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Katherine Clark's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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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.

Katherine Clark 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.

  • "Politicians have no place in our bedrooms or our doctors’ offices. Republicans are coming after our most fundamental freedoms, and they won’t stop at abortion. Democrats will continue fighting against their extreme agenda and for our right to make our own health care decisions. Katherine Clark has led in the House to: Pass the Women’s Health Protection Act to ensure federal abortion access, pass the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act that would protect an individual’s right to travel across state lines to seek abortion care, and pass the Right to Contraception Act to protect an individual’s right to access birth control." (katherineclark.org)
  • "Two years ago, Donald Trump's right-wing Supreme Court chose MAGA ideology over millions of American women — eliminating their right to abortion and inflicting a wave of suffering. For the sake of our daughters and granddaughters, we must win the fight for reproductive freedom." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by the NARAL Pro-Choice America (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8297: "Ensuring Access to Abortion Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "As we celebrate 87 years of Social Security, MAGA Republicans are threatening to cut or even eliminate this vital program for seniors. Not on our watch. #ProtectSocialSecurity" (x.com)
  • "On National #SeniorCitizensDay, I want to thank our seniors for their tremendous contributions to our community. Now, it’s our turn to honor your decades of hard work by protecting Medicare and Social Security from #GOP attacks. I’m standing with you today and every day." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by the Alliance for Retired Americans (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Just last year 55 of the largest corporations paid ZERO dollars in federal income taxes on over $40 billion of profits. It’s time for the wealthy and well-connected to pay their fair share and for working families to get a fair shake." (x.com)
  • "We can't let Republicans push us backward by cutting taxes for billionaires and increasing costs on working families." (x.com)
  • Voted against HR 1: "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 6760: "Protecting Family and Small Business Tax cuts of 2018" (votesmart.org)
  • "Just last year 55 of the largest corporations paid ZERO dollars in federal income taxes on over $40 billion of profits. It’s time for the wealthy and well-connected to pay their fair share and for working families to get a fair shake." (x.com)
  • "Meanwhile, the #BuildBackBetterAct would ensure the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share in taxes while lowering costs for working families." (x.com)
  • "Our economy should work for all Americans– not just the ultra wealthy." (katherineclark.org)
  • Rated 0% by The Club for Growth in 2022 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The #JohnLewisVotingRightsAct would restore & strengthen the Voting Rights Act. #HR1, the #ForThePeopleAct, would expand voting rights, reduce dark money in politics, limit partisan gerrymandering & create new ethics rules for electeds. We need both." (x.com)
  • "Today, we mark 14 years of the disastrous Citizen United decision. Since then, dark money has seeped into our political process — empowering the privileged and diluting the voice of voters.We must take back our democracy." (x.com)
  • Rated 92% by End Citizens United (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1: "For the People Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • "Ending qualified immunity means that Black Americans can receive justice after traumatic moments like these. Our neighbors should not be harassed for simply being themselves. We need #JusticeInPolicing now!" (x.com)
  • "Our policing laws have traumatized Black communities and shielded law enforcement. That's not justice. That's unchecked power. The #JusticeinPolicingAct removes qualified immunity for police officers so that when they do wrong they're held accountable." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "This is the moment to re-envision #childcare in America. For too long, the high cost of care has held back moms and families, and low wages have kept providers on the brink of collapse. With a federal investment, we'll build a system that strengths our families and economy." (x.com)
  • Rated 3% by Council for Citizens Against Government Waste in 2022 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 2811 "Limit, Save, Grow Act" in 2023 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Build Back Better Act" in 2021 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8294 "Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Affordable housing is infrastructure." (x.com)
  • "We're fighting for good-paying jobs, affordable housing, accessible child care, and lower energy costs." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7301 "Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Want to fight inflation? Vote ‘Yes’ on the #BuildBackBetterAct." (x.com)
  • "We still have more work to do, but our Investing in America agenda is already lowering costs and strengthening the economy." (x.com)
  • Rated 3% by Council for Citizens Against Government Waste in 2022 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Cancel student debt" (x.com)
  • "This is our agenda in action. #studentloanforgiveness" (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by National Education Association in 2023-24 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2547 "Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act" in 2021 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Katherine Clark has: Helped secure passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the For the People Act in the House, bills that would make it easier to vote and harder to buy elections." (katherineclark.org)
  • "The right to vote is the most sacred tools of our democracy. That right is under attack in the face of Republican voter suppression laws in legislatures around the country. It’s critical that we reinforce our commitment to ensuring everyone’s voice is heard at the ballot box." (katherineclark.org)
  • Rated 100% by Public Citizen in 2019-20 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 94% by Common Cause in 2022 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by League of Conservation Voters in 2023 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 6% by Independent Petroleum Association of America in 2023 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 1 "Lower Energy Costs Act" in 2023 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The @StateDept…simply discarded prior factual findings related to #climatechange to support its course reversal [on #KeystoneXL]." That’s right, facts matter. This is a win for our climate and for future generations." (x.com)
  • "Too many Americans live in fear of gun violence. Democrats have proposed common sense reforms to promote public safety and keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people. We’ll keep fighting against the gun lobby and their attempts to block these measures that a majority of Americans support." (katherineclark.org)
  • Rated 0% by Gun Owners of America in 2023 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 0% by National Rifle Association in 2022 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1808 "Assault Weapons Ban of 2022" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Katherine Clark is: An original co-sponsor of Medicare for all; Expanded access to affordable care through the American Rescue Plan." (katherineclark.org)
  • "When you, a friend, or a loved one are sick, the last thing you want to think about is how you’re going to afford the care you need. We believe access to health care should be a right, not a privilege." (katherineclark.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1425 "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act" in 2020 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Affordable child care and paid leave aren’t pipe dreams – they are core to an economy that works for women and families." (x.com)
  • "Paid family leave is infrastructure." (x.com)
  • "Today, we celebrate 31 years of #FMLA and renew our fight for paid leave." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6201 "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" in 2020 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3 "Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "#Medicare works to get the best prices — except when it comes to Rx medicine. In fact, Medicare is prohibited BY LAW from negotiating for the best deal — which results in crippling drug prices for seniors & families. This has to change." (x.com)
  • "And we are about to lower the cost of prescription drugs for the 64 million seniors on Medicare. #PeopleOverPolitics" (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6833 "The Affordable Insulin Now Act" in 2022 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Detaining kids and building a wall won't solve anything. #HR2" (x.com)
  • "I’ve been to the border and seen immigrant detention centers with my own eyes. No child should have to go through what these families have endured under Trump’s #FamilySeparation policy. #UntilEveryFamilyIsReunited #FamiliesBelongTogether" (x.com)
  • Rated 0% by NumbersUSA in 2023-24 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 2 "Secure the Border Act of 2023" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "As students, teachers, doctors, business owners, and taxpayers, Dreamers have been part of our economic success. It makes no sense to send talented workers to a country they've never known, where they would compete with the U.S. economy. #ProtectDreamers:" (x.com)
  • Rated 0% by Federation for American Immigration Reform in 2021-22 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 0% by NumbersUSA in 2023-24 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6 "American Dream and Promise Act of 2021" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "America and its allies abroad must use every diplomatic tool we have to stop further aggression by Putin that threatens Ukraine’s sovereignty and its people." (x.com)
  • "Tonight, I voted to ban Russian oil and energy imports and impose further sanctions." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6968 "Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act" in 2022 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7108 "Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act" in 2022 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Ukraine needs us. Now. We can't walk away from the fight for democracy over autocracy. Freedom over tyranny. We must work together to pass aid for our allies." (x.com)
  • "To abandon Ukraine would mean welcoming Putin to NATO's front door. We owe it to the children of Ukraine — and to our own children — to stay in this fight." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5692 "Ukraine Security Assistance and Oversight Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 3522 "Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 7521 "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act" in 2024 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7520 "Protecting Americans' Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024" (justfacts.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 public funding of abortions and of organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
g) Other or expanded principles

State Budget: Indicate the funding levels (#1-6) you will support for the following general categories. Select one level per category.State Taxes: Indicate the tax levels (#1-6) you will support. Select one level per tax.

Greatly Increase a) Education (Higher)
Greatly Increase b) Education (K-12)
Slightly Increase c) Environment
Greatly Increase d) Health care
Slightly Increase e) Law enforcement
Slightly Increase f) Transportation and highway infrastructure
Slightly Increase g) Welfare
h) Other or expanded categories
Maintain Status a) Alcohol taxes
Maintain Status b) Capital gains taxes
Slightly Increase c) Cigarette taxes
Slightly Increase d) Corporate taxes
Maintain Status e) Estate taxes
Slightly Decrease f) Gasoline taxes
Maintain Status g) Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)
Maintain Status h) Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)
Slightly Decrease i) Property taxes
Slightly Increase j) Sales taxes
Maintain Status k) Vehicle taxes
l) Other or expanded categories
m) Should Internet sales be taxed?
n) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.c) Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative and gubernatorial candidates?Auto Insurance Reform: Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding auto insurance reform.

a) Do you support limiting the number of terms for Massachusetts governors?
No b) Do you support limiting the number of terms for Massachusetts state senators and representatives?
Yes 1) Individual
Yes 2) PAC
Yes 3) Corporate
Yes 4) Political Parties
Yes d) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
Yes e) Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
Yes f) Do you support adopting statewide standards for counting, verifying, and ensuring accuracy of votes?
Yes g) Do you support prohibiting the reporting of media exit polling results until all polling locations in Massachusetts are closed?
Yes h) Should Massachusetts recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
No i) Should Massachusetts restrict marriage to a union only between a man and a woman?
Yes j) Do you support allowing out-of-state same-sex couples to marry in Massachusetts?
k) Other or expanded principles
X a) Distribute high-risk drivers evenly among auto insurance providers.
X b) Increase the investigation and prosecution of auto insurance fraud.
X c) Support increased competition between auto insurance providers in Massachusetts.
X d) Reduce subsidies paid by good drivers to offset rate increases for bad drivers.
e) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
b) Implement the death penalty in Massachusetts.
X c) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
d) End parole for repeat violent offenders.
X e) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
f) Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
g) Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
h) Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
X i) Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
X j) Increase funding for state and local emergency agencies to prevent and to respond to terrorist attacks.
k) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Support national standards and testing of public school students.
b) Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any public school.
c) Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any private or religious school.
X d) Increase state funds for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).
X e) Increase state funds for hiring additional teachers.
f) Support teacher testing and reward with merit pay.
g) Endorse voluntary prayer in public schools.
h) Require public schools to administer high school exit exams.
X i) Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
X j) Increase funding for Head Start programs.
X k) Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.
l) Offer free public college tuition to the top quarter of Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System scorers.
X m) Support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods.
n) Support abstinence-only sexual education programs.
o) Other or expanded principles

Employment: Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding employment.Affirmative Action: Should race, ethnicity or gender be taken into account in state agencies' decisions on:

X a) Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers and teach skills needed in today's job market.
b) Increase the number of weeks an individual must work in order to be eligible for unemployment benefits.
c) Reduce the number of weeks that individuals are eligible for unemployment benefits.
d) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
X e) Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
X f) Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for children in low-income working families.
X g) Increase state funds to provide child care for children in low-income working families.
X h) Include sexual orientation in Massachusetts's anti-discrimination laws.
X i) Increase the state minimum wage.
j) Other or expanded principles
Yes a) Public employment
Yes b) State college and university admissions
Yes c) State contracting
d) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Promote increased use of alternative fuel technology.
X b) Support increased production of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, and oil).
X c) Use state funds to clean up former industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated, unused, or abandoned.
X d) Support funding for open space preservation.
X e) Enact environmental regulations even if they are stricter than federal law.
f) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
b) Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
c) Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
d) Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
X e) Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks on guns.
X f) Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
X g) Support current licensing requirements for gun possession.
h) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.
b) Transfer more existing Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
c) Limit the amount of punitive damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
X d) Support patients' right to sue their HMOs.
X e) Support patients' right to appeal to an administrative board of specialists when services are denied.
f) Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
g) Legalize physician assisted suicide in Massachusetts.
h) Allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.
i) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Support increased work requirements for able-bodied welfare recipients.
X b) Increase funding for employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
X c) Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
d) Support current limits on benefits given to recipients if they have additional children while on welfare.
e) Redirect welfare funding to faith-based and community-based private organizations.
X f) Use federal TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) funds to extend health and child care subsidies to the working poor.
g) Support marriage promotion programs for welfare recipients.
h) Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
X i) Increase funding for affordable housing programs.
j) Other or expanded principles
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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