Card image cap

David Cicilline's 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.

David Cicilline 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.

What is the Political Courage Test?

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.

  • "All Americans deserve to retire with dignity. That means health insurance and a basic income. We must protect #Medicare & #SocialSecurity" (twitter.com)
  • Rated 100% by Alliance for Retired Americans (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 1 "For the People Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • "Yesterday marked 9 years since the Supreme Court allowed secret corporate spending to influence our elections. It’s time for us to reclaim our democracy so that elected officials work for the people, not corporations. #ForThePeople" (twitter.com)
  • "Citizens United unleashed a chain reaction that has allowed billionaires & corporate special interests to spend unlimited secret funds to influence elections. Now, Republicans want to make it even easier for the wealthy to manipulate our democracy. Never!" (twitter.com)
  • "Rep Cicilline urges the House Judiciary Committee to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 2 "Moving Forward Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 5376 "Build Back Better Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Americans want bold action to create jobs, raise wages and secure a better future. Yet, Republicans, who control the House, Senate and White House, are struggling to even keep the government open. It’s time for #ABetterDeal" (twitter.com)
  • "Cicilline helped lead efforts in the House to quickly pass bipartisan relief packages, providing vital federal funding for protective equipment, testing, contact tracing, and hospitals, as well as hundreds of billions of dollars in grants and forgivable loans for small businesses, dramatically expanded unemployment benefits, and direct cash payments for millions of Americans. These efforts brought billions of dollars in federal funding to Rhode Island to help the state and our cities and towns provide needed resources to first responders, aid to renters, homeowners, and small businesses, job opportunities for Rhode Island workers displaced by COVID, and more." (www.cicilline.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 1319 "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 266 "Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Although we have the lowest unemployment rate in 50 years, too many Americans and Rhode Islanders are struggling to get by because of the rising cost of goods. The Inflation Reduction Act will help us drive down costs for hardworking Americans while also tackling the climate crisis head-on. Importantly, this legislation will also lower prescription drug costs, an expense that has been plaguing families for far too long. I was proud to vote for this bill, and will continue to work with my colleagues to build on this progress as we deliver an equitable economy that works for everyone." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • ". @POTUS has just signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, cutting costs for families through prescription drug costs, energy costs, and health insurance premiums, while also taking major steps to fight climate change. This is a great and meaningful investment in our future." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "As we work towards total student debt forgiveness, the Making College More Affordable Act will help those with student loans pay off this debt more easily & ensure that future students have the resources they need by reforming and simplifying our broken student loan system." (twitter.com)
  • Signed Letter to President Biden: "Canceling student debt is one of the most powerful ways to address racial and economic equity issues. The student loan system mirrors many of the inequalities that plague American society and widens the racial wealth gap.10 Black students in particular borrow more to attend college, borrow more often while they are in school, and have a harder time paying their debt off than their white peers.11 They are more than three times as likely to go into default within four years on their federal loans as white borrowers12– and face wage garnishment, tax refund withholding, and federal benefit offsets. 13 While Latino borrowers often have lower loan balances than their white peers, they are more likely to struggle in repaying their loans, and have some of the lowest post-education earnings among all racial or ethnic groups." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "In the last five years, Republican politicians have tried to make it harder for working people to vote. Gerrymandering, voter ID, voter purges, and attacks on early voting are threats to our democracy. #RestoreTheVOTE" (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5746 "Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "America should be leading the world in developing clean energy, not mindlessly enriching Big Oil." (twitter.com)
  • "David understands the importance of this responsibility and has worked hard in Congress to defend our environment and advance the development of renewable energy technology." (www.cicilline.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 4447 "Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 9 "Climate Action Now Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 9 "Climate Action Now Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "The United States is falling behind in the race to reduce carbon emissions and become a leader in the renewable energy field. We should be seizing this opportunity to create millions of new good-paying jobs." (twitter.com)
  • "At the same time, David is fighting to address climate change and the undeniable science that tells us carbon pollution is threatening the health of our environment and the public. David knows that to protect Rhode Island’s air, water, and other natural resources today and years into the future, we need to end our reliance on fossil fuels that pollute and degrade our ecosystem." (www.cicilline.com)
  • "Gun violence is an epidemic. For more than three decades, David Cicilline has been a champion of commonsense legislation to reduce gun violence." (www.cicilline.com)
  • "On the House steps tonight, honoring those lost in Orlando and continuing our effort to prevent gun violence." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 1446 "Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 2938 "Bipartisan Safer Communities Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Cosponsored the Medicare For All Act, legislation that expands the successful Medicare program and ensures every American has guaranteed access to health care." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "For a wide range of Rhode Islanders, the Affordable Care Act has been a landmark achievement. Thanks to The Affordable Care Act, every person, regardless of their gender, age or a pre-existing condition, now has access to affordable health care. We have reduced the number of uninsured and poorly insured, meaning more people now have access to annual check ups and preventive care. Because of this, the rate health care inflation is finally slowing." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1425 "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Instead, David is working to raise the minimum wage, ensure equal pay for women, and provide families with access to paid leave. It's no wonder the Rhode Island AFL-CIO endorsed Congressman Cicilline earlier this year and praised his "continued work in Congress to protect working people and to pass legislation that is good for all Americans, and for all Rhode Islanders." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Today, we passed another bipartisan package -- this one focused on the personal safety and financial security of working families. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act includes free testing for coronavirus for all who need it; emergency paid leave; enhanced unemployment insurance for furloughed workers; strengthened food security for SNAP, students, seniors, and food banks; and increased federal funds for Medicaid because states will face increased costs." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6201 "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Did you know that roughly 83,087 Rhode Islanders live with diabetes? They spend anywhere from $1,200 to $20,000 on insulin medications annually. Under the #LowerDrugCosts Now Act, they could spend 3.5 times less on Insulin." (twitter.com)
  • "Pharmaceutical companies have abused American patients and taxpayers to increase their profits hand over fist without recourse for too long. The Lower Drug Costs Now Act will put an end to the price gouging by big pharma that sees American patients and taxpayers paying more for their prescription drugs than people in other countries. President Trump should honor his promise to lower prescription drug prices and call on Mitch McConnell to pass this bill without delay." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3 "Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6833 "The Affordable Insulin Now Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "David strongly believes that the House of Representatives should pass legislation to help approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants emerge from the shadows, and provide a responsible path to citizenship for those who want to fully participate in our civil society and contribute to our nation's economy. This reform must begin with securing our border and ensuring that those who are here without proper documentation be required to "go to the end of the line," pay a penalty, pay their taxes, and pass criminal background checks before receiving citizenship." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I am deeply disappointed that the Republican-controlled Senate failed to advance a bipartisan proposal to protect Dreamers and strengthen border security. I'm going to continue fighting in the House to fix our broken immigration system." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "David cosponsored and fought for House passage of the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021, which establishes a path to citizenship for more than 6,000 Dreamers (individuals brought to the U.S. as children) and those with Temporary Protected Status living in Rhode Island. This bill passed the House in March 2021." (www.cicilline.com)
  • "David strongly believes Congress should pass legislation to help approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants emerge from the shadows and provide a responsible path to citizenship for those who want to fully participate in our society and contribute to our nation's economy." (www.cicilline.com)
  • "Passing comprehensive immigration reform would help secure our border, protect workers, unite families, and provide an earned pathway to citizenship for hardworking immigrants. It will also help businesses expand, foster innovation, increase productivity, contribute to long-term wage growth, and help create more than 100,000 jobs every year." (www.cicilline.com)
  • "The free world has rallied together to impose devastating sanctions against Russia, against the Russian economy, and to hold the Putin regime and his enablers to account for their crimes. I strongly support this resolution, and I know the United States and its allies are united behind the people of Ukraine, behind the values of freedom and democracy and against the tyranny of a thuggish dictator, Vladimir Putin." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Vladimir Putin cannot act without consequence. The United States and the international community must build on the already enacted sanctions so that the cost of this incursion is far greater than anything Russia has faced before. Ukrainian sovereignty must be respected, and the Ukrainian people have a right to decide their own political future -- they've chosen democracy. To protect this burgeoning democracy, and the Ukrainian people, we must do all we can to help them defend their freedoms and their borders." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6968 "Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "The Ukrainian people are determined to defend their country and their democracy, and we must continue to do all we can to support them against Putin and his illegal war," said Congressman Cicilline. "By cutting red tape, this legislation will expedite the delivery of vital weapons, ammunition, and equipment and will bolster our efforts to provide Ukraine with the military and humanitarian aid it needs." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The Ukrainian people have sustained a valiant fight against Russia, and the United States and our allies must continue to support them with military and humanitarian aid. We need to ensure that Ukrainians on the front lines have the tools and equipment that they need, when they need it, as they continue to not just defend Ukrainian sovereignty but also democracy." (justfacts.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." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 3522 "Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "David is also fighting to make certain our tax policies do not disadvantage middle class workers and their families -- introducing legislation to require that the wealthiest among us pay at least at least the same effective tax rate as middle class families, and supporting a measure to enhance the child tax credit." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "For more than 100 years, an idea dating back to Abraham Lincoln, the SALT deduction has allowed families to deduct taxes already paid to state and local government from their federal tax returns. Many middle-class Americans benefit from this commonsense tax policy every year. In past years, almost a third of Rhode Islanders have claimed the SALT deductions, including almost 60 percent of people in my district who make between $75-100,000 per year. The destructive 2017 Trump tax cuts, however, imposed a $10,000 cap on SALT deductions, meaning that if a family pays more than $10,000 in state and local taxes, the taxes paid in excess of that $10,000 can no longer be deducted from federal returns raising those families' tax liability significantly. It just doesn't make sense to have Americans, especially middle-class families living in states with high tax rates, pay extra taxes on the taxes they have already paid." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The American people are going to see through this scam. Working men and women deserve real tax reform that begins with a tax cut for middle class families and promotes the creation of good-paying jobs. That's what Democrats will deliver when we control the House again." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5377 "Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "The USMCA is, however, an improvement -- albeit a modest one -- over the current NAFTA framework. That's in large part thanks to the hard work of leaders like Sherrod Brown and Elizabeth Warren, unions, and consumer groups over the past year. Thanks to them, this agreement eliminates giveaways to big pharmaceutical companies that the President wanted to include. It also has stronger labor and environmental protections than the ones the Trump administration first proposed. And it guts the Investor-State Dispute Settlement that gave corporations a free pass to extract hundreds of millions of dollars from American taxpayers." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 5430 "United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Agreement" (votesmart.org)
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.
The Political Courage Test asks candidates which items they will support if elected. It does not ask them to indicate which items they will oppose. Through extensive research of public polling data, we discovered that voters are more concerned with what candidates would support when elected to office, not what they oppose. If a candidate does not select a response to any part or all of any question, it does not necessarily indicate that the candidate is opposed to that particular item.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning abortion.

X a) Abortions should always be legally available.
b) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
c) Abortions should be legal only when pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or when the life of the woman is endangered.
d) Abortions should be legal only when the life of the woman is endangered.
e) Abortions should always be illegal.
f) Abortions should be limited by waiting periods and parental notification requirements.
g) Prohibit the late-term abortion procedure known as "partial-birth" abortion.
h) Support "buffer zones" by requiring demonstrators to stay at least 15 feet away from abortion clinic doorways and driveways.
i) Other
Yes j) Should Rhode Island government funding be provided to clinics and medical facilities that provide abortion services?

Indicate the principles you support (if any) concerning affirmative action. State government agencies should take race and sex into account in the following sectors:

Yes a) College and university admissions
Yes b) Public employment
Yes c) State contracting
d) Other

Indicate which principles you support (if any) to address crime.

a) Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
b) Support contracting with private sector firms to build and/or manage state prisons.
c) End parole for repeat violent felons.
d) Support the use of the death penalty.
X e) Oppose the death penalty.
X f) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
g) Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
X h) Increase state funds for programs which rehabilitate and educate inmates during and after their prison sentences.
X i) Decriminalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
j) Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
k) Strengthen penalties and sentences for sex offenders.
X l) Lower the blood-alcohol-content limit defining drunk driving.
m) Prosecute juveniles who commit murder or other serious violent crimes as adults.
n) Other
Undecided o) Do you support the current law requiring the state to take DNA samples from suspects in violent crimes?

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning the economy and employment.

X a) Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
X b) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
c) Support limits on cash damages in lawsuits against businesses and professionals for product liability or malpractice.
X d) Increase funding for state job-training programs that retrain displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market.
e) Other
No f) Should the state approve a gambling facility for the Narragansett Indians in Providence?

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.

X a) Increase state funds for professional development of public school teachers and administrators.
X b) Encourage private or corporate investment in public school programs.
c) Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious).
X d) Favor charter schools where independent groups receive state authorization and funding to establish new schools.
X e) Support sex education programs which stress abstinence.
X f) Support sex education programs which stress safe sexual practices.
X g) Increase state funds for school construction and facility maintenance.
X h) Increase state funds for hiring of additional teachers.
i) Endorse teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools.
X j) Increase state funding to develop full day kindergarten and preschool programs.
k) Other

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.

X a) Require the use of cleaner burning fuels in order to prevent pollution.
b) Support "self-audit" legislation which creates incentives for industries to audit themselves and clean up pollution.
X c) Require a cost/benefit analysis to determine the economic impact of proposed environmental regulations before they are implemented.
X d) Require the state to fully compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses on privately owned land.
X e) Provide funding for recycling programs in Rhode Island.
f) Request added flexibility from the federal government in enforcing and funding federal environmental regulations.
g) Suspend participation in unfunded, federally mandated environmental protection legislation.
h) Other
Yes i) State environmental regulations should not be stricter than federal law.
Undecided j) Do you support increasing the minimum size for lobsters harvested in Rhode Island waters?
Undecided k) Do you support instituting limits on the number of traps maintained by each lobsterman?

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding government reform.a) Do you support limits on the number of terms of the following Rhode Island officials?b) Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative candidates?

No 1) State Senators and Representatives
No 2) Governor
Yes 1) Individual
Yes 2) PAC
Yes 3) Corporate
Yes c) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
Yes d) Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
Yes e) Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?
No f) Would you vote to ratify an amendment to the U.S. Constitution requiring an annual balanced federal budget?
No g) Do you support allowing members of the General Assembly to serve on state boards and commissions?
h) Other

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning gun issues.

X a) Ban the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
X b) Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
c) Maintain state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
d) Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
e) Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms by law-abiding citizens.
f) Favor allowing citizens to carry concealed firearms.
X g) Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks with firearms.
h) Other

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health issues.

X a) Provide tax incentives to small businesses that provide health care to their employees.
X b) Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care, through managed care, insurance reforms, or state funded care where necessary.
X c) Support funding for RIte Care, which provides health care for uninsured pregnant women and children under age 18.
d) Transfer more existing Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
X e) Use state funds to continue some Medicaid coverage for legal immigrants.
f) Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
g) Guaranteeing medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
X h) Allow people to sue health maintenance organizations that deny treatment, when that action results in serious injury or death.
i) Other

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding social issues.

X a) Increase state funding for programs to prevent teen pregnancy.
X b) Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
X c) Increase state funds to provide child care to children in low-income working families.
X d) Deny or suspend state-issued permits and licenses to parents who are delinquent in paying court-ordered child support.
X e) Favor banning smoking in public places.
X f) Increase state funding for Head Start in order to serve additional children and/or increase services from a half to a full day.
X g) Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
X h) Support state funding of programs for at-risk youth such as guaranteed college loans and job training and placement.
i) Other
Yes j) Do you believe that the Rhode Island government should include sexual orientation in Rhode Island's anti-discrimination laws?
Yes k) Do you believe that the Rhode Island government should recognize same-sex marriages?

Indicate the funding levels you will support for the following general categories. Select one level only.

Greatly Increase a) Education (K-12)
Slightly Increase b) Education (Higher)
Slightly Increase c) Environment
Slightly Increase d) Health care
Maintain Status e) Law enforcement
Maintain Status f) Transportation infrastructure (highways, roads, bridges)
Maintain Status g) Welfare
h) Other

Indicate the tax levels you will support. Select one level only.

Maintain Status a) Alcohol taxes
Maintain Status b) Capital gains taxes
Slightly Increase c) Cigarette taxes
Maintain Status d) Corporate taxes
Maintain Status e) Gas taxes
Maintain Status f) Income taxes
Greatly Decrease g) Property taxes
Slightly Decrease h) Sales taxes
i) Other
Yes j) Do you support Rhode Island's flat tax structure for state income taxes?

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding welfare.

a) Maintain the five-year limit on welfare benefits.
X b) Require that able-bodied recipients participate in work activities in order to receive benefits.
X c) Increase employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
X d) Provide tax incentives to businesses that hire welfare recipients.
X e) Provide child care for welfare recipients who work.
X f) Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
X g) Allow welfare recipients to remain eligible for benefits while saving money for education, starting a business, or buying a home.
h) Limit benefits given to recipients if they have additional children while on welfare.
i) Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
j) Other
Please explain what your two main legislative priorities will be if elected. Please explain how you would obtain any additional government funding needed to implement these priorities.

Vote Smart does not permit the use of its name or programs in any campaign activity, including advertising, debates, and speeches.

arrow_upward