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Sam Graves' 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.
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Sam Graves 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.

  • "I believe that we should protect the lives of the unborn under all but the direst of circumstances. As your Congressman, I will continue the fight to keep life sacred." (www.gravesforcongress.com)
  • Rated 100% by National Right to Life Committee (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 8296: "Women's Health Protection Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 26: "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "For too long, the U.S. tax code was overly burdensome. It takes the average small business 37 hours to do their taxes. That’s time and money they should be able to spend growing the business. That’s why I was proud to vote for one of the most critical pieces of tax reform legislation in a generation which President Trump signed into law. Our tax cuts package cut taxes for almost everyone, doubled the standard deduction, and increased the child tax credit, strengthening the middle class and helping build a stronger America. Now, most folks can fill out their taxes on a postcard-sized document. We also cut taxes for the job creators allowing them to grow their business, hire more employees, and give raises and bonus. The effects of this are being seen across Missouri as the economy continues to boom. While I believe our historic tax reform package will go a long way towards making a better tax code, I am still a co-sponsor and consistent supporter of the Fair-Tax, which would replace the current progressive income tax with a national sales tax. The benefit of the Fair-Tax is that it taxes most individuals at a lower rate than the income tax. It also only taxes the goods and services you purchase, encourages saving, and produces similar revenue to the current code, just in a much simpler manner. Most importantly, it would mean the end of the corrupt IRS that has been used as a political tool to intimidate businesses and individuals." (www.gravesforcongress.com)
  • "Washington’s problem is not that it taxes too little; it’s that it spends too much. Congress, just like every family in America, must learn to budget properly and live within its means. I will continue to push for fiscal discipline and work to rein in Washington’s out of control spending. I have always supported a balanced budget amendment and have authored conservative reforms to limit waste and abuse of food stamp and disability programs that would save our country billions of dollars a year." (www.gravesforcongress.com)
  • Rated 80% by National Tax Limitation Committee (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1: "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "For too long, the U.S. tax code was overly burdensome. It takes the average small business 37 hours to do their taxes. That’s time and money they should be able to spend growing the business. That’s why I was proud to vote for one of the most critical pieces of tax reform legislation in a generation which President Trump signed into law. Our tax cuts package cut taxes for almost everyone, doubled the standard deduction, and increased the child tax credit, strengthening the middle class and helping build a stronger America. Now, most folks can fill out their taxes on a postcard-sized document. We also cut taxes for the job creators allowing them to grow their business, hire more employees, and give raises and bonus. The effects of this are being seen across Missouri as the economy continues to boom. While I believe our historic tax reform package will go a long way towards making a better tax code, I am still a co-sponsor and consistent supporter of the Fair-Tax, which would replace the current progressive income tax with a national sales tax. The benefit of the Fair-Tax is that it taxes most individuals at a lower rate than the income tax. It also only taxes the goods and services you purchase, encourages saving, and produces similar revenue to the current code, just in a much simpler manner. Most importantly, it would mean the end of the corrupt IRS that has been used as a political tool to intimidate businesses and individuals." (www.gravesforcongress.com)
  • "Washington’s problem is not that it taxes too little; it’s that it spends too much. Congress, just like every family in America, must learn to budget properly and live within its means. I will continue to push for fiscal discipline and work to rein in Washington’s out of control spending. I have always supported a balanced budget amendment and have authored conservative reforms to limit waste and abuse of food stamp and disability programs that would save our country billions of dollars a year." (www.gravesforcongress.com)
  • Rated 80% by National Tax Limitation Committee (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1: "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "America’s police officers put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe. We must stand up and support for our dedicated law enforcement professionals. #BacktheBlue" (x.com)
  • "In a time when law enforcement officers are facing unprecedented hate and violence, I want one thing to be clear: I will always support the brave men and women that risk their lives to protect our communities." (x.com)
  • Voted against HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "I have always been a vocal proponent for a strong national defense. Under our Constitution, the federal government’s top responsibility is to protect this nation from our enemies. While we certainly need to cut spending at the national level, it is wrong to make the Department of Defense bear the brunt of these cuts as we continue to fight a global War on Terrorism. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I will continue to push for a robust national defense. We currently have the most well-trained soldiers, sailors and Marines; the most technologically advanced weapons systems; and the best all-around military in the world. However, maintaining our forces requires constant development and vigilance. I will make sure our fighting men and women have everything they need to carry out their missions." (www.gravesforcongress.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2670: "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4365: "Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7900: "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • "Washington’s problem is not that it taxes too little; it’s that it spends too much. Congress, just like every family in America, must learn to budget properly and live within its means. I will continue to push for fiscal discipline and work to rein in Washington’s out of control spending. I have always supported a balanced budget amendment and have authored conservative reforms to limit waste and abuse of food stamp and disability programs that would save our country billions of dollars a year." (www.gravesforcongress.com)
  • Voted against HR 5376: "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2811: "Limit, Save, Grow Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "The federal government does not exist to create jobs. In fact, every new job it does "create" is paid for by American taxpayers. What Washington should be doing is cutting taxes and limiting harmful regulations. If that happens, businesses – especially small businesses – will once again begin to expand, hire and thrive." (www.gravesforcongress.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "Inflation hit 8.5% today. President Biden is blaming Russia, but this started long before Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. In fact, it started right about the same time Biden rammed through his massive, unpaid for "COVID relief" bill last year. What a coincidence." (x.com)
  • Voted against HR 5376: "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "$737 That’s how much Bidenflation is costing Missouri families EVERY MONTH. Instead of cutting spending, his "Inflation Reduction Act" raises taxes & wastes billions on Green New Deal nonsense. That’s only going to make this problem worse. Missouri families can’t afford that." (x.com)
  • "Inflation hit 8.2% last month. President Biden’s "Inflation Reduction Act" only made things worse. We need to stop his out-of-control spending." (x.com)
  • "We must increase our production of all other types of renewable energy and maintain high levels of domestic energy production. North Missouri’s farmers are leading the way. I will work to make sure they continue to do so." (www.gravesforcongress.com)
  • Rated 0% by League of Conservation Voters (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 4447: "Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 9: "Climate Action Now Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 21: "Strategic Production Response Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "We must increase our production of all other types of renewable energy and maintain high levels of domestic energy production. North Missouri’s farmers are leading the way. I will work to make sure they continue to do so." (www.gravesforcongress.com)
  • Rated 100% by American Energy Alliance (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1: "Lower Energy Costs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "The government’s takeover of our health care system must not be allowed to stand. Not a week goes by without hearing more stories about how the 2,000 page law will cost more than we were told, cover fewer people than we were promised, and significantly increase taxes and fees on average Americans and small businesses. We must repeal this bad piece of legislation and replace it with reforms that will expand coverage while lowering costs." (www.gravesforcongress.com)
  • Voted against HR 1425: "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "I just voted for a bipartisan coronavirus bill that guarantees free coronavirus tests for those who need them, secures paid leave for impacted workers, and helps our communities deal with the economic impacts of this outbreak—without punishing small businesses." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6201: "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 3: "Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 5378: "Lower Costs, More Transparency Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 6833: "The Affordable Insulin Now Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "It’s time for President Biden to acknowledge the crisis at the border. It’s time to secure our open borders. It’s time to build the wall." (x.com)
  • Rated 89% by NumbersUSA (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2: "Secure the Border Act of 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5525: "Continuing Appropriations and Border Security Enhancement Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • "I just voted against amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants. It’s deeply unfair to those that wait their turn to come here legally and adds fuel to the fire of the ongoing crisis at the border. This is the wrong thing to do at the wrong time." (x.com)
  • "Unity is working together to get Americans back to work and rebuild our country. Unity is not granting amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants and halting deportations of thousands of criminal illegal immigrants." (x.com)
  • Rated 89% by NumbersUSA (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 6: "American Dream and Promise Act of 2021" (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 8035: "Ukraine 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 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)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8035: "Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 3522: "Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • 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)

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