decisions for themselves." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by Planned Parenthood Action Fund (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3755: "Women's Health Protection Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • "One item that I'm fighting hard to include in this relief package is a 15% increase in SNAP benefits. People need to be able to stock up on food for their families. Plus, SNAP pumps money back into local economies." (x.com)
  • "Right now, people are struggling with food insecurity and restaurants are hurting. That's why today, I introduced the SNAP CARRY Act with @RepJimmyPanetta to expand SNAP's restaurant meals program." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by Alliance for Retired Americans (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Republicans in Washington added $1 trillion to the deficit so that they could give a giant tax cut to rich people and big businesses. Now, they're planning to cut your Medicare and Social Security benefits to pay for it." (x.com)
  • "Republicans want to whip Americans up into a hateful anti-immigrant, anti-drag, anti-transgender fever, turning us against each other, so that everyone is distracted when they use power to pass giant tax cuts for billionaires and corporations. That's the plan. Always has been." (x.com)
  • Rated 3% by National Tax Limitation Committee (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 1 "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Just voted to pass a budget resolution that will allow Congress to change the balance of economic power in this nation. President Biden’s Build Back Better bill will invest in regular hardworking American families and ask billionaires and corporations to pay their fair share." (x.com)
  • "Republicans in Washington added $1 trillion to the deficit so that they could give a giant tax cut to rich people and big businesses. Now, they're planning to cut your Medicare and Social Security benefits to pay for it." (x.com)
  • Rated 3% by National Tax Limitation Committee (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 1 "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Our elections are broken when a handful of wealthy donors have more power than millions of voters. That's why today I joined my colleagues to introduce a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United." (x.com)
  • Rated 80% by Common Cause (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 92% by End Citizens United (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1: "For the People Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • "As Connecticut thinks back on a year since the death of #GeorgeFloyd, we can be proud of the spark of hope that has been lit. But we should be wide eyed about how our state is purpose built for racial and economic division, and sober minded about how much work we need to do." (x.com)
  • "The policing reforms introduced this week are bold and comprehensive, and they shouldn't be controversial. Black Americans are simply asking for the same basic rights and due process when it comes to policing as every other American," said Murphy. "Nothing in this act will make it harder for a good cop to do their job. All we are asking for here is true accountability for the minority of officers who abuse their power and single out people of color for abuse and harassment." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7776: "James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 815: "National Security Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • "Chris knows that a strong American military is foundational to our national security, but many 21st century threats to global security cannot be checked by military power alone. That’s why he’s pushed Congress to increase its investment in diplomatic efforts. As a longtime advocate for ending forever wars, Chris introduced sweeping, bipartisan legislation in 2021 that would ensure Congress has a seat at table when it comes to the use of force." (chrismurphy.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2670: "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • "The fight against climate change is existential. That’s why Chris worked hard to pass the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the single largest investment in energy and climate in America’s history. The IRA has supercharged our efforts to tackle the climate crisis by providing critical investments in the clean energy economy, supporting communities on the front line of climate change, and putting us on a path to reduce greenhouse gasses emissions by 40% in 2030. He also fought hard to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which made big investments in public transit, building a clean power grid, and tackling legacy pollution." (chrismurphy.com)
  • "We are celebrating one year since the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, the biggest investment EVER in America's roads, rails, and high tech infrastructure." (x.com)
  • 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)
  • "Another day, another major federal grant for Connecticut. This time, an $18 million grant to get the homeless off the street and into housing. Announced it w @GovNedLamont @SenBlumenthal in New Haven today." (x.com)
  • "I held a housing policy forum last weekend in Waterbury. Lots of different perspectives there. Tenants and landlords. Conservatives and progressives. I left with a clear sense that there is a left/right alliance on government playing a more serious role to make housing cheaper." (x.com)
  • "People really want to move to Connecticut. That's great news. But if we don't want this spiking demand to price Connecticut residents out of their own market, we need to create more housing and apartments that people can afford." (x.com)
  • "The housing crisis impacts everyone, no matter your political affiliation or leaning. And most everyone thinks the government should do more to fix this problem." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "It’s 11:24pm and we are about to start voting on amendments to the Inflation Reduction Act. I’m not voting for any amendment that is designed to undermine passage of the bill. It’s time to get this groundbreaking, cost cutting bill to the President’s desk." (x.com)
  • "The economy is growing. Factory construction is booming. Inflation is disappearing. And it's because of Democratic policies." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4346: "Supreme Court Security Funding Act of 2022 (CHIPS and Science Act of 2022)" (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by National Education Association (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I've met with new farmers across Connecticut and one thing I hear often is how difficult it is to start a farm and juggle student loans. That's why this week, @SenatorTomUdall and I intro'd a bill to create a loan forgiveness program for beginning farmers and ranchers." (x.com)
  • "Republicans see government as a vehicle to transfer wealth from the poor and middle class to the rich. So they get really, really angry when Democrats use government to do things to help regular people, like cut the cost of drugs or reduce student loans." (x.com)
  • "Too many young farmers in CT are struggling under the weight of student loans. This week I intro'd a bill with @SenatorTomUdall to help provide relief and make it possible for them to succeed." (x.com)
  • "Chris is a proud sponsor of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, legislation to restore the Voting Rights Act and stop voter suppression." (chrismurphy.com)
  • Co-sponsored HR 4: "John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 80% by Common Cause (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 2747 "Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "America needs a Green Bank - a national financing facility for renewable energy projects. @jahimes and I have legislation to do this and yesterday we visited a solar project in Stamford that our state’s Green Bank made possible." (x.com)
  • "Renewable energy construction is booming across Connecticut and the country. I visited a project in East Windsor today that is creating 350 jobs, creating power for 12,000 homes, and cutting energy costs by 15-20%. All made possible by federal energy tax credits." (x.com)
  • "The fight against climate change is existential. That’s why Chris worked hard to pass the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the single largest investment in energy and climate in America’s history. The IRA has supercharged our efforts to tackle the climate crisis by providing critical investments in the clean energy economy, supporting communities on the front line of climate change, and putting us on a path to reduce greenhouse gasses emissions by 40% in 2030. He also fought hard to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which made big investments in public transit, building a clean power grid, and tackling legacy pollution." (chrismurphy.com)
  • Rated 100% by League of Conservation Voters (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 0% by American Energy Alliance (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Half the oil we drill in America gets shipped overseas. Much of it to our adversary China. And it accelerates climate change. America should choose to run on domestic clean energy. It’s doesn’t get exported and it doesn’t pollute" (x.com)
  • "If you’re serious about energy independence, then you’re not being serious by saying we can get there through oil drilling. Because oil companies only drill when they’re going to make a profit, and much of that oil goes overseas, not to American consumers." (x.com)
  • "The oil industry wants you to believe we can protect our nation by drilling more. They are wrong." (x.com)
  • "Following the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Chris vowed that he would do everything in his power to strengthen our nation’s gun laws. He introduced legislation to make sure every gun purchase goes through a background check and supports legislation that would make sure weapons of war have no place on our streets. When it appeared that Congress was going to do nothing following the shooting at Pulse nightclub, Chris took to the Senate floor, filibustering for 15 hours until he secured a vote. After the tragedies in Buffalo and Uvalde, Chris worked across the aisle to break the logjam and pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first significant piece of federal gun safety legislation in 30 years." (chrismurphy.com)
  • "The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was signed into law by President Biden just a month after Uvalde, and provides support for red flag laws, enhanced background checks for buyers under 21, narrows the boyfriend loophole for individuals convicted of domestic violence, and creates federal penalties for gun trafficking and straw purchasing. The legislation also provides landmark investments in mental health, school safety, and community violence intervention programs. Chris works with leaders in Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport to make sure that the conversation around gun violence doesn’t just follow mass shootings but addresses the reality they experience in their cities every day. In 2023, he brought the gun violence prevention movement to Connecticut for a summit on the implementation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and the future of the movement. The first-of-its-kind National Safer Communities Summit was attended by President Biden and Administration officials, Gabby Giffords,, members of Congress, and gun safety advocates from Connecticut and across the country." (chrismurphy.com)
  • Rated 0% by Gun Owners of America (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 2938: "Bipartisan Safer Communities Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Every American should be able to Choose Medicare as their health care plan if they want to. That's why today, I introduced the Choose Medicare Act, a bill that would allow any person and any business to buy in to Medicare." (x.com)
  • "If given the option, an overwhelming number of Americans support letting any person or business buy in to Medicare. Soon I'll be reintroducing my Choose Medicare Act to let them do just that." (x.com)
  • "Medicare is the most effective, most popular insurance plan in America. Today, I introduced a bill with @SenJeffMerkley that would give every person and every business the ability to choose Medicare if they want it." (x.com)
  • "This is important. Being for Medicare for All is a little less of a threat to democracy than being for the violent overturning of a presidential election." (x.com)
  • "Our laws haven't caught up to how families live and work today. That's why I'm supporting the #FAMILYAct to expand paid family and medical leave to everyone." (x.com)
  • "Today, I sat down with @JulieKushner18 to talk about how paid family and medical leave would help families in Connecticut" (x.com)
  • "You shouldn’t have to choose between caring for a loved one or paying the bills, but unfortunately, it’s a choice too many workers in Connecticut face because they don’t have access to paid family and medical leave" (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6201: "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Democrats are going to do something simple - ask millionaires and corporations to pay a little more so seniors don’t pay as much for prescription drugs. And every Republican is going to oppose it and scream nonsense about Democratic spending and taxing job creators." (x.com)
  • "I was on Morning Joe today talking w ⁦@morningmika about the landmark #BuildBackBetter prescription drug reform, lowering the cost for patients and seniors. Big win!" (x.com)
  • "In 2022, Chris and Democrats in Congress took on Big Pharma and won by passing the Inflation Reduction Act and lowering the cost of prescription drugs for millions of Americans." (chrismurphy.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "I went to the Senate floor this afternoon to explain why we are voting again tomorrow on the bipartisan border security bill. Short story: Democrats want to fix the border; Republicans want to demonize immigrants and turn Americans against each other." (x.com)
  • "If Republicans care about securing our border, they will vote for the bipartisan border security bill that they negotiated. They'll have that chance this week. But my guess is that they will vote no. Why? Because they want the border to be a mess bc it's good politics for them." (x.com)
  • Rated 13% by NumbersUSA (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 4361: "Border Act of 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • "70% That's the percentage of Americans who support a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. We can and must get this done in the Build Back Better bill." (x.com)
  • "An estimated 11,061 #DACA recipients have already lost their protection. It’s time for Congress to pass the #DreamAct and provide a permanent solution for dreamers." (x.com)
  • "The Trump administration has cut refugee resettlement by 75%. This is unacceptable. America has always been a nation of immigrants and welcoming refugees, only makes us stronger." (x.com)
  • Rated 13% by NumbersUSA (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The Senate passed a bill to support Israel, Ukraine and humanitarian relief by a huge bipartisan majority. The House could take it up next week. It has the votes to pass. Some things in politics aren’t simple. This is." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6833: "Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7691: "Making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the situation in Ukraine for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 815: "National Security Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • "We should have passed the Ukraine bill months ago. Republicans played games with our security for far too long. But President Biden and Democrats remained firm in support of standing up to Putin. Last night, we finally got the job done." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6833: "Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7691: "Making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the situation in Ukraine for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 815: "National Security Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • "As you know, I’m deeply focused on the spiritual crisis facing America today. I wrote this essay for the ⁦on the risk of social media algorithms stealing from children the rituals of exploration and discovery. I think this is a really big deal." (x.com)
  • "Consolidated monopoly power is driving Americans crazy. People feel powerless and alone when companies this big have so much power over their lives, with little accountability. Good for Joe Biden for making breaking up big tech such a key focus" (x.com)
  • "Infowars is the tip of a giant iceberg of hate and lies that uses sites like Facebook and YouTube to tear our nation apart. These companies must do more than take down one website. The survival of our democracy depends on it." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 815: "National Security Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)

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