Ben Loyola, Jr.'s Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
Key
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Ben Loyola, Jr. has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2020 Political Courage Test.
Virginia Congressional Election 2020 Political Courage Test
| Pro-life | Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? | ||
| Nothing is more fundamental or precious than the right to life. I am pro-life and believe the only exceptions should be in cases of rape, incest, and medical necessity to save the life of the mother. | |||
| No | In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket? | ||
| Yes | Do you support expanding federal funding to support entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare? | ||
| We must protect Social Security and keep the promises we have made to retirees and those who have been paying into the system for decades. In Congress, I will always stand up for these individuals. | |||
| Yes | Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions? | ||
| Yes | Do you support increasing defense spending? | ||
| We must continue to invest in our national security to ensure we are prepared to face the many threats that exist in today's world. We must support the warfighter with the tools necessary to fight smart, get the job done and come home safe. Our common defense is a Constitutional mandate. | |||
| Yes | Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth? | ||
| Yes | Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth? | ||
| Yes | Do you support providing financial relief to businesses AND/OR corporations negatively impacted by the state of national emergency for COVID-19? | ||
| Small businesses need relief to survive this pandemic and many have been unable to receive aid because the initial funding has already dried up. Congress must go back to work immediately and vote to further fund the PPP. | |||
| No | Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards? | ||
| I served as vice chair and chairman of the Virginia Public School Authority. I was also Commissioner of the City of Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission. Through each of these experiences I have learned Virginians and local governments make the best decisions for our children, not unelected bureaucrats in Washington. In Congress, I will fight to bring local control to our education system while ensuring federal funding obligations continue to be met. | |||
| Yes | Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)? | ||
| Yes | Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions? | ||
| The EPA already regulates emissions by factories both in the air and in the water. America has some of the cleanest air and water in the world. I will support common sense, practical regulations to ensure we continue to be good stewards of our natural resources and environment. | |||
| No | Do you generally support gun-control legislation? | ||
| We must be vigilant in defense of our Second Amendment rights. I was born in Havana, Cuba, where my family and I were exposed to what happens when a government disarms its people and takes over a country. "Pan para armas" was Fidel Castro's call. Give me your guns and I'll give you bread. He took those guns away, imprisoned thousands, and killed tens of thousands. Unlike in Cuba, our Founding Fathers had the wisdom to see why the right to keep and bear arms was so essential. | |||
| Yes | Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")? | ||
| No | Do you support requiring businesses to provide paid medical leave during public health crises, such as COVID-19? | ||
| As a small business owner who screens and proposes healthcare plans for our company employees, I understand the challenges of leading a business to succeed in this highly over-regulated climate. Our small businesses are already struggling to survive, and putting additional burdens on them will cause many of them to close their doors for good. That will not help their employees. | |||
| Yes | Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border? | ||
| No | Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship? | ||
| It is not feasible to deport the millions who are here illegally. We must secure our borders first. I believe in tall walls and big doors. We need an immigration system that is effective, uses the most current technology available, and rewards immigrants who want to come here legally. I will advocate for an increased physical border, support our ICE agents, and push for an overhaul of our immigration process that puts American interests first while maintaining our status as a beacon of hope for those like my parents who come here to make a new life for themselves. | |||
| Yes | Should the United States use military force to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a weapon of mass destruction (for example: nuclear, biological, chemical)? | ||
| No | Do you support reducing military intervention in Middle East conflicts? | ||
| Whether state actors or non-state aggressors like ISIS and Al Qaeda, I will stand up to those who jeopardize our security and safety. We must make sure our military is fully funded and must not back down in the global fight against radical Islamic terrorism. | |||
| Yes | Do you generally support removing barriers to international trade (for example: tariffs, quotas, etc.)? | ||
| I support free trade when both parties play by the rules. However, when nations cheat, they must be held accountable. I believe our reliance on China for biomedical manufacturing is a threat to our security. The coronavirus pandemic and the many drug recalls in recent years have exposed these risks and our vulnerabilities. I'll work to bring the manufacture of critical antibiotics home and protect the health and safety of Americans. I support free trade with free countries, not with tyrants and others who put their own interests above the health and safety of others. | |||
| In Congress, my top three priorities will be fixing our veterans care system, ensuring that we continue to have a strong national defense, and ensuring a growing and prosperous economy. I will cut the red tape in our veterans care programs, fix our broken Veterans Administration system, and find workable solutions that will support our nation's veterans. A strong national defense is crucial. I stood up to our nation's enemies during my Naval career and will do in Congress. I will fight to lower taxes, reduce regulations, and invest in infrastructure, science and technology to ensure a prosperous economy. |
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