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Mike Kelly, Jr.'s Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Office:

On The Ballot: Running, Republican for U.S. House (PA) - District 16

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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 2024.

  • "In 1973, Roe v. Wade guaranteed federal constitutional protections of abortion rights. Over the last 50 years, more than 63 million abortions have taken place in the United States. During his service in Congress, Rep. Kelly has been a staunch advocate of the pro-life movement and protecting the unborn." (None)
  • "As a proud member of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, I believe that all life is sacred and worthy of our protection. My latest piece runs today on @townhallcom." (twitter.com)
  • "Today's ruling is a major victory for the pro-life movement, but our work has only begun," Kelly said. "All little boys and little girls deserve a chance at life, and this ruling ensures they will get that chance. The right to life is not just for some of us. It is for all of us." (kelly.house.gov)
  • Rated 8% by Alliance for Retired Americans (None)
  • "The bottom-line is this: inflation is hitting all of us in one way or another. But seniors and those on fixed incomes are getting hit the hardest. I'm working to make sure our most vulnerable, especially those on Medicare & Social Security, can keep their money in their pockets." (x.com)
  • Rated 0% by National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSM) (None)
  • Voted against HR 5378 "Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act" (None)
  • "We need common sense, pro-growth policies that remove barriers to economic growth. We need to remove onerous regulations that stifle private sector investment and hamper job creation. I support legislation to fix the tax code with common sense changes that ensure everyone pays their fair share and families have less of a tax burden. We need a tax code that will generate domestic economic growth while we also enact legislation to open new markets around the world for American made products." (www.mikekellyforcongress.com)
  • "Congress must find ways to reduce the taxes that individuals pay while ensuring that the government is fiscally accountable for how we spend tax revenue. Tax revenue is generated by working people and we need to make sure that we generate more taxes because more people have jobs -- not by raising tax rates. I believe that the tax code should be simpler, taxes should be lower, and that the federal government needs to be careful not to pick winners and losers." (None)
  • "I think I cast the most important vote I've ever cast while representing you, Pennsylvania's Third Congressional District: I just voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs bill. It is an incredible piece of legislation that means more take-home pay for everyday working people. It also makes us competitive globally so jobs don't leave the country--they come back home and they stay home. What a great day for America, what a great day for every one of us!." (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1 "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "We need common sense, pro-growth policies that remove barriers to economic growth. We need to remove onerous regulations that stifle private sector investment and hamper job creation. I support legislation to fix the tax code with common sense changes that ensure everyone pays their fair share and families have less of a tax burden. We need a tax code that will generate domestic economic growth while we also enact legislation to open new markets around the world for American made products." (www.mikekellyforcongress.com)
  • "Congress must find ways to reduce the taxes that individuals pay while ensuring that the government is fiscally accountable for how we spend tax revenue. Tax revenue is generated by working people and we need to make sure that we generate more taxes because more people have jobs -- not by raising tax rates. I believe that the tax code should be simpler, taxes should be lower, and that the federal government needs to be careful not to pick winners and losers." (None)
  • "I think I cast the most important vote I've ever cast while representing you, Pennsylvania's Third Congressional District: I just voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs bill. It is an incredible piece of legislation that means more take-home pay for everyday working people. It also makes us competitive globally so jobs don't leave the country--they come back home and they stay home. What a great day for America, what a great day for every one of us!." (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1 "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 0% by End Citizens United (None)
  • "At a time when Americans are urging their elected leaders to strengthen ballot integrity and restore trust in our voting systems, Nancy Pelosi is pushing legislation that centralizes control of elections in Washington D.C., allows for California-style ballot harvesting, uses taxpayer money for political campaigns, and undermines the First Amendment. This bill is for politicians, not the people." (None)
  • Rated 6% by Common Cause. (None)
  • Voted against HR 1 "For the People Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H Con Res 40 "Expressing support for local law enforcement officers and condemning efforts to defund or dismantle local law enfo ..." (None)
  • "It is one thing to call for police accountability, which is needed, but de-funding or abolishing police is nonsense. Most cops are great people who do a difficult job well. I stand with Americans who demand equal justice AND good officers who selflessly serve our communities." (twitter.com)
  • "Our goal and obligation must be to improve and fund police training, support good officers, and hold bad officers accountable, but this bill would make our communities less safe by preventing good officers from serving their communities effectively." (kelly.house.gov)
  • Voted against HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021" (None)
  • Rated 100% by Center for Security Policy. (votesmart.org)
  • "Making sure that our men and women in uniform are equipped with the tools to fight and win America's wars is one of our top jobs as members of Congress, said Kelly. The detailed request sent to us by the Department of Defense was promptly ignored by House Democrats, who chose politics over the well-being of our troops and the American people. The bill does not provide enough funding to modernize the military or deter our adversaries like China and Russia. It would, however, move terrorists to the U.S. mainland by closing Guantanamo Bay, and block President Trump from constructing barriers to secure our southern border. The American people and our volunteer servicemembers deserve better from their legislators." (None)
  • "We need a strong military that is prepared to protect Americans from our enemies now and in the future. I will continue to support legislation to provide robust funding for our military forces ensuring that they are fully equipped and trained to defend our country." (www.mikekellyforcongress.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4356 "Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024" (None)
  • "President Biden's inflationary spending is costing you and your loved ones 20% more on Thanksgiving spending." (x.com)
  • "I was sent to Congress to help fix Washington's spending problem and restore fiscal responsibility so that our children and grandchildren won't be burdened by devastating debt. The $1.3 trillion omnibus, and the process by which it was written, is part of the problem. I voted No." (x.com)
  • "Our great nation is facing a $31 trillion national debt. Total government spending has increased by more than $9 trillion since February 2021 while Democrats have controlled Congress. Our national debt is not just a red issue or blue issue. This is a red, white, and blue issue." (x.com)
  • "We are at a "Titanic" moment, and unsustainable spending will sink this ship. We can’t afford what Democrats are proposing. #buildbackbroke." (x.com)
  • Voted against HR 8294 "Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023" (None)
  • "For too long, the cost of rehabilitating a home has been more expensive than simply starting from scratch. Now, the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act will create more affordable housing in communities that need it the most." (x.com)
  • Voted against HR 7301 "Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020" (None)
  • "As housing prices have increased, people who have chosen to downsize have been unfairly punished with massive tax burdens," Rep. Kelly said. "After years of making improvements and investments into their homes, which is the largest purchase for most Americans, homeowners deserve to keep more of their hard-earned money during their golden years." (kelly.house.gov)
  • "Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) voted against the House Democrats' $740 billion so-called "Inflation Reduction Act." The bill, which advanced from the U.S. Senate last week, passed the U.S. House with only Democrat votes..."Make no mistake: Democrats are raising taxes on Americans amidst record inflation and a looming recession," Kelly said. "This bill is loaded with bad policy and wasteful spending that will ultimately worsen inflation, expand government, and hurt the middle-class. Perhaps worst of all: the Democrats are weaponizing the IRS to shakedown hardworking Americans to pay for a bill passed under one-party rule." (None)
  • "Inflation is up a whopping 16.8% since President Biden took office. Gas is nearly $4.00/gallon in Pennsylvania – again. Yet the President & Democrats are taking a victory lap following the anniversary of the so-called Inflation Reduction Act. #Bidenomics in action." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 347 "Reduce Exacerbated Inflation Negatively Impacting the Nation Act" (None)
  • Voted against HR 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "From the onset, I have voiced my strong opposition to the Biden administration's student loan handout. Make no mistake: this unconstitutional act is nothing more than a political ploy that will ultimately cost taxpayers approximately $400 billion," Rep. Kelly said. "I am proud to join my colleagues on this amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court voicing our outrage regarding this overstep of executive powers." (kelly.house.gov)
  • "No student loan is forgiven. The debt is just transferred onto the backs of the American taxpayers." (twitter.com)
  • "For the People Act" is an ironic name for a bill that centralizes election administration in Washington, uses taxpayer money to fund campaigns, forces states to expand mail-in voting, legalizes ballot harvesting, and throws out state voter ID laws." (x.com)
  • Rated 6% by Common Cause. (None)
  • Voted against HR 4: "John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 5746 "Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "There are simple things we can do to encourage good stewardship of our natural resources and safeguard the environment," said Rep. Mike Kelly. "One way we can do that is by incentivizing the private sector to renovate and upgrade buildings to be more energy efficient. By extending the tax deduction for energy efficient commercial buildings, we can help the environment by conserving energy while creating jobs in the construction industry. The CLEANER Buildings Act is a win-win for American workers and the hometowns they live in." (None)
  • "I joined @SchmittNYC on @Newsmax last night to talk about how Democrats are holding the bipartisan infrastructure deal hostage until they can ram through a partisan plan that focuses on Green New Deal mandates instead of real infrastructure that Americans depend on." (x.com)
  • "The Biden administration's green-energy agenda is threatening 1,300 jobs in my district. " (twitter.com)
  • Voted against HR 4447 "Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019" (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1 "Lower Energy Costs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "The Biden administration should be unleashing American energy, not begging other countries for oil." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by American Energy Alliance (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 21: "Strategic Production Response Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 1446 "Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021" (None)
  • "Rep. Kelly is a strong believer in the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. It protects law-abiding citizens from the government’s infringement on our right to keep and bear arms." (kelly.house.gov)
  • "This bill unnecessarily restricts the rights of hunters and sportsmen rather than targeting violent criminals. It is yet another attempted gun grab by House Democrats that undermines law-abiding citizens' Second Amendment rights. I cannot -- and will not -- support that," Kelly said. "I believe we should be taking a more serious approach to address mental health and other related solutions that can prevent these horrific mass shootings from happening in the first place." (None)
  • Voted against HR 1808 "Assault Weapons Ban of 2022" (None)
  • Voted against HR 1425: "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Americans want us to build on what works and fix what doesn't, not have the gov take over healthcare. Medicare for All (None*) would kick 155,000,000 people off of their private health insurance plans and shortchange seniors in a program designed for them. That's not good policy." (twitter.com)
  • "Medicare for All is really Medicare for None. It would destroy the program seniors depend on & limit healthcare options for everyone. Americans want us to build on what works in our healthcare system & fix what doesn't, not replace their plans & providers with D.C. bureaucrats." (twitter.com)
  • Penn Capital-Star "Kelly claimed that Medicare for All means "quality care for none." He added, "This is a scary place that we’re going right now."' (penncapital-star.com)
  • "Doctors and nurses need our support as they risk their own health to treat #COVID19 patients. I introduced the Essential Workforce Parity Act to extend paid medical leave to America's health care heroes if they get sick while caring for others." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6201: "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 6833: "The Affordable Insulin Now Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "This government price-fixing scheme would lead to the development of fewer new cures and reduce access to existing life-saving drugs. We should focus our efforts on policy that will work and can pass such as H.R. 19, a bipartisan alternative to H.R. 3 that won't threaten medical innovation." (kelly.house.gov)
  • "With prescription drug prices rising the way they are, the best solution is more competition, not less. It’s widely understood that pricing controls lead to harmful shortages, stifle life-saving research, and simply don’t work. Instead, this commonsense bill will foster a more competitive pharmaceutical industry where doctors and patients have access to more affordable alternatives." (kelly.house.gov)
  • Voted against HR 3: "Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H Res 957 "Denouncing the Biden administration's open-borders policies, condemning the national security and public safety cr ..." (None)
  • "I brought a picture of this--I know it is very hard to see, but in the whole world, the longest continuous border is our northern border. It is 5,500 miles long and virtually unprotected because we don't have enough people to do it. In one stretch, over 500 miles, there are two Border Patrol agents responsible. That would be like driving from Philadelphia to Columbus, Ohio, and back again and saying: I didn't see one State policeman. I didn't see one law enforcement officer. I wonder where they are." (None)
  • "We have laws on the books to curb illegal immigration. President Biden and his administration refuse to enforce them." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5525 "Continuing Appropriations and Border Security Enhancement Act, 2024" (None)
  • "That fact remains: despite its best intentions, President Obama's DACA executive order is unconstitutional. President Trump has now given Congress six months to decide on a policy that will allow the DACA order to come to a responsible end. Going forward, I will be examining all options before determining what Congress should specifically do. As I have stated many times before, the Constitution is not a suggestion. If President Obama had sincerely wanted to create a new immigration law during his tenure, then he should have worked with the legislative branch to do so. Instead, very regrettably, he overstepped his executive authority and created the policy crisis at hand by not following the rule of law." (None)
  • "Looking forward to supporting #KatesLaw & the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act later today to help stop preventable crime & #SaveAmericanLives" (x.com)
  • "Proud of Greenville, Pa’s own @USAttyBrady for the work he's doing to fight sanctuary city policies and keep our communities safe!" (x.com)
  • Rated 92% by Federation for American Immigration Reform (None)
  • Voted against HR 5692 "Ukraine Security Assistance and Oversight Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (None)
  • "Russia's relentless aggression against Ukraine requires a strong, global response," Kelly said. "I supported the latest aid package for Ukraine because this aid allows Ukraine to fight their own war without our own forces getting directly involved." (kelly.house.gov)
  • "The United States cannot stand idly by while Israel and the Jewish people are under attack," Rep. Kelly said. "This aid package will boost Israel's defense capabilities and allow the IDF to maintain military readiness during one of Israel's most critical moments in history. Today's vote shows the U.S. remains committed to our great ally Israel in its fight against the barbaric and radical terror group, Hamas." (kelly.house.gov)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6126 "Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (None)
  • 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." (None)
  • "Russia's relentless aggression against Ukraine requires a strong, global response," Kelly said. "I supported the latest aid package for Ukraine because this aid allows Ukraine to fight their own war without our own forces getting directly involved." (kelly.house.gov)
  • "The Senate's proposal is more of a foreign aid package than a border security package with half of the funding earmarked for Ukraine, not for our borders. " (kelly.house.gov)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5692 "Ukraine Security Assistance and Oversight Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (None)
  • "Today, the House overwhelmingly supported a bill that will prevent the Chinese Communist Party from stealing Americans’ data and spreading propaganda. It strengthens our national security. And, it gives TikTok a choice: separate from the CCP or you’re out of the American market." (x.com)

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