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Brenda Lawrence'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.

Brenda Lawrence 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.

  • "Are women's rights not guaranteed by the Constitution just like those of men in this country? This is not about whether you or I have an abortion or whether you or I use IVF. Madam Speakerthis is about a woman's right to choose what is right for them in the privacy of their homes and doctor's office and with their family. This is not about pro-choice or pro-life. This is about religious freedom. This is about government intrusion." (votesmart.org)
  • "Proud to #StandwithPP @NancyPelosi and @rosadelauro in defense of women's choice and reproductive rights!" (twitter.com)
  • "Brenda Lawrence supports the Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) plan for college age students. This legislation would spend $51 billion over the next decade bailing out people who have trouble paying down their student loans, and offsetting that cost by raising taxes on high-income earners." (votesmart.org)
  • "Ryan's budget cuts middle- and working-class Americans and guts vital programs in favor of tax breaks for Big Oil and big corporations. While millionaires would reap benefits in tax cuts, on average communities of color would once again suffer greatly under the Ryan budget." (brendalawrence.com)
  • "Social Security and Medicare are critical to the independence of our senior population." (votesmart.org)
  • "Another pillar of the Affordable Care Act was allowing states, like Michigan, to expand Medicaid coverage to millions of people. Instead of supporting healthcare coverage for more people, Republicans have decided to stop Medicaid expansion after 2020 and limit the funds that states could receive. Under this new plan, states like Michigan will have less options to support people who rely on Medicaid as their only source of health insurance." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by Alliance for Retired Americans. (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1 - For the People Act of 2019. (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7120 - George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020. (votesmart.org)
  • "We can and must reimagine what just policing looks like in our country. The time is NOW. Led by @TheBlackCaucus , House Democrats are unveiling bold legislation to end police brutality and hold police". (twitter.com)
  • "In order to safeguard our country and protect the American people, we must do all we can to support our military and that includes full support of our servicemen and women." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 0% by Center for Security Policy. (votesmart.org)
  • "Congress has recently passed a two-month extension of the Highway Trust Fund, but the truth of the matter is that we need a long-term extension to ensure that crucial infrastructure projects can continue. It's the right thing for safety, job creation, and our environment." (brendalawrence.com)
  • "This program makes permanent tax breaks for corporations. Without this tax revenue, there will fewer funds available for critical government programs and services that benefit our most vulnerable citizens including seniors, veterans, and children. Without this tax revenue, we cannot make the investments needed to create jobs, grow our economy, and strengthen our national security. Detroit and Michigan are poised to become the greatest comeback story of all time. Without federal investment in critical sectors such as education and infrastructure, that comeback is severely threatened." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 22 - Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. (votesmart.org)
  • "Ryan's budget cuts middle- and working-class Americans and guts vital programs in favor of tax breaks for Big Oil and big corporations. While millionaires would reap benefits in tax cuts, on average communities of color would once again suffer greatly under the Ryan budget." (brendalawrence.com)
  • "This program makes permanent tax breaks for corporations. Without this tax revenue, there will fewer funds available for critical government programs and services that benefit our most vulnerable citizens including seniors, veterans, and children. Without this tax revenue, we cannot make the investments needed to create jobs, grow our economy, and strengthen our national security. Detroit and Michigan are poised to become the greatest comeback story of all time. Without federal investment in critical sectors such as education and infrastructure, that comeback is severely threatened." (votesmart.org)
  • "Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the CARES Act. At this time, our country needs this Congress to act with a bipartisan commitment to ensuring the safety and the well-being of our constituents. Although this package is not perfect, we must support our postal workers. We must ensure our municipalities have the funding to survive." (votesmart.org)
  • "Today, I spoke on the House Floor in support of the CARES Act. We must ensure our health professionals have the resources they need, small businesses are able to keep their doors open, & our communities receive an immediate cash influx to maintain economic security." (twitter.com)
  • ""I am deeply disappointed that Republicans insisted on lifting the oil export ban in this vital legislation to keep government open," Rep. Lawrence added. "However, I am proud to say that Democrats were able to secure sweeping victories for America's working families throughout the Omnibus. In addition to purging the bill of scores of Republicans' poison pill policy riders, Democrats extended wind and solar tax credits that will eliminate around ten times more carbon pollution than the exports of oil will add." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 0% by American Energy Alliance. (votesmart.org)
  • "Introduced this week by President Barack Obama and the EPA, the Clean Power Plan represents the first serious effort to combat climate disruption by limiting the amount of carbon pollution -- which has been acknowledged by the vast majority of the scientific community as the primary driver of climate disruption -- that power plants can pump into the atmosphere." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 94% by League of Conservation Voters. (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 9 - Climate Action Now Act. (votesmart.org)
  • "There is no question that we must actand we must act now. How many times must we watch on national news what uncontrolled gun violence can do to our country?That action must focus on three principles: establish universal background checks; eliminate the gun show loopholes that allow a person to walk in, pick up a gun, and walk out the door; and enforce our existing gun control laws." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1112 - Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2019. (votesmart.org)
  • "After nearly 7 years of complaining about the Affordable Care Act, Republicans have introduced a plan that would cover less people and kick millions off their current plan. I cannot, and will not, support a replacement plan that makes America sick again and prevents millions of Americans from gaining access to comprehensive health insurance." (votesmart.org)
  • "One of the greatest objectives of the Affordable Care Act was to insure as many Americans as possible, which led to over 20 million individuals receiving comprehensive insurance coverage. The ACA pushed the uninsured rate to a record low of 8.6%. The Republican's plan punishes those who have a gap in insurance coverage by imposing a 30% increase in premiums which can greatly contribute to more Americans being uninsured." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6201 - Families First Coronavirus Response Act. (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 1% by NumbersUSA. (votesmart.org)
  • "There is no reason for President Trump to keep the government shut down over his demands for an ineffective border wall." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 1% by NumbersUSA. (votesmart.org)
  • "Though I'm in DC I stand in solidarity with today's anti-deportation protest in Detroit. Outrageous to send immigrants back to likely death." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6 - American Dream and Promise Act of 2019. (votesmart.org)
  • "However, the power of collaboration has brought Iran to the table. This negotiation has proven that the United States stands best prepared to address the threat of Iran only when we work collaboratively with other allies." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 0% by Center for Security Policy. (votesmart.org)
  • Signed a letter stating: "Few decisions are more needing of debate than a move to launch attacks, or declare war, on a nuclear-armed state such as North Korea. Military action against North Korea was considered by the Obama, Bush and Clinton Administrations, but all ultimately determined there was no military option that would not run the unacceptable risk of a counter-reaction from Pyongyang. This reaction could immediately threaten the lives of as many as a third of the South Korean population, put nearly 30,000 U.S. service members and over 100,000 other U.S. citizens residing in South Korea in grave danger, and also threaten other regional allies such as Japan." (votesmart.org)
  • "As a native of Detroit and a longtime public servant, I have seen firsthand the devastating impact of global trade agreements like NAFTA. I will always fight for our businesses and manufacturing so that they can remain competitive globally, but never at the expense of hard-working Americans." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by Public Citizen. (votesmart.org)
  • "Today, I announce my support for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). For more than 25 years, Michigan's working families have been living through the consequences of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). During this time, we have expressed our concerns and raised our voices to demand a trade agreement that puts the rights of American workers above everything else. Unfortunately, the Trump Administration originally proposed a trade agreement that would have continued with the status quo. The American people needed a trade agreement that invests in American jobs and promotes stronger wages." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5430 - United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act. (votesmart.org)

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