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Cheri Bustos' Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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.

Cheri Bustos has failed to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2020 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 2020.

  • "I support a woman's right to choose and will work to ensure that this remains a decision made by women, not the government." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by Planned Parenthood. (votesmart.org)
  • "We have to put the middle class first and end taxpayer giveaways to corporations that send our jobs overseas, big oil companies making record profits and Wall Street billionaires." (votesmart.org)
  • Endorsed by National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. (votesmart.org)
  • Signed a letter stating: "Americans deserve a Congress and political system that is responsive to the public's will. Any effort to bypass fairness and transparency when making changes to our campaign finance laws would be wrong as a matter of process and as a matter of policy. For these reasons, we urge you to reject any campaign finance provisions in the final omnibus agreement." (votesmart.org)
  • "It’s been one week since the House passed the #GeorgeFloyd #JusticeInPolicing Act. This historic bill reforms law enforcement practices to address systemic racism in policing, increase police accountability and build trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7120 - George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020. (votesmart.org)
  • "As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I'll fight tooth and nail to make sure that the very military construction funds for projects at the Peoria Air National Guard Base and the Rock Island Arsenal aren't diverted for this power grab by the administration." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 16% by Center for Security Policy. (votesmart.org)
  • "That's why I was proud that the most robust defense authorization in history included my amendments to invest in our troops and military bases, support military families in times of need and recognize the courageous efforts of women who stepped up when duty called." (votesmart.org)
  • "Hardworking Illinoisans deserve better jobs and better wages, and one of the best ways to create them is by investing in the infrastructure we all depend on" (votesmart.org)
  • "Illinois' 17th Congressional District is a central hub for shipping goods and people over road, rail, water and through the air. Cities across the region are also eagerly waiting funding of long-planned Amtrak routes that would bring jobs and economic opportunity to communities large and small." (votesmart.org)
  • "We have to put the middle class first and end taxpayer giveaways to corporations that send our jobs overseas, big oil companies making record profits and Wall Street billionaires." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 266 - Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6074 - Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act. (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by National Education Association. (votesmart.org)
  • "Reform No Child Left Behind with more support for teachers and accountability that doesn't lead to classrooms just teaching to the test." (votesmart.org)
  • "Affordable and reliable energy is an essential part of our economy and our quality of life. We must move towards energy independence and cleaner sources of energy, while promoting a comprehensive plan that keeps energy affordable for the middle class." (votesmart.org)
  • "By coming together to pass a compromise energy bill that will protect thousands of good-paying Illinois jobs, continue the production of non-carbon energy and help break our addiction to foreign fossil fuels, we're building a better future for all of our families." (votesmart.org)
  • "Climate change may be the most complicated challenge our country has ever faced," Congresswoman Bustos said. "But I intend to meet the challenge head on and give rural America -- including the families in Northwest and Central Illinois -- a seat at the table as we tackle the climate crisis. That's why I submitted the Rural Green Partnership to the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. Rural America offers an enormous amount of potential to address climate change and is home to a wealth of resources that cannot be overlooked. The Rural Green Partnership helps mobilize our region to mitigate risk, increase resilience, incentivize new markets and create jobs as we work together to defeat the climate crisis." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 9 - Climate Action Now Act. (votesmart.org)
  • "[...] 'm participating in the sit-in protest to demand Congress hold a vote to close loophole that allows suspected terrorists to buy guns, and a vote expanding criminal background checks to keep deadly weapons out of the hands of violent offenders." (votesmart.org)
  • "Today, after reviewing President Obama's Executive Actions to reduce gun violence, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos offered her support for common sense measures to protect Illinoisans. Bustos, who previously co-sponsored the bipartisan King-Thompson bill in Congress to expand criminal background checks to gun shows, internet sales and classified ads (H.R. 1217)" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1112 - Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2019. (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 0% by National Rifle Association. (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by American Public Health Association. (votesmart.org)
  • "Since I've been in Congress, I've worked diligently to improve the health care law and bring down costs for Illinois families," Congresswoman Bustos said. "Just this year, House Democrats have passed 10 bills to bring down the cost of health care and prescription drugs. But this partisan, reckless lawsuit would wreak havoc on the financial security of hardworking Illinoisans -- forcing them to pay even more for less coverage and fewer patient protections. The administration should drop the lawsuit immediately and instead, work with both parties to find common ground." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6201 - Families First Coronavirus Response Act. (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 13% by NumbersUSA. (votesmart.org)
  • Signed a letter stating: "If the Department is concerned about delays in spending funds that are available to it, one should look no further than the delays in spending military funding diverted to the border wall. Out of $10 billion in funds that have so far been diverted to the wall, according to the Department's own data, just $668 million, or 6.7 percent, has actually been expended. The rationale of diverting needed NGREA funds for a project that does not need more money is simply not credible. The diversion of $3.8 billion in FY2020 funds is even more puzzling since the funding would provide merely 57 miles of new fencing, with the rest of the money going to replace or supplement areas that already have border barriers in place. We ask you to provide us with a specific plan for how the Department of Defense intends to address the identified and significant shortfalls in equipment for the Illinois National Guard in the wake of your decision to transfer NGREA funds to border wall projects that were never proposed to Congress." (votesmart.org)
  • "Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17), a member of the powerful House Appropriations Subcommittees on Defense, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, released the following statement on the Administration's recent decision, which has drawn bipartisan criticism, to steal Department of Defense funds crucial to military readiness for border wall construction: "This power grab puts our military readiness and national security at risk. On the campaign trail, the President repeatedly promised the American people that Mexico would pay for his costly border wall. But, once again, he has broken that promise. "This action is unconstitutional -- full stop. Only Congress has the power of the purse. I'll stand up to this irresponsible decision and do everything in my power to protect funds for projects, equipment and resources at the Peoria Air National Guard Base and Rock Island Arsenal." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6 - American Dream and Promise Act of 2019. (votesmart.org)
  • "I'm disappointed & deeply concerned w/ @POTUS' decision to end #DACA. Congress must take immediate action to #DefendDACA." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 13% by NumbersUSA. (votesmart.org)
  • "I am hopeful that, despite this announcement, we can continue working with our international partners to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 16% by Center for Security Policy. (votesmart.org)
  • Signed a letter stating: "We remain hopeful that with strong U.S. leadership, we can ensure vigorous enforcement of the JCPOA, as well as implementation of non-nuclear and multilateral sanctions, including CAATSA, to keep the american people secure and safeguard American interests." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by Public Citizen. (votesmart.org)
  • "On the House Floor today, I spoke in support of the #USMCA. Illinois farmers and workers deserve the strongest possible trade deal – the #USMCA is that deal. I was proud to cast my vote in support of this important step forward that will help our region's economy prosper." (twitter.com)
  • "Ready or not, here comes @realDonaldTrump's #TradeWar. All across the heartland, hardworking men and women on farms, in factories and on job sites are bracing for the impact of a reckless trade policy with no strategy behind it." (twitter.com)
  • "Yesterday, while China announced they were no longer buying soybeans from the U.S. due to Trump’s reckless trade war, I was literally planting soybeans with our Illinois farmers that depend on foreign markets." (twitter.com)

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