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Kevin Cramer'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.
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.
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Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

Kevin Cramer 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.

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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.

  • "As a staunch advocate for life, I firmly believe in protecting the sanctity of every human life, from conception to natural death. Our moral obligation is to defend the most vulnerable among us and ensure every child has a chance for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I am committed to advancing policies that promote a culture of life, supporting measures that protect the rights of the unborn, and providing resources to empower women facing unplanned pregnancies. That's why I supported the most recent attempt at banning late-term abortion in our nation." (kevincramer.org)
  • Rated 100% by National Right to Life Committee (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 3755: "Women's Health Protection Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 26: "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Social Security and Medicare are extremely important for American seniors. We must safeguard the benefits for current beneficiaries and those approaching eligibility while protecting these programs for future generations. As we go forward with solutions, I believe we need to focus on incremental program changes for future recipients now aged 55 and under, ensuring benefits will be available to them when they reach enrollment age while keeping the promise to those currently relying on retirement income and Medicare coverage. It is imperative we make changes now. The longer we wait to address the issue, the more severe the remedy will have to be. I am committed to finding the right path that protects these valuable programs not only for our current seniors but for generations to come." (kevincramer.org)
  • Rated 0% by National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 10% by Alliance for Retired Americans (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Build Back Broke will increase taxes by $16.7 billion in 2023 on people earning less than $200,000 a year. The hypocrisy is clear. @POTUS promised not to raise taxes on households making less than $400,000. He shouldn’t be raising them on anyone, especially during a recession!" (x.com)
  • "The economy is in a recession, inflation is at 41-year record highs, average gas prices are still $2 higher today than on election day in 2020, and Democrats want to recklessly raise taxes and spend $700 billion. This is unacceptable." (x.com)
  • Rated 81% by National Taxpayers Union (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1: "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "The economy is in a recession, inflation is at 41-year record highs, average gas prices are still $2 higher today than on election day in 2020, and Democrats want to recklessly raise taxes and spend $700 billion. This is unacceptable." (x.com)
  • "The numbers speak for themselves – inflation is continuing to rise in the United States. Instead of fighting rising costs, @POTUS is increasing taxes for everyone through the Inflation Enhancement Act. These policies are irresponsible and put Americans last." (x.com)
  • Rated 81% by National Taxpayers Union (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1: "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Democrats' radical Defund-The-Police movement is consuming liberal cities across the country. It must be stopped. I *enthusiastically* joined @SenTuberville's effort to oppose giving federal funds to local jurisdictions that oppose our law enforcement officers. #BackTheBlue" (x.com)
  • "Police officers are heroes. As we move forward, I urge all Americans to join me in seeking ways to support the men and women in uniform who serve our communities admirably." (x.com)
  • "Police officers need to know the nation’s leaders stand with them. We shouldn't allow George Floyd’s legacy to end in partisan gridlock but we also shouldn't tarnish the public’s view of good officers who died in service to our country." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2670: "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024" (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)
  • Voted in favor of S 1605: "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "Democrats are attempting to revive Build Back Broke. They’re trying to put lipstick on a pig, but doubling down on bad policy is simply absurd. Reckless tax and spending will only make inflation worse!" (x.com)
  • "The economy is in a recession, inflation is at 41-year record highs, average gas prices are still $2 higher today than on election day in 2020, and Democrats want to recklessly raise taxes and spend $700 billion. This is unacceptable." (x.com)
  • Voted against HR 4346: "Supreme Court Security Funding Act of 2022 (CHIPS and Science Act of 2022)" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 5376: "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "Great meeting with @SecretaryCarson this morning. We discussed access to affordable housing & tribal housing needs, and I invited him to visit North Dakota soon. Looking forward to working with him from my seat on @BankingGOP" (x.com)
  • "Senator @ChrisCoons and I introduced the Choice in Affordable Housing Act, a bipartisan bill which would create a Housing Partnership Fund named after former state senator and Fargo Mayor Herschel Lashkowitz, a longtime advocate for affordable housing." (x.com)
  • "The Choice in Affordable Housing Act I’ve introduced with @ChrisCoons will incentivize landlords to take part in voucher programs, ultimately offering families in need of quality housing more choices." (x.com)
  • "Democrats are attempting to revive Build Back Broke. They’re trying to put lipstick on a pig, but doubling down on bad policy is simply absurd. Reckless tax and spending will only make inflation worse!" (x.com)
  • "The economy is in a recession, inflation is at 41-year record highs, average gas prices are still $2 higher today than on election day in 2020, and Democrats want to recklessly raise taxes and spend $700 billion. This is unacceptable." (x.com)
  • Voted against HR 4346: "Supreme Court Security Funding Act of 2022 (CHIPS and Science Act of 2022)" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 5376: "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "Unilaterally forgiving student debt would create a perverse incentive and encourage others to needlessly rack up more loans." (x.com)
  • "if you gave every kid in America $1,000 to go toward their next semester of college, the price of college goes up $1,000. We would be better off offering up a supply-side economics course than canceling student debt" (x.com)
  • Rated 0% by National Education Association (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The Democrats have created a fake crisis and I voted against their partisan election takeover bill. Existing law already guarantees voting rights to all American citizens and state self-governance is working quite well and as intended." (x.com)
  • Rated 0% by Common Cause (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Furthering his role as a puppet for the radical left, Joe Biden is offering Green New Deal-style energy proposals like weaponizing the federal government to stop pipeline permits, putting our jobs and national security at risk. He should answer for it in Pennsylvania today." (x.com)
  • "North Dakota is uniquely blessed with abundant natural resources that underpin the region's way of life, including coal, oil, natural gas, and wind energy. These resources have propelled the nation's ascent into an energy superpower. I remain staunchly committed to supporting these industries and preventing undue federal regulatory hurdles that could lead to job loss and hinder investment. The state's pivotal role in shaping the energy landscape necessitates safeguarding these industries' growth while maintaining a balanced approach to regulations. I am resolute in my dedication to fostering a thriving environment where North Dakota's resources can drive sustainable progress, acknowledging both economic and environmental dimensions and striving for a harmonious coexistence that benefits everyone. We must also recognize that nuclear energy constitutes the cleanest form of electric generation and use it to our advantage. We cannot let our foreign adversaries take the upper hand in nuclear technology." (kevincramer.org)
  • Rated 6% by League of Conservation Voters (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Furthering his role as a puppet for the radical left, Joe Biden is offering Green New Deal-style energy proposals like weaponizing the federal government to stop pipeline permits, putting our jobs and national security at risk. He should answer for it in Pennsylvania today." (x.com)
  • "North Dakota is uniquely blessed with abundant natural resources that underpin the region's way of life, including coal, oil, natural gas, and wind energy. These resources have propelled the nation's ascent into an energy superpower. I remain staunchly committed to supporting these industries and preventing undue federal regulatory hurdles that could lead to job loss and hinder investment. The state's pivotal role in shaping the energy landscape necessitates safeguarding these industries' growth while maintaining a balanced approach to regulations. I am resolute in my dedication to fostering a thriving environment where North Dakota's resources can drive sustainable progress, acknowledging both economic and environmental dimensions and striving for a harmonious coexistence that benefits everyone. We must also recognize that nuclear energy constitutes the cleanest form of electric generation and use it to our advantage. We cannot let our foreign adversaries take the upper hand in nuclear technology." (kevincramer.org)
  • "bills I cosponsored to boost oil and gas production on federal lands, protect the ag industry from foreign interference, prevent Strategic Petroleum Reserve oil exports to China, and block Green New Deal mandates." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by Independent Petroleum Association of America (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Americans have a constitutionally protected right to bear arms, but Biden has done everything in his power to circumvent it. I joined @SenTomCotton in introducing the RIFLE Act to strike down the NFA transfer tax designed to infringe upon our #2A freedoms." (x.com)
  • "The Second Amendment protects our liberties and is vital to our nation's identity. As a strong supporter of this right, I believe in law-abiding Americans' ability to keep and bear arms. This constitutional freedom is essential for preserving our personal freedom, safeguarding our families, and ensuring community security. I am committed to defending the Second Amendment against any attempts to diminish it." (kevincramer.org)
  • Rated 92% by National Rifle Association (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "It is imperative we provide Americans with a plan that provides immediate relief for families suffering under the burden of skyrocketing health insurance premiums and uncertainty. I consistently fight for common-sense healthcare reform, including efforts to provide healthcare plans that are more patient-centered, flexible, and, most importantly, affordable. I believe in increasing price transparency and fostering competition to lower health care costs and prescription drug prices. We must get rid of the one-size-fits-all approach and allow states to build systems that work for their citizens." (kevincramer.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1628: "American Health Care Act of 2017" (votesmart.org)
  • "Hard to think of a worse idea than Democrats’ plan to give federal employees even more paid leave with virtually no stipulations." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6201: "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Glad @POTUS signed two bills into law I supported in the House strengthening consumer access to info on prescription drug prices." (x.com)
  • "The soaring costs of prescription drugs, especially insulin, have made life-saving medications unaffordable. Congress must work together to find solutions to lower costs." (x.com)
  • "This is another move by @POTUS @realDonaldTrump’s administration to increase transparency, encourage free market competition, and lower the cost of prescription drugs for the consumer." (x.com)
  • "Republicans' condition of first securing our own border before securing someone else's is an easy ask and should be easy to fulfill." (x.com)
  • "We must secure our borders by immediately building a physical wall along our Southern border and hiring additional Border Patrol agents. As a public servant, I believe in upholding the rule of law and ensuring the safety of American citizens. As such, we must act to defund sanctuary cities immediately and fix what has become a national security crisis. We cannot let our border crisis prevent us from having a strong skilled-based immigration system. We must remain at the forefront of legal immigration reform that will boost the American economy." (kevincramer.org)
  • Rated 93% by Federation for American Immigration Reform (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6136: "Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2018" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3003: "No Sanctuary for Criminals Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 93% by Federation for American Immigration Reform (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "We must secure our borders by immediately building a physical wall along our Southern border and hiring additional Border Patrol agents. As a public servant, I believe in upholding the rule of law and ensuring the safety of American citizens. As such, we must act to defund sanctuary cities immediately and fix what has become a national security crisis. We cannot let our border crisis prevent us from having a strong skilled-based immigration system. We must remain at the forefront of legal immigration reform that will boost the American economy." (kevincramer.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6136: "Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2018" (votesmart.org)
  • "I am unwavering in my support for Israel, one of our strongest allies. We have had a long mutually beneficial relationship that should be maintained. Violence against Jews for being Jewish is vile and the United States must unequivocally condemn such abhorrent behavior. We must also maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region to support our allies and preserve its status as a major commercial corridor." (kevincramer.org)
  • "President Biden is deliberately and aggressively working to destroy America's energy industry while trying to build Russia's. It's absurd. I'm leading the POWERS Act to reinstate and expand the Russian sanctions he waived. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline must be stopped." (x.com)
  • 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)
  • "If "dead on arrival" is now the standard in Congress, there is no point in spending political capital on a bill that will not pass when there are other priorities we must fund - like aid for Israel and Ukraine." (x.com)
  • "Our Ukraine Caucus met with Ambassador Markarova & members of the Ukrainian Rada to hear directly about their needs. Ukraine’s message to Congress is clear: they need U.S. support in their defense of freedom! They need fighter jets, but @POTUS won’t step up." (x.com)
  • Voted against 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)
  • "I share President @realDonaldTrump’s national security concerns about @tiktok_us. I look forward to meeting with @Microsoft’s President this week to hear what the company would do to fully protect Americans’ data if they are allowed to purchase TikTok’s US operations." (x.com)
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-life Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
No In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
No In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
No Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
The First Amendment to the Constitution is clear on this and has been upheld by the Supreme Court. While I support full disclosure for candidate and direct contributions, what other organizations, liberal and conservative, do to promote their beliefs is up to them. We are free people and it should be left that way.
No Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
This is an issue where my position has evolved over the years. I do not believe the threat of death deters crime. I am 100% pro-life.
No Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
Yes Do you support lowering taxes as a way of promoting growth in the economy?
Yes Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation?
I support use of a "Made in America" deduction with accelerated depreciation options as long as it is applied across all industries equally. I also support reducing business income taxes to make America the country of choice for investment in job creation.
No Do you support requiring states to implement education reforms in order to be eligible for competitive federal grants?
Education standards should be set at the state and local levels.
Yes Do you support building the Keystone XL pipeline?
Yes Do you support reducing restrictions on offshore energy production?
America's economic security and national security depend on our energy security. We can develop and use our vast energy reserves as a tool for peace instead of using weapons of war to enhance our influence in the world.
No Do you believe that human activity is contributing to climate change?
No Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
Unilaterally disarming the American economy for negligible benefit does nothing good for anyone but does tremendous harm to us.
No Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
Gun restrictions on law abiding citizens makes us less safe.
Yes Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act?
If we can't repeal it we must fix it.
Yes Do you support requiring illegal immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
No Do you support same-sex marriage?
Yes Do you support targeting suspected terrorists outside of official theaters of conflict?
Yes Should the U.S use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the United States from possessing a nuclear weapon?
If necessary.
No Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts?

SpendingIndicate what federal spending levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category; you can use a number more than once.TaxesIndicate what federal tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category; you can use a number more than once.

Slightly Decrease a) Agriculture
Greatly Decrease b) Arts
Greatly Increase c) Defense
Maintain Status d) Education
Greatly Decrease e) Environment
Maintain Status f) Homeland Security
Maintain Status g) International aid
Slightly Increase h) Medical Research
Slightly Increase i) Scientific Research
Slightly Increase j) Space exploration
Greatly Decrease k) United Nations
Greatly Decrease l) Welfare
m) Other or expanded categories
Eliminate a) Capital gains taxes
Slightly Decrease b) Corporate taxes
Maintain Status c) Excise taxes (alcohol)
Maintain Status d) Excise taxes (cigarettes)
Slightly Increase e) Excise taxes (transportation fuel)
Maintain Status f) Income taxes (low-income families)
Maintain Status g) Income taxes (middle-income families)
Maintain Status h) Income taxes (high-income families)
Eliminate i) Inheritance taxes
Slightly Decrease j) Payroll taxes
k) Other or expanded categories
Multi-year highway bill funded by development of federal fossil fuel reserves and comprehensive tax reform that flattens and lowers tax rates making the U.S. more competitive in the global marketplace.

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