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Emanuel Cleaver II's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Office:

On The Ballot: Running, Democratic for U.S. House (MO) - District 5

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.
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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.

  • "For far too long, pleas for justice and reform have fallen on deaf ears in Congress. We can and must re-imagine what just policing looks like in our country. That’s why I proudly supported the #GeorgeFloyd #JusticeInPolicing Act tonight." (x.com)
  • Do you support the protection of government officials, including law enforcement officers, from personal liability in civil lawsuits concerning alleged misconduct? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • Do you support increasing defense spending? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Happy to see Congress come together to override the President’s nonsensical veto of the FY21 NDAA. The bill gives our men and women in uniform a much-deserved pay raise, long overdue benefits, & the means to defend our nation from the skies to the seas to the latest cyber threats" (x.com)
  • "When necessary to continue to protect our country." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • 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)
  • "@HouseDemocrats, @FSCDems, and I are committed to investing in affordable housing and creating real pathways to homeownership for hardworking families—which starts with passing @RepMaxineWaters’ Housing Crisis Response Act!" (x.com)
  • "Honored to receive an award at the Bipartisan Policy Center's Housing Summit today. Grateful for the opportunity to contribute to bipartisan solutions for housing challenges. Looking forward to continuing to work across the aisle towards accessible and equitable housing for all." (x.com)
  • "Whether it’s strengthening federal voucher programs, cutting down on unnecessary red tape in local communities, or investing in affordable housing—it’s going to take all of us working together to address America’s housing affordability crisis." (x.com)
  • Do you support the federal government taking action, beyond those of the Federal Reserve, to alleviate inflation? "Yes" (justfacts.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)
  • "Despite GOP officials fighting to prevent working- and middle-class families from obtaining the relief they need & deserve, I’m hopeful @POTUS’ student debt relief plan will prevail before SCOTUS." (x.com)
  • "Thanks to @POTUS Biden, more than 40 million Americans are eligible for up to $20,000 in student loan forgiveness." (x.com)
  • Do you support the forgiveness of federal student loan debt? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "This is a state matter. Yes to identification as long as there are not barriers or costs associated with obtaining an ID. I recall my for colleague and friend former Congressman Ike Skelton (MO-4) mentioning to me that because of his polio he did not have a drivers license, and thus without another mechanism to obtain an ID he would be prevented from voting. Our elections must continue to remain secure while balancing fair and open access to the poll for voters." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Do you support requiring a government-issued identification in order to vote at the polls? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by Common Cause (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • 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)
  • Do you generally support gun-control legislation? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1446: "Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1808: "Assault Weapons Ban of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8: "Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • "Despite more than a decade of GOP attempts to repeal the ACA, kick more than 31 million Americans off health insurance, & remove protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions, the Affordable Care Act continues to provide access to affordable, quality health coverage." (x.com)
  • "Mere days before an election in which millions of Americans have already voted, the GOP is throwing principle and process aside to confirm an extreme #SCOTUS nominee they hope will strike down the ACA and kick millions off health care. Shameful." (x.com)
  • Do you support a government-run (single-payer) healthcare program, such as Medicare-for-All? "No" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The time has come for Congress to take action to address this persistent problem. We can start by immediately passing the #PaycheckFairnessAct, #PaidLeave, & other family-friendly policies that protect women from gender-based discrimination & ensure equal pay for equal work." (x.com)
  • Do you support expanding paid family AND/OR medical leave opportunities? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6201 "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Democrats in Congress put together a bipartisan border security bill that would have installed these technologies along the border—but Donald Trump told the GOP to kill the bill. So they did." (x.com)
  • "Trump’s dehumanization of migrants is disgraceful and should be condemned by elected officials across the political spectrum. There are steps Congress can take to strengthen border security—like the bipartisan border bill that Trump killed—but this rhetoric is abhorrent." (x.com)
  • Do you support increasing security along the southern US border? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "It’s been 7+ years since President Obama implemented #DACA. Today, hundreds of thousands of our neighbors, colleagues, and friends are at risk of losing their legal status in the US. I’m fighting to #ProtectTheDream for all #DACA #TPS and #DED recipients." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1333: "NO BAN Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1603: "Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6: "American Dream and Promise Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8035: "Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations 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 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)
  • Voted in favor of S3522: "Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "The time has come for Facebook to stand up and take concrete action to dispel the promulgation of hate on their platform. No more lip service. It’s time for real change." (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.
Pro-choice Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
No Do you support the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade?
Yes Do you support expanding federal funding to support social safety net programs such as Social Security and Medicare?
Yes Do you support a decrease in income taxes in order to balance the budget?
No Do you support a wealth tax in order to pay for public programs?
Yes Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations, unions, and individuals?
Yes Do you support protecting government officials, including law enforcement officers, from personal liability in civil lawsuits concerning alleged misconduct?
With certain limitations.
No Do you support increasing defense spending?
Yes Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth (e.g. grants, tax incentives)?
Yes Do you support the federal government increasing funding for affordable housing programs?
Yes Do you support the federal government taking action, beyond those of the Federal Reserve, to alleviate inflation?
Yes Do you support the forgiveness of federal student loan debt?
Yes Do you support requiring a government-issued identification in order to vote at the polls?
Yes Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)?
No Do you support the federal government allowing permits for drilling on public lands?
Yes Do you generally support gun-control legislation (e.g. red flag laws, boyfriend loopholes)?
No Do you support a government-run (e.g. single-payer) healthcare program, such as Medicare-for-All?
Yes Do you support expanding paid family AND/OR medical leave benefits (e.g. maternity leave)?
Yes Should the government be able to regulate the cost of prescription drugs?
Yes Do you support increasing security along the southern US border?
No Do you support requiring immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship, regardless of their immigration status?
Yes Do you support economic intervention as a means of resolving international conflicts?
Yes Do you support the US providing increased offensive military aid to Ukraine?
Yes Do you generally support increased regulations on social media companies (e.g. Tik Tok, Facebook, etc.)?
Generally.
We must ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to access a job. Our efforts have to focus on job creation through expansion of small businesses, investment in our infrastructure, and retraining for new jobs created. Throughout my tenure in public service, I have been committed to economic development and job creation. Congress needs to help these efforts by controlling spending, focusing on balanced budgets that reduce the deficit while protecting the solvency of Social Security and Medicare. My record in Congress is one of civility reaching across the aisle to produce accomplishments benefitting the 5th District of Missouri.

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