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Diana DeGette's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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Diana DeGette did not provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2022 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 2022.

  • "As the Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus I believe that all women should have access the full range of reproductive healthcare options, including abortion." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "It's been 77 days since the House passed the Women's Health Protection Act to guarantee the right to abortion care for all Americans. For 100 days now, people in Texas have been denied their right to access the abortion care they need. The pain and hardship this egregious ban is causing cannot be undone. It's past time for the Senate to act and enshrine the right of every American to access the abortion care they need into law." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by NARAL Pro-Choice America. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3755 "Women's Health Protection Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by Alliance for Retired Americans. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "We must repeal the unjust 2017 tax cut bill, which disproportionately benefited the ultra-rich and large corporations. The Federal government must also ensure that Social Security and Medicare are their for current and future beneficiaries. In order to accomplish this, we need to have a bipartisan conversation immediately about how to secure these trust funds in the future." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to President Biden: "Expanding and improving Medicare is not only good and critically-needed policy, it also has support from overwhelming bipartisan majorities of the American people. According to a recent Gallup poll, 65 percent of Americans, across party lines, are in favor of lowering the Medicare eligibility age.6 Another poll found that 79 percent of polled older voters want a routine dental, vision and hearing benefit added to Medicare.7 To pay for Medicare expansion, we believe Medicare and the federal government must finally be able to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to lower the high price of prescription drugs." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 610 "Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 87% by Common Cause. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "All campaign contributions should be subject to the same level of scrutiny in order to provide transparency into the campaign finance system. I am also a cosponsoring of HR 1, the broad overhaul of campaign finance which has passed the US House and is pending in the Senate." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1 "For the People Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "Thanks to these @UofDenver students for a great discussion about my work in Congress to advance campaign finance reform. Since #CitizensUnited, the cost of our elections and the amount of misinformation continues to skyrocket, and we must work to give power back to the people." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "As the @NYTimes explains, a "badge has become a get-out-of-jail-free card in far too many instances." I just co-sponsored legislation to do away with qualified immunity. It's past time that law enforcement officers are held accountable for their actions." (twitter.com)
  • ""It's not enough just to say Black lives matter. We need immediate policy changes that will fundamentally transform the system of policing in this country and stop the senseless killings of Black Americans by law enforcement officials," DeGette said. "We can't wait until the next George Floyd or Breonna Taylor. The American people are crying out for change and Congress must take action now."" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I just co-sponsored legislation to do away with qualified immunity. It's past time that law enforcement officers are held accountable for their actions." (twitter.com)
  • "It's not enough just to say Black lives matter. We need immediate policy changes that will fundamentally transform the system of policing in this country and stop the senseless killings of Black Americans by law enforcement officials," DeGette said. "We can't wait until the next George Floyd or Breonna Taylor. The American people are crying out for change and Congress must take action now." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The Defense budget already encompasses over half of the discretionary budget. This per portion of spending is out of line with the needs in our nation for education, healthcare, housing, transportation, and other non defense spending priorities." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against S 1605 "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022." (votesmart.org)
  • "The bipartisan infrastructure bill the Senate passed today will pave the way for us to rebuild our crumbling roads & bridges, expand access to high-speed internet, tackle the climate crisis & so much more! We need to get it and the reconciliation bill signed into law ASAP." (twitter.com)
  • ""This is one of the most transformational bills the U.S. House of Representatives has ever approved," said U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO). "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fundamentally transform our nation for the better. It's an opportunity to provide real relief to millions of hardworking families. It will make health care and child care more affordable. It will make housing and higher education more accessible. And it will be the largest investment we've ever made to take on the climate crisis."" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3684 "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Build Back Better Act." (votesmart.org)
  • "This is one of the most transformational bills the U.S. House of Representatives has ever approved," said U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO). "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fundamentally transform our nation for the better. It's an opportunity to provide real relief to millions of hardworking families. It will make health care and child care more affordable. It will make housing and higher education more accessible. And it will be the largest investment we've ever made to take on the climate crisis." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Direct assistance to small businesses and others in hard-hit sectors will be necessary so that they can retain employees during the pandemic as well as have a place for employees to return to when the pandemic has reached a level where it is safe to do so. Additional direct assistance to workers is also needed to ensure that individuals and families re made whole during the pandemic." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 266 "Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • ""While some small businesses in our community were able to access the Paycheck Protection Program, many more were shut out. Let's be clear: large corporations never should have been allowed to receive funds meant for small businesses," said DeGette. "We must ensure this new round of funding goes to those businesses most in need. Countless American jobs -- and lives -- are on the line."" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Outrageous. Instead of passing our COVID-relief bill, Republicans in the Senate are trying to delay it. People are desperate. They need help. On behalf of the American people – stop the games. Pass the bill. We have to give these families the help they need NOW!" (twitter.com)
  • "While some small businesses in our community were able to access the Paycheck Protection Program, many more were shut out. Let's be clear: large corporations never should have been allowed to receive funds meant for small businesses," said DeGette. "We must ensure this new round of funding goes to those businesses most in need. Countless American jobs -- and lives -- are on the line." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The House just passed the America COMPETES Act to fix our supply chain, boost domestic manufacturing and increase our global competitiveness. It includes legislation I introduced to strengthen our Strategic National Stockpile & ensure we’re ready for future pandemics." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 4521 “America COMPETES Act of 2022” (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 7688 “Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act” (votesmart.org)
  • "Millions of borrowers have benefited from the student loan pause. I hope to see President Biden continue that pause to help those struggling under the burden of student loan debt." (twitter.com)
  • "We are, once again, calling on President Biden to extend the freeze on student loan payments that are currently set to resume August 31st. With so many American families struggling to make ends meet, now is not the time to add even more strain to those saddled with student debt." (twitter.com)
  • "We need to act now to ensure #studentdebt doesn’t cripple our young peoples’ ability to pursue their dreams." (twitter.com)
  • "While my Democratic colleagues and I work for greater protections & services for student loan borrowers - 776,000 in Colorado alone - this administration shuns them to serve corporate interests. The next generation deserves better: We should set them up for success, debt-free." (twitter.com)
  • "19 states passed 34 new laws last year making it harder to vote. If the Senate fails to act now to protect Americans’ right to vote, it will soon be too late. Our democracy is at stake. We need to pass the Freedom to Vote Act & the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act now!" (twitter.com)
  • Rated 87% by Common Cause (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 4 “John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021” (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 5746 “Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act” (votesmart.org)
  • "If we are going to avoid the worst effects of this climate crisis, the U.S. must take drastic steps now to cut our carbon emissions. That's why I'm working to create our nation's first clean-energy standard to drastically cut emissions NOW." (twitter.com)
  • "My plan to help combat our #climatecrisis by creating a new national clean-energy standard just got a huge boost! This clean energy proposal, which eliminates ALL carbon emissions from the power sector by 2050, will be included in the new #CLEANFuture Act that'll be filed soon." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4447 "Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 96% by League of Conservation Voters. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I believe that the federal government must make a commitment to ensuring that we have net zero carbon emissions no later than 2050." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 96% by League of Conservation Voters. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The historic measure represents the nation's largest-ever effort to take on the climate crisis and, according to the White House, would reduce the nation's greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50% below 2005 levels by 2030. It would, among other things, extend existing tax credits to help lower the cost of installing a solar roof, and would create new incentives to provide middle-class families a tax credit of up to $12,500 to help offset the cost of purchasing a new, American-made electric vehicle." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 9 "Climate Action Now Act." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "BREAKING: We have just reintroduced our bill to ban high-capacity gun magazines. There’s no reason why any civilian needs a gun magazine that holds more than 10 rounds. This legislation will save lives and Congress needs to act immediately." (twitter.com)
  • "I strongly support universal background checks and banning the sale, manufacture or possession of any new military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1446 "Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "BREAKING: We have just reintroduced our bill to ban high-capacity gun magazines. There’s no reason why any civilian needs a gun magazine that holds more than 10 rounds. This legislation will save lives and Congress needs to act immediately." (twitter.com)
  • "Access to health care has been a long time struggle for many Americans. Diana has made it a priority to fight for expanding health care access, securing funding for medical research, supporting medical professionals and patient protections. She played a crucial role in the passage of the Affordable Care Act and has been a leader in the U.S. House on health insurance protocols." (degette.com)
  • "Proud to join my colleagues as a cosponsor of the #MedicareForAll bill introduced today. We must find ways to make healthcare more affordable and more accessible for all Americans." (twitter.com)
  • "We have just reintroduced our #MedicareForAll Act in the House. It’s time to enact bold new polices to make healthcare more affordable and accessible for all Americans. It’s time to pass this important bill and finally make Medicare for All a reality." (twitter.com)
  • "We have to make healthcare more affordable for all Americans. Proud to join with my fellow House Democrats today to introduce our newest bill that would #ProtectOurCare. We can get this done!" (twitter.com)
  • "Getting ready to vote on our bill that will put #FamiliesFirst as we respond to the coronavirus. Our legislation includes paid sick leave for hourly workers, free testing for nearly all Americans, and much more. We must be doing everything we can to protect our communities." (twitter.com)
  • "On #FMLA24, I honor this groundbreaking law and pledge to build on its promise by working to pass #paidleave for every American worker." (twitter.com)
  • "Paid family and medical leave has been added back in the #BuildBackBetterAct! No one should have to choose between keeping their job or caring for a loved one. The US is the ONLY industrialized nation in the world that doesn’t guarantee paid leave for workers. This must change." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 6201 “Families First Coronavirus Response Act” (votesmart.org)
  • "Heading to the House floor to cast my vote to #LowerDrugCosts NOW! #HR3 is a landmark bill to lower the cost of prescription drugs for millions of Americans. No one in this country should have to choose between putting food on their table and paying for their medication." (twitter.com)
  • "Prescription drug costs are out of control, but Republicans are more focused on handing billions to pharmaceutical companies under the #GOPTaxScam than securing relief for working families. Americans deserve #ABetterDeal on drug costs that puts people over profits." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 3 “Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019” (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 6833 “The Affordable Insulin Now Act” (votesmart.org)
  • "It's shameful that #Trump is willing to shut down the gov't and furlough more than 800K employees during the holidays just to get his senseless and xenophobic border wall -- which I totally oppose. He must work with Dems to keep the gov't open and secure our borders efficiently." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 1% by NumbersUSA (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The Trump admin. is using vulnerable children as pawns in its fear campaign against immigrants and efforts to secure funding for a wasteful border wall. Meanwhile, families are being ripped apart by this startling lack of empathy." (twitter.com)
  • "Today we recognize people fleeing persecution and war. In previous years, I've reflected on America's role in helping them, but now our country is creating a refugee crisis of our own. We must #KeepFamiliesTogether at our border, especially those seeking asylum. #WorldRefugeeDay" (twitter.com)
  • "A federal judge has ruled DACA is unlawful. Congress needs to act NOW to provide our Dreamers a pathway to citizenship. These young men & women deserve more than temporary fixes. No one should have to live with the constant anxiety that comes from rulings such as these." (twitter.com)
  • "Individuals who are in this county and been productive members of society should be allowed to remain in the U.S while they seek citizenship." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1333 "NO BAN Act." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6 "American Dream and Promise Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1333 "NO BAN Act." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6 "American Dream and Promise Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "Just finished a briefing with Ukraine President Zelenskyy—and what an inspirational leader he is! We need to step up our sanctions on Russia and stop importing Russian oil." (twitter.com)
  • "@POTUS' refusal to hold the Russian government accountable is an outrage, setting the stage for possible future attacks on our elections in Colorado and across America. We're demanding he do his job and impose sanctions on Russia to protect the integrity of our democracy." (twitter.com)
  • "The House just voted to approve legislation that will ban the import of Russian oil into the U.S. It will also set the stage for even more sanctions to further isolate Russia from the world’s economy and hold it responsible for its heinous attack on the Ukrainian people." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 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)
  • "The U.S. and its allies stand steadfast with the people of Ukraine in the fight to protect their sovereignty." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 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 S. 3522 “Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022” (votesmart.org)
  • "We need to provide the people of Ukraine with the humanitarian assistance and weapons they need – including additional anti-aircraft capabilities. And we need to ensure that not one drop of Russian oil enters the U.S." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 8% by National Tax Limitation Committee (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "#GOPTaxScam gives tax breaks to wealthy under the ruse that everyday people - someday - will be better off because big corporations will do something better with the money than working families." (twitter.com)
  • "#GOPTaxScam has passed the House, but I am proud to have voted against this gift to corporations and the ultra-wealthy. This bill should never become law. Instead, Congress should come together to make our tax code more efficient and more equitable." (twitter.com)
  • "If you haven't figured out that the #GOPTaxScam is a raw deal for working families by now, just look at the important deductions that are on the chopping block. Tax season will be tougher on average Americans while the ultra-wealthy can line more of their pockets." (twitter.com)
  • "I have long held that Congress has a responsibility to ensure trade deals are consistent with our values and fair to American workers. We must always be seeking to ensure that our trade deals do not result in exporting pollution to other countries or allowing labor practices in partner countries to undercut American jobs. Moving forward I will continue to evaluate any free trade deal that comes before Congress individually and evaluate it based on the impacts to the environment, impacts on workers, and the impacts on the economy." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5430 "United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act." (votesmart.org)
  • "@Sunrun is helping fuel CO's alternative energy boom, and today I was pleased to tour their Denver design center and speak with staff about my work supporting #solarpower. This includes cosponsoring the #LiftAmericaAct and opposing @POTUS' broad tariff on imported solar panels." (twitter.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-choice Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
As the Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus I believe that all women should have access the full range of reproductive healthcare options, including abortion.
Yes 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 repeal the unjust 2017 tax cut bill, which disproportionately benefited the ultra-rich and large corporations. The Federal government must also ensure that Social Security and Medicare are their for current and future beneficiaries. In order to accomplish this, we need to have a bipartisan conversation immediately about how to secure these trust funds in the future.
Yes Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
All campaign contributions should be subject to the same level of scrutiny in order to provide transparency into the campaign finance system. I am also a cosponsoring of HR 1, the broad overhaul of campaign finance which has passed the US House and is pending in the Senate.
No Do you support the protection of government officials, including law enforcement officers, from personal liability in civil lawsuits concerning alleged misconduct?
No Do you support increasing defense spending?
The Defense budget already encompasses over half of the discretionary budget. This per portion of spending is out of line with the needs in our nation for education, healthcare, housing, transportation, and other non defense spending priorities.
Yes Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
No 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?
Direct assistance to small businesses and others in hard-hit sectors will be necessary so that they can retain employees during the pandemic as well as have a place for employees to return to when the pandemic has reached a level where it is safe to do so. Additional direct assistance to workers is also needed to ensure that individuals and families re made whole during the pandemic. .
Yes Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
There should be some level of minimum standards set by the federal government, but the bulk of education policy should be set at the state and local level.
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?
I believe that the federal government must make a commitment to ensuring that we have net zero carbon emissions no later than 2050.
Yes Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
I strongly support universal background checks and banning the sale, manufacture or possession of any new military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
No Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
Yes Do you support requiring businesses to provide paid medical leave during public health crises, such as COVID-19?
Too many workers already feel that they have no choice if they are sick and would be required to take a day without pay to stay home. COVID-19 has thrown light into a dire situation for so many low wage workers who are choosing between their health and a paycheck. Especially now, we cannot afford for those who are sick to risk spreading COVID-19 to those they work with or serve. Congress should provide funding for small businesses to pay their sick workers and those who are quarantined.
No 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?
Individuals who are in this county and been productive members of society should be allowed to remain in the U.S while they seek citizenship.
No 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)?
Yes Do you support reducing military intervention in Middle East conflicts?
The U.S. has been on a constant war footing since September 11, 2001 and the continued presence of our armed forces in the Middle East is a drain on our military and our economy. Congress and only Congress should authorize the use of military force, and only as a last resort. We cannot continue to allow Presidents of any party to have a free hand with the use of force around the world. We should work with our allies to use diplomatic methods to stop hostile governmentS from obtaining weapons of mass destruction.
Yes Do you generally support removing barriers to international trade (for example: tariffs, quotas, etc.)?
I have long held that Congress has a responsibility to ensure trade deals are consistent with our values and fair to American workers. We must always be seeking to ensure that our trade deals do not result in exporting pollution to other countries or allowing labor practices in partner countries to undercut American jobs. Moving forward I will continue to evaluate any free trade deal that comes before Congress individually and evaluate it based on the impacts to the environment, impacts on workers, and the impacts on the economy.
If I am re-elected, my top three priorities will be advancing policies that support: 1. Access to quality health care including the full range of women's reproductive care. 2. Civil rights for all communities, including passage of comprehensive immigration reform. 3. Environmental justice and fighting climate change.

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