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Debbie Wasserman Schultz's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Office:

Key

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.
Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, or we could not infer an answer for this candidate despite exhaustive research of their public record.
Additional Information: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position, from their answers or Vote Smart's research.
Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz 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.

  • "An extreme right-wing #SCOTUS majority that overturns Roe, will inflict deep economic pain: women denied an abortion were nearly 4X more likely to fall below the federal poverty line than women who received one." (x.com)
  • "The fall of Roe v. Wade led to unreasonable and horrifying restrictions on women's bodies." (x.com)
  • "This man brags about overturning Roe. Americans overwhelming support abortion rights. Democrats fight for our freedoms every day." (x.com)
  • "Today is the 50th anniversary of #RoeVWade, the landmark ruling that gave Americans the constitutional right to abortion. Roe is gone now, but I remain committed to building a future that allows all people to control their own bodies, lives, and futures." (x.com)
  • "@JoeBiden: Strengthen and protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid." (x.com)
  • "When Trump and MAGA extremists come for Medicare and Social Security, @‌JoeBiden and Democrats will stop them. Always." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSM) (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 610 "Protecting Medciare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "#DemocratsDeliver today on lower prescription costs, millions of jobs, a middle-class tax cut and lower child & health care costs, and make the wealthy pay their fair share to pay for it. Yet not one Republican voted for the #BuildBackBetterAct." (x.com)
  • Voted against HR 1 "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "#DemocratsDeliver today on lower prescription costs, millions of jobs, a middle-class tax cut and lower child & health care costs, and make the wealthy pay their fair share to pay for it. Yet not one Republican Voted in favor of the #BuildBackBetterAct." (x.com)
  • "Democrats want the super-wealthy pay their fair share. @GovRickScott and Republicans wand to tax workers + seniors, sunset Medicare + Social Security. Remember those facts at the polls this fall." (x.com)
  • "While Trump fights for billionaire tax breaks, Biden makes sure they pay their fair share." (x.com)
  • "Democrats want the super-wealthy pay their fair share. @GovRickScott and Republicans wand to tax workers + seniors, sunset Medicare + Social Security. Remember those facts at the polls this fall." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "No presidential immunity for crimes in office." (x.com)
  • Voted against HR 8774: "Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2025" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2670: "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • "We did it! Democrats were elected to create jobs, repair our roads & bridges and tackle climate change. Billions in funds & thousands of jobs will now flow to Florida to modernize the infrastructure our residents, visitors + businesses rely upon." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3684 "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "We need more affordable housing options here in South FLA. And @joebiden is fighting for it. He puts everyday Americans first." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7301 "Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8294 "Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "#Bidenomics is taming inflation." (x.com)
  • "Across America @JoeBiden is taming inflation, but in Florida, MAGA extremists ignore high insurance and rent costs while waging non-stop culture wars and taking away women's rights. Florida deserves better." (x.com)
  • "Democrats and @JoeBiden work OT to tame inflation and build on our 13M+ created jobs, while Republicans want to decimate and close down services we count on and wage culture war chaos." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "@TheDemocrats deliver for families with lower Rx and health costs, student loan debt relief, climate mitigation and good-paying union jobs." (x.com)
  • "When he ran, @POTUS promised targeted student debt relief. He delivered, canceling up to $20K in student loan debt for those making under $125K." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by the National Education Association (NEA) (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2547 "Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "@POTUS is bringing $407M in 2023 to the Everglades to preserve biodiversity, ease climate change & bring clean drinking water to millions of Floridians. That’s on top of $1.1B in Infrastructure Law funds. I’ll keep working w/ this White House to protect our economy & ecosystems." (x.com)
  • "Democrats deliver on sustainable solutions to combat climate change. Investing in electric vehicle charging stations + a resilient clean energy grid also keeps America globally competitive." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by the League of Conservation Voters (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 9 "Climate Action Now Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "BP’s #DeepwaterHorizon disaster unleashed catastrophic impacts 12 yrs ago today. Our #FLA beaches were hit. Today millions struggle w/ gas prices, yet Big Oil rakes in billions of profits. We must #ProtectOurCoast, adopt clean energy alternatives & end our fossil fuel dependence." (x.com)
  • "Obama protected Bears Ears & Grand Staircase, land with cultural history for the Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, & more. Trump plans to drill & mine there even amid ongoing litigation. We can't put profits over Earth & trust responsibilities." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1146 "Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 823 "Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 0% by the NRA (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1808 "Assault Weapons Ban of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "So proud to recieve @GIFFORDS_org’s endorsement! I’ll always fight for a safer future for our next generation and advocate for common sense gun safety laws in Congress." (x.com)
  • "All extremist groups eventually fade away. This one’s demise can’t happen soon enough. Nearly all Americans reject their radical agenda and want common-sense, life-saving gun laws." (x.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "A @JoeBiden Presidency means an administration working to make sure women have 💰 Improved economic security ⚕️ Expanded health care access 👩‍👩‍👧 Increased paid family leave" (x.com)
  • "Outside Congress, paid leave is broadly popular and highly bipartisan. Call your GOP representatives today and ask them why they haven't gotten the memo." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6201 "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Democrats deliver lower Rx prices. Don't let Republicans get in the way" (x.com)
  • "The House passed #HR3 to (among other things) give Medicare the power to negotiate Rx costs with drug companies. But they won't be able to do it until the Senate passes it too. Call 202-224-3121 and tell you Senators to demand a vote ASAP!" (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3 "Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6833 "The Affordable Insulin Now Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Yes! @JoeBiden: This is the kind of leadership we need to bring freedom to Cuba: Sanctions, internet access, and real accountability for human rights abuses. This is what a POTUS who takes on dictators, not coddles them, looks like." (x.com)
  • "Ukrainians deserve our support and Democrats are doing that. Biden installed crushing Kremlin sanctions, Congress sent $13.6B in aid to Ukraine and the House revoked Russia's favored trade status. Democrats are making Putin pay." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8035 "Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "As Donald Trump and @FoxNews fawn over Putin, #Russia wages an unprovoked war on #Ukraine and innocent people are dying. We need leaders of both parties to stand against Putin’s dangerous, deadly invasion and defend democracy." (x.com)
  • "Ukrainians deserve our support and Democrats are doing that. Biden installed crushing Kremlin sanctions, Congress sent $13.6B in aid to Ukraine and the House revoked Russia's favored trade status. Democrats are making Putin pay." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8035 "Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "It's past time to pass sane gun safety laws, but we also need to revisit Section 230 to remove social media company immunity if they amplify radicalizing content and conspiracy theories that promote violence like we saw in Buffalo." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7520: "Protecting Americans' Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of 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.
The Political Courage Test asks candidates which items they will support if elected. It does not ask them to indicate which items they will oppose. Through extensive research of public polling data, we discovered that voters are more concerned with what candidates would support when elected to office, not what they oppose. If a candidate does not select a response to any part or all of any question, it does not necessarily indicate that the candidate is opposed to that particular item.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding abortion.

a) Abortions should always be illegal.
X b) Abortions should always be legal.
c) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
d) Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
e) Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
f) Prohibit the dilation and extraction procedure, also known as "partial-birth" abortion.
g) Prohibit public funding of abortions and of organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
X h) Other or expanded principles
I support the Roe v. Wade decision.

Using the key, indicate what federal funding levels you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category.Budget Priorities

a) Agriculture
b) Arts
c) Defense
Greatly Increase d) Education
e) Environment
Greatly Increase f) Homeland security
g) International aid
h) Law enforcement
i) Medical research
j) National parks
Greatly Increase k) Public health services
Greatly Increase l) Scientific research
m) Space exploration programs
Greatly Increase n) Transportation and highway infrastructure
o) Welfare
p) Other or expanded categories

Defense Spending

a) Armed Forces personnel training
Greatly Increase b) Intelligence operations
c) Military hardware
d) Modernization of weaponry and equipment
e) National missile defense
Greatly Increase f) Pay for active duty personnel
g) Programs to improve troop retention rates
h) Research and development of new weapons
Greatly Increase i) Troop and equipment readiness
j) Other or expanded categories

Using the key above, indicate what federal tax levels you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category.TaxesIncome Taxes:Family IncomeRetiree IncomeOther Taxes:Deductions/Credits:

a) Less than $25,000
b) $25,000-$75,000
c) $75,000-$150,000
d) Over $150,000
e) Other or expanded categories
f) Over $40,000
g) Other or expanded categories
a) Alcohol taxes
b) Capital gains taxes
c) Cigarette taxes
d) Corporate taxes
e) Gasoline taxes
f) Inheritance taxes
g) Other or expanded categories
a) Charitable contributions
b) Child tax credit
c) Earned income tax credit
d) Medical expense deduction
e) Mortgage deduction
f) Student loan credit
g) Other or expanded categories
4) Do you support permanent repeal of the federal estate tax?
5) Do you support eliminating taxes on dividends paid to individual investors?
6) Should a married couple filing jointly pay the same taxes as if they were an unmarried couple filing separately?
7) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.

X a) Support public taxpayer funding for federal candidates who comply with campaign spending limits.
b) Increase the amount individuals are permitted to contribute to federal campaigns.
c) Prohibit Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions to candidates for federal office.
d) Allow unregulated soft money campaign contributions to political parties or committees.
e) Allow ads paid for by soft money that support or attack a candidate for federal office.
f) Allow issue advocacy commercials by corporations, labor unions, and non-profit groups which appear within 60 days of a general election and within 30 days of a primary election.
g) Remove all contribution limits on federal campaigns and parties.
h) Do you support instant run-off voting (IRV)?
Yes i) Should Election Day be a national holiday?
Yes j) Should same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions?
k) Should marriage be restricted to a union only between a man and a woman?
l) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding crime.

a) Support the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
b) Eliminate the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
c) Impose "truth in sentencing" for violent criminals so they serve full sentences with no chance of parole.
X d) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
X e) Support programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment.
f) Reduce prison sentences for those who commit non-violent crimes.
g) Support additional criminal penalties if a fetus is killed in the commission of a federal crime against a pregnant woman.
X h) Require that crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, and disability be prosecuted as federal hate crimes.
X i) Support programs that provide job training and placement services for at-risk youth.
X j) Impose stricter penalties for those convicted of white-collar crimes.
k) Enforcement of civil rights should primarily be the responsibility of the federal government.
l) Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
m) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding drugs.

a) Support mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs.
X b) Expand federally sponsored drug education and drug treatment programs.
c) Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
d) Allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.
X e) Increase border security to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.
f) Eliminate federal funding for programs associated with the "war on drugs."
g) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.

X a) Support national standards for and testing of public school students.
b) Allow parents to use vouchers (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any public school.
c) Allow parents to use vouchers (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any private or religious school.
d) Allow teachers and professionals to receive authorization and funding to establish charter schools.
e) Increase funding for block grants to states to aid in the hiring of additional teachers.
f) Support teacher testing and reward teachers with merit pay.
X g) Increase funding for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings, infrastructure, technology).
h) Support granting states limited control over Head Start programs.
i) Support changing the mission of Head Start to emphasize improving the math and reading skills of disadvantaged children.
j) Providing education is not a responsibility of the federal government.
X k) Support affirmative action in public college admissions.
X l) Increase funding of programs such as Pell grants and Stafford loans to help students pay for college.
X m) Support federal tax incentives to help families save for college.
n) Other or expanded principles

1) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding employment.2) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding affirmative action.

X a) Increase funding for national job-training programs that re-train displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market.
b) Reduce government regulation of the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
X c) Provide tax credits or grants to businesses that offer child care services to employees.
X d) Encourage employers to offer flex-time scheduling, comp-time, and unpaid leave for family emergencies.
e) Eliminate all federal programs designed to reduce unemployment.
X f) Increase the federal minimum wage.
X g) Support the right of workers to strike without fear of being permanently replaced.
h) Allow workers to sell company stock and to diversify their company retirement funds into other investment options.
i) Other or expanded principles
X a) The federal government should consider race and gender in government contracting decisions.
b) The federal government should discontinue affirmative action programs.
X c) The federal government should continue affirmative action programs.
X d) Include sexual orientation in federal anti-discrimination laws.
e) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.

X a) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Water Act.
X b) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Air Act.
c) Require states to compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses of privately-owned land.
d) Relax logging restrictions on federal lands.
e) Relax standards on federal lands to allow increased recreational usage.
f) Support increased development of traditional energy resources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil).
X g) Strengthen emission controls and fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles.
h) Support opening a select portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration.
X i) Encourage further development and use of alternative fuels to reduce pollution.
j) Support the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel.
k) Allow energy producers to trade pollution credits.
X l) Support the U.S. re-entering the Kyoto treaty process to limit global warming.
m) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding guns.

X a) Renew the ban on the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns, except those used for hunting.
X b) Maintain and strengthen the current level of enforcement of existing federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
c) Ease federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
d) Repeal federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
e) Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
X f) Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks on guns.
X g) Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
h) Require a license for gun possession.
i) Establish a national database of ballistic "fingerprints" to track guns used in criminal activities.
j) Support legislation that would protect manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and importers of firearms from civil lawsuits by crime victims.
k) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health care.

a) Providing health care is not a responsibility of the federal government.
X b) Implement a universal health care program to guarantee coverage to all Americans regardless of income.
X c) Support a Patient's Bill of Rights which includes appeal mechanisms when claims are denied.
d) Support a Patient's Bill of Rights which includes the right to sue when claims are denied.
e) Expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts.
f) Establish limits on the amount of punitive damages awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
X g) Support expanding prescription drug coverage under Medicare.
X h) Support expanding prescription drug coverage under private managed care plans.
X i) Offer tax credits to individuals and small businesses to offset the cost of insurance coverage.
X j) Support automatic enrollment of children in federal health care programs such as CHIP and Medicaid.
k) Allow 55-65 year-olds to buy into Medicare.
X l) Support stem cell research on existing lines of stem cells.
X m) Allow laboratories to create new lines of stem cells for additional research.
n) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding immigration.

a) Decrease the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country.
b) Establish English as the official national language.
c) Increase the number of visas issued for agricultural workers.
d) Relax restrictions barring legal immigrants from using social programs (e.g. public housing, food stamps).
e) Support amnesty for certain illegal immigrants who already reside in the United States.
f) Support the detention of asylum seekers from countries known to sponsor terrorism.
g) Other or expanded principles

International AidIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding United States economic assistance.

X a) Aid should be granted to countries when extraordinary circumstances cause disaster and threaten civilian lives.
X b) Aid should be granted to countries when it is in the security interests of the United States.
c) Aid should be eliminated for any nation with documented human rights abuses.
d) Aid programs should be scaled back and eventually eliminated.
e) Other or expanded principles

International Policy1) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the Middle East.2) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Central and East Asia.3) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the United Nations.

Yes a) Should the United States continue to provide leadership in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process?
b) Should the United States support the creation of a Palestinian state?
c) Should the United States withdraw its troops from Iraq?
d) Discuss your proposals for the reconstruction of Iraq. What funding sources would you use to implement these proposals? (75 words or less. Please use an attached page if the space below is not adequate.)
e) Other or expanded principles
Yes a) Should the United States use diplomatic and economic pressure to encourage North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program?
b) Should the United States use military force to destroy the North Korean nuclear weapons program?
c) Should the United States remove the North Korean government from power?
Yes d) Should the United States increase financial support to Afghanistan?
Yes e) Should the United States increase military support to Afghanistan?
f) Other or expanded principles
Yes a) Should the United States maintain its financial support of the United Nations?
No b) Should the United States decrease its financial support of the United Nations?
Yes c) Should the United States commit troops to United Nations peacekeeping missions?
d) Other or expanded principles
No 4) Should the United States lift the travel ban to Cuba?
5) Should the United States increase its financial support to Colombia to combat "the war on drugs"?
Yes 6) Should aid to African nations for AIDS prevention programs fund distribution of contraceptives?
7) Should aid to African nations for AIDS prevention fund abstinence education?
8) Other or expanded principles

International TradeIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding international trade.

1) Do you support the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?
2) Do you support the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)?
3) Do you support continued U.S. membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO)?
4) Should a nation's human rights record affect its normal trade relations (most favored nation) status with the United States?
Yes 5) Do you support the trade embargo against Cuba?
Yes 6) Should trade agreements include provisions to address environmental concerns and to protect workers' rights?
7) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding national security.

a) Do you support using military tribunals to try suspected terrorists when ordinary civilian courts are deemed inappropriate or impractical?
b) Should the United States adopt stricter rules for student visa applications from nations known to sponsor terrorism?
c) Should the United States grant law enforcement agencies greater discretion to read mail and email, tap phones, and conduct random searches to prevent future terrorist attacks?
d) Should the United States hold foreign states accountable for terrorists who operate in their country?
Yes e) Should the federal government increase funding to states and cities for homeland security?
f) Do you support a policy of pre-emptive strikes against countries deemed to be a threat to national security?
g) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Social Security.

a) Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts which they manage themselves.
b) Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts managed by private firms contracted by the government.
c) Invest a portion of Social Security assets collectively in stocks and bonds instead of United States Treasury securities.
d) Increase the payroll tax to better finance Social Security in its current form.
e) Lower the annual cost-of-living increases.
f) Raise the retirement age for when individuals are eligible to receive full Social Security benefits.
g) Other of expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding technology and communication.

a) Collect taxes on commercial Internet transactions.
b) Continue the moratorium on Internet taxation.
c) Implement regulation of Internet content.
d) Support government mandates to curtail violent and sexual content on television.
e) Support strict penalties for Internet crimes (e.g. hacking, identity theft, worms/viruses).
f) Support legislation to detail how personal information can be collected and used on the Internet.
g) Regulating the Internet is not a responsibility of the federal government.
X h) Impose regulations on "spam" emails.
i) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding welfare and poverty.

a) Require welfare recipients to spend at least 40 hours a week in a combination of work and training programs.
X b) Increase funding for child care programs.
c) Continue to give states and local governments flexibility in and responsibility for welfare programs through federal block grants.
d) Direct federal poverty aid through religious, community-based, or other non-profit organizations.
e) Abolish all federal welfare programs.
f) Support housing assistance for low-income families.
g) Other or expanded principles
On an attached page, disk, or via email, please explain in a total of 75 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.

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