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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Office:

On The Ballot: Running, Democratic for U.S. House (NY) - District 14

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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.

  • "Overturning Roe and outlawing abortions will never make them go away. It only makes them more dangerous, especially for the poor + marginalized. People will die because of this decision. And we will never stop until abortion rights are restored in the United States of America." (x.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)
  • Rated 100% by National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 98% by Alliance for Retired Americans (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Our country subjects people in need of food assistance to a litany of conditions to qualify, yet refuses to place a *single* condition on billions of public funds to prevent enabling an atrocity. It is appalling. Thousands of children, dead. This is the result of "no red lines." (x.com)
  • "I am open to taking a look at SALT and addressing concerns for families put under the squeeze in high cost of living areas. But a full 100% SALT repeal means major tax breaks for extremely high-net worth individuals and billionaires. Why do that?" (x.com)
  • Rated 22% by National Taxpayers Union (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "You know why all this backlash happens when we say "Tax the Rich?" Because the unquestionable norm is to tax the poor & working class. Maybe instead of taxing people who need baby formula and essential goods, we tax those who have profited billions from a global pandemic?" (x.com)
  • Rated 22% by National Taxpayers Union (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "After a year where frontline workers were thrown into harm’s way (many w/o hazard pay or adequate healthcare) while billionaires hoarded another $4 TRILLION, members of both parties have tried to halt taxing the wealthiest in our society. It’s unacceptable. We must Tax the Rich" (x.com)
  • "Tax the Rich" (x.com)
  • "You know why all this backlash happens when we say "Tax the Rich?" Because the unquestionable norm is to tax the poor & working class. Maybe instead of taxing people who need baby formula and essential goods, we tax those who have profited billions from a global pandemic?" (x.com)
  • "We have a plan 4 publicly funded elections and repealing #CitizensUnited, which opened the floodgates of corruption in gov. It ends with us." (x.com)
  • Rated 83% 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)
  • "#GeorgeFloyd should be alive. Instead, he was killed as he begged police for his life. The impunity of police violence is a systemic problem we must face to save lives. Police brutality is now a leading cause of death for young Black men in the US. The status quo is killing us." (x.com)
  • "That a family had to lose a son, brother and father; that a teenage girl had to film and post a murder, that millions across the country had to organize and march just for George Floyd to be seen and valued is not justice. And this verdict is not a substitute for policy change." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 2670: "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 4350: "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 4365: "Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 7900: "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • "Happy to announce creation of a US Civilian Climate Corps is now in the Build Back Better Act. Estimated to create 300k+ public jobs w/ Dept of Labor + Americorps to combat the climate crisis & enviro injustices." (x.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)
  • "Honored to advance a movement that champions healthcare, education, justice, and affordable housing for all." (x.com)
  • "Today we reintroduced the Green New Deal for Public Housing, which will create up to a quarter million US jobs modernizing our public housing stock." (x.com)
  • "The reason "affordable" housing is too expensive in NYC is largely bc real estate devs give a LOT to politicians’ campaigns, & consequently have undue influence in housing policy. Cost of living is a campaign finance + corruption issue. Politicians don’t want you to know that." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7688: "Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "If you are worried about inflation, it’s important to understand why it’s happening: supply chain, labor, and healthcare complications. We can address these issues by investing in infrastructure, wages, healthcare &benefits. AKA signing BBB/BIF into law as absolute, bare minimum" (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "And for folks saying "we have inflation because we printed a bunch of money last year"— if you want to trim down needless spending in these bills to addressing inflationary issues, the answer isn’t to cut basic benefits for people. It’s to target the massive corporate giveaways." (x.com)
  • "Additionally, the Senate blockages make Biden’s unwillingness to act on student loan debt- something he can do *without* Congress but hasn’t yet- all the more glaring. #CancelStudentDebt is 1 of the few, rare opportunities Biden has to go big w/o the Senate. He needs to take it." (x.com)
  • "Now would be a great time to cancel student loan debt, take significant climate action, and pass voting rights." (x.com)
  • "The fact that Biden has the power to provide student debt relief to millions, had to be forced into extending the eviction moratorium,& has yet to aggressively campaign against the filibuster shows us he has more power than he’s using. It’s time to take off the gloves & govern." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by National Education Association (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Now would be a great time to cancel student loan debt, take significant climate action, and pass voting rights." (x.com)
  • Rated 83% 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)
  • "Happy to announce creation of a US Civilian Climate Corps is now in the Build Back Better Act. Estimated to create 300k+ public jobs w/ Dept of Labor + Americorps to combat the climate crisis & enviro injustices." (x.com)
  • "Now is the time to create millions of good jobs building out the infrastructure and clean energy necessary to save our planet for future generations. For our economy, our planet, and our future, we need a #GreenNewDeal." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by League of Conservation Voters (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 9: "Climate Action Now Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Now would be a great time to cancel student loan debt, take significant climate action, and pass voting rights." (x.com)
  • Rated 14% by American Energy Alliance (justfacts.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)
  • "If we had a universal system, the huge sums we pay for their insurance could just go into their pocket in form of potentially $1000s in raises. The answer can’t continue to be subsidizing the ACA more & more as premiums go up & up. It’s single payer healthcare: Medicare for All." (x.com)
  • "Medicare for All is so essential" (x.com)
  • "There is power in a union! Thank you @APWUnational and our postal workers for having me to discuss the fight for democracy, postal banking, Medicare for All, combating the climate crisis, and more. Together we can win it all " (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1425: "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "COVID outbreaks are happening in Amazon warehouses in NYC & across the country. It’s more important than ever to fight for essential workers’ rights incl. hazard pay, paid leave, & COVID-safe workplace conditions. That means delivery drivers, too." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6201 "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Thank you for speaking up and leading, Fran Marion. You deserve paid sick leave, and any multi-billion dollar corporation telling you they "can’t afford it" is wrong." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6833 "The Affordable Insulin Now Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Sometimes it still stops me in my tracks that because I believe insulin should be free, workers shld be paid justly, we shld house the homeless and not cage families, & that all people should be free to pursue education as they wish,for THAT we are treated as radical & dangerous." (x.com)
  • "our ability to get insulin or see a doctor shouldn’t depend on how generous a billionaire is feeling today. Employers stripping healthcare, either by taking it away or worsening it, is just part of the casual dehumanization of working people to increase returns for the rich." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3 "Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019" (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 4% 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)
  • "Gotta love how the same folks who tolerate+ acquiesce to building a medieval wall along the entire US southern border as a (non-evidence based) solution for a "crisis" that doesn’t exist are now suddenly concerned that pursuing a nat’l response to climate change is "unrealistic." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 7108 "Suspending Normal trade Relations With Russia and Belarus Act" (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 H.R. 6968 "Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act" (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 HR 8035: "Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • "I’m voting NO on the TikTok forced sale bill. This bill was incredibly rushed, from committee to vote in 4 days, with little explanation. There are serious antitrust and privacy questions here, and any national security concerns should be laid out to the public prior to a vote." (x.com)
  • 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)
This candidate has responded to a Political Courage Test in a previous election. As a continued effort to provide the American public with factual information on candidates running for public office, these archived responses are made available here.
Pro-choice Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
Yes In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
Yes Do you support expanding federal funding to support entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare?
Supports a top rate of 70% on incomes over $10 million.
Yes Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
No Do you support the protection of government officials, including law enforcement officers, from personal liability in civil lawsuits concerning alleged misconduct?
No Do you support increasing defense spending?
Yes Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
No Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
Yes Do you support providing financial relief to businesses AND/OR corporations negatively impacted by the state of national emergency for COVID-19?
Support for providing financial relief to businesses AND/OR corporations negatively impacted by the state of national emergency for COVID-19, as long as funds are intentionally disbursed to the intended recipient. I do not support small business financial relief that winds up in the hands of Ruth's Chris Steak House and Shake Shack.
Yes Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
Yes, but in this push, we can't talk about creating standards without talking about increasing education funding, increasing infrastructure funding, and increasing community programs near schools. Education is one of, if not the, most important part about social change.
Yes Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)?
Yes Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
Yes Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
No Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
Yes Do you support requiring businesses to provide paid medical leave during public health crises, such as COVID-19?
No Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
No Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
No Should the United States use military force to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a weapon of mass destruction (for example: nuclear, biological, chemical)?
Yes Do you support reducing military intervention in Middle East conflicts?
Unknown Position Do you generally support removing barriers to international trade (for example: tariffs, quotas, etc.)?
Our trade policies need to put workers and the environment front and center.
1) Medicare For All Our broken healthcare system made this novel coronavirus exceptionally crippling. As we begin to reopen, we have to ask ourselves what our new normal should look like. If you lose your job, you shouldn't lose your healthcare too. And if you get sick, you shouldn't be put under a mountain of debt. Medicare for All guarantees healthcare to everyone, curbs costs, and improves long-term health. 2)Creating Public Safety Instead of investing in mass incarceration, we need to invest in community and invest in the most vulnerable members of our society.

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