Education (include all degrees):
Graduated from A.J. Moore High School, Waco, Tex., 1952; nursing certificate,
St. Mary’s College at the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind., 1955; B.S., Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Tex., 1967; M.P.A., Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Tex., 1976
St. Mary’s College at the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind., 1955; B.S., Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Tex., 1967; M.P.A., Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Tex., 1976
Highlights of current civic involvement/accomplishment:
I have been a member of the House Transportation
and Infrastructure Committee since being sworn into office in January
1993. I serve on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as the
highest ranking Texan.
I have also served as senior Democratic Deputy Whip; Chair of the House Metro Congestion Coalition; co-chair for the Congressional Caucus on Homelessness, and co-chair for the TEX-21 Congressional Caucus – a forum to address Texas transportation needs through the reauthorization of TEA-21. I was the founder and co-chair of the Diversity and Innovation Caucus and of the House Historical Black Colleges and Universities Caucus. In addition, I served as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus during the 107th Congress. I am currently the Co-Dean of the Texas Democratic Congressional Delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
I have also served as Ranking Member on the House Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Education and Research. One of the roles most gratifying is the position I have held for the past 19 years is the Chair of the Science & Technology Braintrust during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference. These opportunities have allowed me to take a lead position on a wide variety of issues and legislation that I am passionate about.
I am most proud of the leadership that I have been able to take on issues impacting my district. I have been privileged to be able to change Dallas for the better. I believe that my leadership on the Transportation Committee has made a lasting impact on Dallas. As the highest ranking Texan on the Transportation Committee, I have been able to play a key role in drafting the federal highway bill and the reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act. In addition, I served as a conferee to the recently-pass transportation bill, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), in which Texas is slated to receive more than $3 billion annually in highway formula funds.
Finally, I am able to demonstrate to my colleagues the importance of improving the infrastructure in the Dallas Metroplex. In addition to advocating for Dallas’ transportation needs to other House colleagues, I led a bi-partisan delegation to Dallas to view these issues first-hand , and secured hundreds of millions in federal funding for Dallas projects. I believe that my leadership on the Trinity River Corridor Project will have perhaps the lasting impact. Not only will the neighborhoods adjacent to the project be revitalized, but Dallas will benefit significantly from increased flood protection and additional economic development. I also secured crucial funding for the continuing development of the inland port in southern Dallas, and close to $1 billion in federal funds for DART, DFW and Love Field.
I am proud of my role in these projects, and hope to continue to work for a better Dallas in the years to come.
I have also served as senior Democratic Deputy Whip; Chair of the House Metro Congestion Coalition; co-chair for the Congressional Caucus on Homelessness, and co-chair for the TEX-21 Congressional Caucus – a forum to address Texas transportation needs through the reauthorization of TEA-21. I was the founder and co-chair of the Diversity and Innovation Caucus and of the House Historical Black Colleges and Universities Caucus. In addition, I served as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus during the 107th Congress. I am currently the Co-Dean of the Texas Democratic Congressional Delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
I have also served as Ranking Member on the House Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Education and Research. One of the roles most gratifying is the position I have held for the past 19 years is the Chair of the Science & Technology Braintrust during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference. These opportunities have allowed me to take a lead position on a wide variety of issues and legislation that I am passionate about.
I am most proud of the leadership that I have been able to take on issues impacting my district. I have been privileged to be able to change Dallas for the better. I believe that my leadership on the Transportation Committee has made a lasting impact on Dallas. As the highest ranking Texan on the Transportation Committee, I have been able to play a key role in drafting the federal highway bill and the reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act. In addition, I served as a conferee to the recently-pass transportation bill, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), in which Texas is slated to receive more than $3 billion annually in highway formula funds.
Finally, I am able to demonstrate to my colleagues the importance of improving the infrastructure in the Dallas Metroplex. In addition to advocating for Dallas’ transportation needs to other House colleagues, I led a bi-partisan delegation to Dallas to view these issues first-hand , and secured hundreds of millions in federal funding for Dallas projects. I believe that my leadership on the Trinity River Corridor Project will have perhaps the lasting impact. Not only will the neighborhoods adjacent to the project be revitalized, but Dallas will benefit significantly from increased flood protection and additional economic development. I also secured crucial funding for the continuing development of the inland port in southern Dallas, and close to $1 billion in federal funds for DART, DFW and Love Field.
I am proud of my role in these projects, and hope to continue to work for a better Dallas in the years to come.
Highlights of past civic involvement/accomplishment:
Co-Host, Dallas Coalition for Hunger Solutions
In 2001, I chaired the Congressional Black Caucus, and I am a past President of the National Council of Negro Women, as well as past National Vice President for Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated.
I am a member of the following organizations:
American Nurses Association
Charter 100 of Dallas
Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Girlfriends, Inc.
Links, Inc.
Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
National Black Nurses Association
NAACP
United Way
Women’s Council of Dallas
YMCA
In 2001, I chaired the Congressional Black Caucus, and I am a past President of the National Council of Negro Women, as well as past National Vice President for Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated.
I am a member of the following organizations:
American Nurses Association
Charter 100 of Dallas
Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Girlfriends, Inc.
Links, Inc.
Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
National Black Nurses Association
NAACP
United Way
Women’s Council of Dallas
YMCA
Previous public offices sought or held:
Member of the Texas State Senate, 1986-1992;
Administrator, United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, 1979-1981;
Regional Director of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, 1977-1979;
Member of the Texas State House of Representatives, 1972-1977
Member of Congress 1993- current
Administrator, United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, 1979-1981;
Regional Director of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, 1977-1979;
Member of the Texas State House of Representatives, 1972-1977
Member of Congress 1993- current
How much funding have you raised for your campaign?
In 2016, I have raised over $100,000..
Who are your top three contributors?
Private individuals, PACs, and labor organizations
Have you ever been arrested or involved in any criminal proceedings? If so, please explain:
On March 16, 2006, I was arrested when I, along
with 7 other Members of Congress, held a rally on the steps of the
Sudanese embassy, blocking the entrance to it. We paid fines of $50 and
were released a short time later. We held the rally with the intention
of getting arrested, to bring attention to the ongoing conflict and
humanitarian crisis in Darfur.
Have you ever been involved in any civil lawsuits or declared personal or professional bankruptcy? If so, please explain:
I was involved as a witness in two civil lawsuits against my Congressional office, both of which my office won on the merits.
What is an example of how you led a team or group toward achieving an important goal?
The 21st Century Cures Act was signed into law on
December 13, 2016. The 21st Century Cures Act encourages innovation in
biomedical research and development of new treatments. The 21st Century
Cures bill included provisions my legislation that I authored with Rep.
Tim Murphy (R-Pa.), the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act as
well as provisions in the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016, sponsored
by Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.)
On this piece of legislation I worked closely by other congressional leaders on mental health: U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.), U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), and U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and U.S. Representative Fred Upton (R-Mich.), Chairman of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee. I also had close contact by many advocates who encouraged me not to give up the fight for mental health reform and the battle against the opioid addiction plaguing the country: American Occupational Therapy Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Emergency Nurses Association, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, NHMH, Sandy Hook Promise, Transforming Treatable Tragedies, Treatment Advocacy Center and more.
The bill provisions include:
Reauthorizing grants to support integrated care models so that mental health professionals can work more closely with primary care doctors; Reauthorizing grants for training programs, such as the APA Foundation’s Typical or Troubled? program, which trains school officials to identify students in need of mental health services; Requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a plan to ensure enforcement of federal parity laws that mandate that insurers cover mental illness the same as any other ailment; Providing $1 billion in state grants to address the opioid epidemic.
Many of us have a family member or know someone that is in need of mental health attention and we cannot ignore this issue. Additionally, we can all agree that the homeless remain extremely vulnerable to mental illness. However, by ignoring the homeless and their mental healthcare needs, they continue to fill our jails and prisons instead of receiving the proper treatment they so desperately need.
As the Ranking Member of House Science, Space and Technology, I pursued a positive Democratic agenda including bills to help improve the number of minorities and women in STEM, to establish a U.S. Framework for the emerging field of engineering biology, and to reauthorize a number of our major R&D agencies through the Democratic Competes and NASA bills. I have pushed back against climate change deniers in Congress and defended the scientists who pursue the important work of climate science.
On November 7, 2007, under my leadership, the House of Representatives voted 361-54 to override President Bush’s veto of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007, or the WRDA. This vote was the first successful override by the House of Representatives a veto by President Bush. WRDA helped communities across the country because it enabled them to receive the funding necessary to upgrade their water infrastructure systems, and it helped Gulf Coast residents in their efforts to recover from Hurricane Katrina.
As Ranking Member on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I have worked to rebuild our Nation’s economy through science. By advocating for basic and applied scientific research, we can enhance our standard of living, foster new industries, and retain our global competitiveness. I have worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for the advancement of policies to become energy independent, create new jobs, and develop innovative exports and new groundbreaking technologies.
As both Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and as a senior Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Aviation subcommittee, I worked to have the Small Business Innovation Research program (SBIR) reauthorized in the FAA Reauthorization Act, which was signed in to law by the President on February 14th, 2012. As Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, I was instrumental in incorporating the vital R&D and NextGen provisions in to the FAA law as well. As Ranking Member, I have introduced a Fire Grants bill and received bipartisan support and there are now discussions underway between the House and Senate to see how to move the bill to enactment. The Fire Grants Reauthorization Act is critical to the life of the fire service in America as it reauthorizes programs like the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program.
In addition to these legislative victories, I have reached across the aisle and cosponsored with Chairman Ralph Hall the Networking and Information Technology R&D NITRD reauthorization bill and moved it through the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology with bipartisan support. Similarly, I worked to move bipartisan cybersecurity legislation (H.R. 2096) through the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. I have also introduced Public Safety Broadband legislation (H.R. 3642), which was incorporated in part in the final payroll tax reduction extension legislation, which included $300 million for National Institute of Science & Technology activities related to public safety broadband.
I am also proud of my July 2003 legislation that resulted in President Bush designating a United States Post Office the “Dr. Caesar A. W. Clark, Sr. Post Office Building.” The passing of that legislation required me to gain the approval of the entire Texas delegation and the majority of the Members of Congress.
I led the battle in the House of Representatives against environmentally-unsound industries that proposed postponing cleaning up the unhealthy air that plagues the DFW area. Due to my efforts, I was recognized by the following national organizations for my efforts to defend clean air and protect environmental standards for all Americans: Blue Skies Alliance, Sierra Club, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, Physicians for Social Responsibility; American Lung Association, Clean Air Task Force, and Defenders of Wildlife.
On this piece of legislation I worked closely by other congressional leaders on mental health: U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.), U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), and U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and U.S. Representative Fred Upton (R-Mich.), Chairman of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee. I also had close contact by many advocates who encouraged me not to give up the fight for mental health reform and the battle against the opioid addiction plaguing the country: American Occupational Therapy Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Emergency Nurses Association, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, NHMH, Sandy Hook Promise, Transforming Treatable Tragedies, Treatment Advocacy Center and more.
The bill provisions include:
Reauthorizing grants to support integrated care models so that mental health professionals can work more closely with primary care doctors; Reauthorizing grants for training programs, such as the APA Foundation’s Typical or Troubled? program, which trains school officials to identify students in need of mental health services; Requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a plan to ensure enforcement of federal parity laws that mandate that insurers cover mental illness the same as any other ailment; Providing $1 billion in state grants to address the opioid epidemic.
Many of us have a family member or know someone that is in need of mental health attention and we cannot ignore this issue. Additionally, we can all agree that the homeless remain extremely vulnerable to mental illness. However, by ignoring the homeless and their mental healthcare needs, they continue to fill our jails and prisons instead of receiving the proper treatment they so desperately need.
As the Ranking Member of House Science, Space and Technology, I pursued a positive Democratic agenda including bills to help improve the number of minorities and women in STEM, to establish a U.S. Framework for the emerging field of engineering biology, and to reauthorize a number of our major R&D agencies through the Democratic Competes and NASA bills. I have pushed back against climate change deniers in Congress and defended the scientists who pursue the important work of climate science.
On November 7, 2007, under my leadership, the House of Representatives voted 361-54 to override President Bush’s veto of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007, or the WRDA. This vote was the first successful override by the House of Representatives a veto by President Bush. WRDA helped communities across the country because it enabled them to receive the funding necessary to upgrade their water infrastructure systems, and it helped Gulf Coast residents in their efforts to recover from Hurricane Katrina.
As Ranking Member on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I have worked to rebuild our Nation’s economy through science. By advocating for basic and applied scientific research, we can enhance our standard of living, foster new industries, and retain our global competitiveness. I have worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for the advancement of policies to become energy independent, create new jobs, and develop innovative exports and new groundbreaking technologies.
As both Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and as a senior Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Aviation subcommittee, I worked to have the Small Business Innovation Research program (SBIR) reauthorized in the FAA Reauthorization Act, which was signed in to law by the President on February 14th, 2012. As Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, I was instrumental in incorporating the vital R&D and NextGen provisions in to the FAA law as well. As Ranking Member, I have introduced a Fire Grants bill and received bipartisan support and there are now discussions underway between the House and Senate to see how to move the bill to enactment. The Fire Grants Reauthorization Act is critical to the life of the fire service in America as it reauthorizes programs like the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program.
In addition to these legislative victories, I have reached across the aisle and cosponsored with Chairman Ralph Hall the Networking and Information Technology R&D NITRD reauthorization bill and moved it through the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology with bipartisan support. Similarly, I worked to move bipartisan cybersecurity legislation (H.R. 2096) through the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. I have also introduced Public Safety Broadband legislation (H.R. 3642), which was incorporated in part in the final payroll tax reduction extension legislation, which included $300 million for National Institute of Science & Technology activities related to public safety broadband.
I am also proud of my July 2003 legislation that resulted in President Bush designating a United States Post Office the “Dr. Caesar A. W. Clark, Sr. Post Office Building.” The passing of that legislation required me to gain the approval of the entire Texas delegation and the majority of the Members of Congress.
I led the battle in the House of Representatives against environmentally-unsound industries that proposed postponing cleaning up the unhealthy air that plagues the DFW area. Due to my efforts, I was recognized by the following national organizations for my efforts to defend clean air and protect environmental standards for all Americans: Blue Skies Alliance, Sierra Club, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, Physicians for Social Responsibility; American Lung Association, Clean Air Task Force, and Defenders of Wildlife.
Why are you running for this office?
I am the most qualified candidate in the field,
and believe that my policies and those of the Democratic Party will most
benefit the citizens of the 30th District. These policies are helping
to put this country back on the path to financial stability, preserve
civil and social equality, and provide quality education for our
children. I have devoted my life to public service, first as a nurse,
then as State Senator, and now as a senior Member of Congress. My
passion and commitment to public service is stronger now than ever
before, and my years on Capitol Hill have earned me the rank and
leverage needed to get things done.
In December 2010, I was elected as the first female and the first African-American Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology which has jurisdiction over much of the non-defense Federal research and development (R&D) portfolio. The Committee has exclusive jurisdiction over the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The Committee also has authority over R&D activities at the Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). I am also the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation.
It continues to be my great honor to represent the interests of Dallas and the North Texas in Washington, and I look forward to spending the campaign season with my friends and neighbors, discussing what I am working for on their behalf, and what they can continue to expect of me as a seasoned Member of Congress.
In December 2010, I was elected as the first female and the first African-American Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology which has jurisdiction over much of the non-defense Federal research and development (R&D) portfolio. The Committee has exclusive jurisdiction over the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The Committee also has authority over R&D activities at the Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). I am also the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation.
It continues to be my great honor to represent the interests of Dallas and the North Texas in Washington, and I look forward to spending the campaign season with my friends and neighbors, discussing what I am working for on their behalf, and what they can continue to expect of me as a seasoned Member of Congress.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent?
I am the most qualified candidate. I have devoted
my life to public service. I began my professional career as a nurse;
then continued by becoming as a State Representative and then a State
Senator and now as an active Member of Congress. I have engaged in a
broad range of issues. My passion and commitment to public service are
stronger now than ever before, and my years on Capitol Hill have earned
me the rank and leverage needed to work across the aisle to get things
done.
Length of residency in Texas and, if applicable, your district:
60 years.
What political leader do you most admire and why?
Over the years, Congressman Charlie Rangel,
President Obama, the late Senator Edward Kennedy, and late Congressman
Mickey Leland are persons whom I have most admired. I consider all of
them statesmen. Our communities and our country have always relied on
the contributions of those individuals who have the ability to rise
above and beyond the call of duty to make a difference in the lives of
others, both personally and professionally. These individuals have
demonstrated an unfailing and tireless commitment to the betterment of
their district and worked hard to strengthen the Nation's economy,
create jobs, expand access to health care and education, and lay a
foundation for growth and prosperity nationwide. I consider them
outstanding friends, committed public servants, and passionate
colleagues.
What do you make of President Donald Trump's style and agenda? Do you view him as an ally, a breath of fresh air in a capital that needs to be shaken up? Or as volatile, dangerous and out of his depth? Or something in between? What would your role be in working with or against him?
I have made it my priority in Congress to serve
those whose voice I represent in Washington, and in order to succeed, I
have been willing to work with anyone and everyone to build on common
ground. I have been in Congress since 1993 and served under Presidents
of both parties. From Presidents Bush, Clinton to Obama, I expected a
good-faith approach from them to solve problems. However, from the first
day President Trump came into office, he made it clear that was not the
way he wanted to operate. Cruel comments and harmful tweets aside, his
legislative priorities threaten the economic well-being of my
constituents and countless others. Unfortunately, the current partisan
climate in Congress is ill-equipped to address many of the challenges
this Nation faces. By focusing on petty, partisan bickering and
name-calling, President Trump is doing a disservice to the American
people. Again, I take my job very seriously and will continue to make
myself available to review sound and reasonable legislative proposals.
For example, as the Senior Texan on the House Transportation Committee, I
am committed to working in a bipartisan fashion with President Trump on
our nation’s crucial infrastructure needs. It will only be through
compromise, which focuses on benefiting all Americans, that we will be
begin to solve these most pressing issues.
The gap between the rich and the poor in America is widening. Is this a problem for the country, and if so what should Congress do about it? What action should Congress take, if any?
Since the 1970s, we have witnessed a dangerous
trend develop where wage growth for middle and lower income households
has become stagnant while incomes at the very top continue to rise
sharply. From 1973 to 2005, real hourly wages for the top 10 percent
rose by 30 percent or more, whereas the bottom 50 percent of all
Americans experienced only marginal real wage increases of a little more
than 5 percent. The income gap is further amplified when comparing
races.
The percentage of wealth controlled by the richest Americans is another disturbing fact that is often overlooked. The top 1 percent of Americans own 40 percent of our entire nation’s wealth, while the bottom 80 percent of Americans share only 7 percent of the nation’s wealth. In historical terms, the last time our nation faced such a wide income gap was during the 1920s leading up to the Great Depression.
While Congress struggles with raising the minimum wage, millions of working individuals and families across the country continue to struggle with stagnant pay and rising inflation. Congress needs to act decisively in order to close the income gap and one immediate action we can take is to raise the federal minimum wage.
The federal minimum wage should be increased to help lift millions of Americans out of poverty and provide well deserved compensation to honest and hardworking American families. In the past 40 years, minimum wage increases have not kept pace with inflation, causing millions of families to have to struggle with stagnant wages while the cost of goods and services continue to rise. I have supported raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour in past sessions of Congress. I believe in doing so, we will help our nation to sustain and grow our middle class.
The percentage of wealth controlled by the richest Americans is another disturbing fact that is often overlooked. The top 1 percent of Americans own 40 percent of our entire nation’s wealth, while the bottom 80 percent of Americans share only 7 percent of the nation’s wealth. In historical terms, the last time our nation faced such a wide income gap was during the 1920s leading up to the Great Depression.
While Congress struggles with raising the minimum wage, millions of working individuals and families across the country continue to struggle with stagnant pay and rising inflation. Congress needs to act decisively in order to close the income gap and one immediate action we can take is to raise the federal minimum wage.
The federal minimum wage should be increased to help lift millions of Americans out of poverty and provide well deserved compensation to honest and hardworking American families. In the past 40 years, minimum wage increases have not kept pace with inflation, causing millions of families to have to struggle with stagnant wages while the cost of goods and services continue to rise. I have supported raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour in past sessions of Congress. I believe in doing so, we will help our nation to sustain and grow our middle class.
What is the greatest threat to American security, and how should America respond? What specifically should Congress do to help?
North Korea, state-sponsored cyber intrusions
targeting and of course the worldwide threat from terrorism are all
threats to American security.
I also believe water shortages, polluted water, climate change and flooding will increase the risk of instability in nations important to U.S. national security interests. There are many reports indicating that during the next 10 years, many countries important to the United States will almost certainly experience water problems — shortages, poor water quality, or floods — that will contribute to the risk of instability and state failure and increase regional tensions.
The U.S. must operate in a global strategic context, wherein adversaries often compromise American interests using nonmilitary tools. I believe investments in new technologies are required. Advancing U.S. interests requires diplomats that are adept at navigating and negotiating in international competitive spaces. I am also a big supporter of agencies such as USAID and advocate for their funding.
I also believe water shortages, polluted water, climate change and flooding will increase the risk of instability in nations important to U.S. national security interests. There are many reports indicating that during the next 10 years, many countries important to the United States will almost certainly experience water problems — shortages, poor water quality, or floods — that will contribute to the risk of instability and state failure and increase regional tensions.
The U.S. must operate in a global strategic context, wherein adversaries often compromise American interests using nonmilitary tools. I believe investments in new technologies are required. Advancing U.S. interests requires diplomats that are adept at navigating and negotiating in international competitive spaces. I am also a big supporter of agencies such as USAID and advocate for their funding.
What changes should be made to U.S. trade policy?
I am for a fair and free trade. My Congressional
District's economic wellbeing depends on it. I did not come to this
decision over night. I have discussed this many in my district.
President Trump has expressed disappointment in existing U.S. FTAs, noting concerns over U.S. trade deficits. He has stated his intent to negotiate future agreements bilaterally. In August 2017, following congressional notification, the Administration began renegotiating NAFTA with Canada and Mexico. Stated goals include updating the agreement by addressing new issues, such as digital trade, and reducing the trade deficit. Most economists argue that trade agreements are unlikely to have a major effect on U.S. trade deficits as they are determined largely by savings and investment patterns and other macroeconomic factors. The Administration has also begun meeting with South Korea to discuss potential modifications to the KORUS FTA, but has not yet formally notified Congress of intent to negotiate.
NAFTA will be modernized to reflect 21st century standards and will reflect a fairer deal, addressing America's persistent trade imbalances in North America.
In January 2017, the Trump Administration withdrew, with my deep disappointment, from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the largest U.S. FTA negotiated to date. Twelve Asia-Pacific countries signed TPP in February 2016, culminating negotiations that the U.S. formally entered under the George W. Bush Administration. President Obama did not submit, and Congress did not consider, implementing legislation for TPP, in part due to contentious debate over the deal. Views on the potential economic impact of TPP were mixed, but many stakeholders welcomed TPP as a venue for establishing updated and U.S.-crafted trade rules in an economically and strategically vital region. The remaining 11 TPP countries are now pursuing a similar agreement without U.S. involvement.
Prospects for resuming other U.S. trade and investment negotiations including a U.S.-EU Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) and bilateral investment treaties (BITs) with China and India are unclear. The extent of future U.S. participation in ongoing negotiations at the WTO, including on fishing subsidies and environmental goods, and a plurilateral Trade in Services Agreement (TISA), also has not been decided. The Administration has expressed interest, however, in pursuing new bilateral FTAs with TPP parties such as Japan, and other countries such as the United Kingdom, but no new negotiations have been initiated to date.
President Trump has expressed disappointment in existing U.S. FTAs, noting concerns over U.S. trade deficits. He has stated his intent to negotiate future agreements bilaterally. In August 2017, following congressional notification, the Administration began renegotiating NAFTA with Canada and Mexico. Stated goals include updating the agreement by addressing new issues, such as digital trade, and reducing the trade deficit. Most economists argue that trade agreements are unlikely to have a major effect on U.S. trade deficits as they are determined largely by savings and investment patterns and other macroeconomic factors. The Administration has also begun meeting with South Korea to discuss potential modifications to the KORUS FTA, but has not yet formally notified Congress of intent to negotiate.
NAFTA will be modernized to reflect 21st century standards and will reflect a fairer deal, addressing America's persistent trade imbalances in North America.
In January 2017, the Trump Administration withdrew, with my deep disappointment, from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the largest U.S. FTA negotiated to date. Twelve Asia-Pacific countries signed TPP in February 2016, culminating negotiations that the U.S. formally entered under the George W. Bush Administration. President Obama did not submit, and Congress did not consider, implementing legislation for TPP, in part due to contentious debate over the deal. Views on the potential economic impact of TPP were mixed, but many stakeholders welcomed TPP as a venue for establishing updated and U.S.-crafted trade rules in an economically and strategically vital region. The remaining 11 TPP countries are now pursuing a similar agreement without U.S. involvement.
Prospects for resuming other U.S. trade and investment negotiations including a U.S.-EU Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) and bilateral investment treaties (BITs) with China and India are unclear. The extent of future U.S. participation in ongoing negotiations at the WTO, including on fishing subsidies and environmental goods, and a plurilateral Trade in Services Agreement (TISA), also has not been decided. The Administration has expressed interest, however, in pursuing new bilateral FTAs with TPP parties such as Japan, and other countries such as the United Kingdom, but no new negotiations have been initiated to date.
How should the next Congress address illegal immigration? Please be specific about the millions of people in this country illegally.
I support comprehensive immigration reform that
will foster economic growth, keep our families and our communities
together, promote our national security, and protect workers’ rights.
America’s immigration system is broken, and we must forge a bipartisan
agreement to fix it. As for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in
this country, many were brought here as children and know the United
States as their only home. Strong families are the cornerstone of our
nation, and I believe that provisions to guarantee family unity must be
included in any serious immigration reform bill.
Would you support or oppose the full repeal of all provisions of the Affordable Care Act?
As a non-practicing registered nurse, I
understand how important access to quality, affordable health care is
for all Americans. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, millions of Texans
were already seeing lower health care costs and receiving better
insurance coverage. I support making tweaks when necessary to keep our
healthcare system successful because no law is perfect but the
Affordable Care Act has served us well. Now the question will be how to
take care of about 13 million Americans without a health insurance.
Congress writes the budget for the United States. What is one area that Congress should invest much more heavily in, and why? What should we be spending much less on?
Social Security has become an American success
story for millions of seniors who have been able to maintain their
independence after retirement. The goal should be to strengthen the
Social Security trust fund, not dismantle it. In Congress, we must enact
policies that strive to eliminate financial uncertainty and instability
afflicting Americans. Social Security is a life-line that should be
maintained and fortified.
What action, if any, should Congress take in response to mass killings involving firearms?
Reasonable restrictions on firearms are essential
to a comprehensive strategy to reduce crime and violence in our
society. With the total number of privately owned firearms in
circulation estimated to be more than 270 million, we must take
reasonable steps to ensure that these firearms do not fall into the
wrong hands, while also protecting the Second Amendment rights of
responsible gun owners.
I have been a strong proponent of the Brady Law, which makes background checks a requirement for gun purchases from licensed dealers. In twenty years since the law’s enactment in 1994, the Brady Law has prevented more than 2.1 million gun purchases. Of these attempts, more than one million were made by felons and another 291,000 were attempted by domestic abusers. Implementing universal background checks could expand this already successful process of keeping firearms out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill.
The federal assault weapons ban is another tool that I have strongly supported as part of our nationwide strategy to curb gun violence. The federal assault weapons ban effectively limited the sale of certain semi-automatic firearms and large capacity magazines. While the federal ban on assault weapons has since expired, many states have enacted new state-wide legislation banning these types of firearms and firearm accessories.
As a Member of the Congressional Black Caucus Taskforce to End Gun Violence, I am currently studying several measures which would tighten controls on the sale of firearms, expands the existing background check system to cover all commercial firearm sales. This includes sales made at gun shows, over the internet, or in classified ads.
Gun control policies alone will not stop mass violence and I am a strong supporter of mental health reform. While the vast majority of individuals with serious mental illness are non-violent, we have learned that many individuals who committed mass violence either lacked or sought mental health treatment but were unable to get the treatment they needed.
I have been a strong proponent of the Brady Law, which makes background checks a requirement for gun purchases from licensed dealers. In twenty years since the law’s enactment in 1994, the Brady Law has prevented more than 2.1 million gun purchases. Of these attempts, more than one million were made by felons and another 291,000 were attempted by domestic abusers. Implementing universal background checks could expand this already successful process of keeping firearms out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill.
The federal assault weapons ban is another tool that I have strongly supported as part of our nationwide strategy to curb gun violence. The federal assault weapons ban effectively limited the sale of certain semi-automatic firearms and large capacity magazines. While the federal ban on assault weapons has since expired, many states have enacted new state-wide legislation banning these types of firearms and firearm accessories.
As a Member of the Congressional Black Caucus Taskforce to End Gun Violence, I am currently studying several measures which would tighten controls on the sale of firearms, expands the existing background check system to cover all commercial firearm sales. This includes sales made at gun shows, over the internet, or in classified ads.
Gun control policies alone will not stop mass violence and I am a strong supporter of mental health reform. While the vast majority of individuals with serious mental illness are non-violent, we have learned that many individuals who committed mass violence either lacked or sought mental health treatment but were unable to get the treatment they needed.
The Social Security fund that pays most retiree benefits will be insolvent within a generation. What steps should Congress take to keep it in the black? Please be specific about who would be affected and how soon.
Social Security has become an American success
story for millions of seniors who have been able to maintain their
independence after retirement. The goal should be to strengthen the
Social Security trust fund, not dismantle it. In Congress, we must enact
policies that strive to eliminate financial uncertainty and instability
afflicting Americans. Social Security is a life-line that should be
maintained and fortified.
The Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in 2015. Has that had a positive or negative impact on America since then, and is there anything that Congress should do either in response or to further support gay rights?
I am a member of the Congressional LGBT Equality
Caucus in Congress. I thought the decision brought respect and stability
to millions of same-sex couples across this country. The Supreme
Court’s decision acknowledges what we have always known: LGBT families
deserve protection and equality.
What is your view on the science of man-made climate change? Do you support action to reduce the output of greenhouse gases? If so, what steps do you favor?
Political opinions on climate change vary
greatly, and nowhere more than here in the U.S. Congress. As one who
accepts the overwhelming scientific consensus around climate change, I
welcome the opportunity to hear a number of perspectives on climate
science.
However, for years Democrats have been accused of ignoring a large subset of the climate science community that, in varying degrees, does not subscribe to the conclusions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC or otherwise does not accept that the climate is changing, and that it is largely due to human activity. We have been told that these scientists’ voices have been quashed by a wide-ranging conspiracy, and that under the new Republican House leadership, there would finally be a platform to dispel the alarmists’ mistruths about the science of global climate change.
We can have reasonable discussions and disagree on the monetary costs of taking action and the devastating impacts of complacency. But science will not allow us to run from the facts, no matter how inconvenient these facts may be. To be fair, there is a danger in saying that the science is settled, and that our knowledge of climate change is conclusive. On the contrary, with a risk of this magnitude, the job of science will never be done. It will continue to evolve.
We know that the climate is changing, and that we have our hand on the thermostat. But we must always keep looking for new answers, replacing opinions with data, and projections with observations. We must continue to innovate in how we predict, measure, prevent and adapt to climate change. That is the nature of science and of our stewardship of our planet.
Congress should acknowledge that we are not the experts, and that allowing partisan politics to dictate the scientific understanding of climate change is cynical, short-sighted, and, by definition, ignorant. In Congress, I implore my colleagues to recognize the value of research, and resist efforts to defund and destroy the very scientific community that will give us answers. We may not agree as to where the uncertainties within climate science lie, but we can all understand that vast and avoidable uncertainties will remain if you stop the progress of climate science.
This may be the scientific and policy challenge of the millennium, and we have a responsibility to the nation and the world to lead. We must decide between two choices when it comes to global climate change: we can allow the world’s scientists to continue to conduct extensive research and improve our knowledge of this phenomenon, or we can just wait to watch it happen and hope for the best. Climate change is a cancer, and we don’t cure cancer by refusing to test for it, calling the doctor a liar, and refusing to consider any treatment. We never stop looking for the cure. We have so much more work to do.
In my role as the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology I held numerous panel discussion on climate change included the one at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. The event, titled “A Panel Discussion on Climate Change: How Climate Change Affects Texas and How Texas Can Adapt and Prosper”, included experts from industry, academia, and government.
While climate change is an issue that must be addressed by the Federal government, first and foremost, I am a Texan, and climate change’s impacts and effects will be felt locally. From increased drought in the Panhandle to concerns over extreme flooding along our coasts and rivers, to the increased risk of wild fires across the state, climate change is an issue that we cannot ignore. Not only will climate change affect the Texas economy, it will impact Texans on a personal level. I’ve seen first-hand, Texan families faced with the task of putting their lives back together after a disaster, and that’s something we can ill afford to have happen more often than it already does.
Ultimately, we’re all in this together, and by working together we can achieve our shared goals of a robust economy, a healthier public, and a cleaner environment.
However, for years Democrats have been accused of ignoring a large subset of the climate science community that, in varying degrees, does not subscribe to the conclusions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC or otherwise does not accept that the climate is changing, and that it is largely due to human activity. We have been told that these scientists’ voices have been quashed by a wide-ranging conspiracy, and that under the new Republican House leadership, there would finally be a platform to dispel the alarmists’ mistruths about the science of global climate change.
We can have reasonable discussions and disagree on the monetary costs of taking action and the devastating impacts of complacency. But science will not allow us to run from the facts, no matter how inconvenient these facts may be. To be fair, there is a danger in saying that the science is settled, and that our knowledge of climate change is conclusive. On the contrary, with a risk of this magnitude, the job of science will never be done. It will continue to evolve.
We know that the climate is changing, and that we have our hand on the thermostat. But we must always keep looking for new answers, replacing opinions with data, and projections with observations. We must continue to innovate in how we predict, measure, prevent and adapt to climate change. That is the nature of science and of our stewardship of our planet.
Congress should acknowledge that we are not the experts, and that allowing partisan politics to dictate the scientific understanding of climate change is cynical, short-sighted, and, by definition, ignorant. In Congress, I implore my colleagues to recognize the value of research, and resist efforts to defund and destroy the very scientific community that will give us answers. We may not agree as to where the uncertainties within climate science lie, but we can all understand that vast and avoidable uncertainties will remain if you stop the progress of climate science.
This may be the scientific and policy challenge of the millennium, and we have a responsibility to the nation and the world to lead. We must decide between two choices when it comes to global climate change: we can allow the world’s scientists to continue to conduct extensive research and improve our knowledge of this phenomenon, or we can just wait to watch it happen and hope for the best. Climate change is a cancer, and we don’t cure cancer by refusing to test for it, calling the doctor a liar, and refusing to consider any treatment. We never stop looking for the cure. We have so much more work to do.
In my role as the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology I held numerous panel discussion on climate change included the one at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. The event, titled “A Panel Discussion on Climate Change: How Climate Change Affects Texas and How Texas Can Adapt and Prosper”, included experts from industry, academia, and government.
While climate change is an issue that must be addressed by the Federal government, first and foremost, I am a Texan, and climate change’s impacts and effects will be felt locally. From increased drought in the Panhandle to concerns over extreme flooding along our coasts and rivers, to the increased risk of wild fires across the state, climate change is an issue that we cannot ignore. Not only will climate change affect the Texas economy, it will impact Texans on a personal level. I’ve seen first-hand, Texan families faced with the task of putting their lives back together after a disaster, and that’s something we can ill afford to have happen more often than it already does.
Ultimately, we’re all in this together, and by working together we can achieve our shared goals of a robust economy, a healthier public, and a cleaner environment.
When the Supreme Court struck down key provisions of the Voting Rights Act, many lawmakers on both sides vowed to update the law. That hasn't happened. Should Congress strengthen the existing Voting Rights Act, and if so how?
Fifty two years ago, President Johnson signed
into law one of the greatest guardians of American democracy, the Voting
Rights Act. Since the dismantling of the Voting Rights Act by the
Supreme Court three years ago, voters throughout our country have seen
more restrictive voting laws. Right here at home in Texas, we have seen
the elderly, minorities, and students blatantly disenfranchised by
restrictive voter ID laws.
We in Congress have a responsibility to ensure our democracy does not take a step backward, and we must start by renewing the Voting Rights Act. Too many people throughout the history of our Nation have given their lives to ensure the right to vote for every American. I join my Democratic colleagues in calling upon House Republican Members to support bipartisan legislation to fully restore the protections of the Voting rights Act. Free and fair elections, where every person’s vote counts, are the foundation our democracy.
SOURCE: Dallas Morning News
We in Congress have a responsibility to ensure our democracy does not take a step backward, and we must start by renewing the Voting Rights Act. Too many people throughout the history of our Nation have given their lives to ensure the right to vote for every American. I join my Democratic colleagues in calling upon House Republican Members to support bipartisan legislation to fully restore the protections of the Voting rights Act. Free and fair elections, where every person’s vote counts, are the foundation our democracy.
SOURCE: Dallas Morning News
