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Elizabeth Warren's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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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.
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Elizabeth Warren 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.

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 2020.

  • “I'm proud to cosponsor the Women’s Health Protection Act. It would #StopTheBans by enshrining Roe v. Wade into federal law – ensuring everyone in this country has access to abortion, no matter where they live. #ActForWomen” (votesmart.org)
  • “I’ve said it for years: state & federal efforts to defund @PPFA, gut Title X & ban abortion are part of a deliberate, methodical, orchestrated attack on women’s rights. We’ll fight back for reproductive care – including access to safe & legal abortion – as many times as it takes.” (votesmart.org)
  • “Over and over again, I’ve spoken out against right-wing efforts to ban abortion. Now it's time for Congress to act. I have a plan to secure women’s access to reproductive care through federal, statutory rights that parallel Roe’s protections. Let’s #StopTheBans.” (votesmart.org)
  • "Look, I believe that abortion rights are human rights." (votesmart.org)
  • “A majority of Americans agree: the tippy-top 0.1% of the wealthy should pay their fair share so we can start to rebuild America’s middle class.” (votesmart.org)
  • “"If you made it big, you should have to put a little back in to help everyone else make it, too. My #UltraMillionaireTax on the wealthiest 0.1% of Americans would help level the playing field for everyone."” (votesmart.org)
  • “It's time to fundamentally transform our tax code so it’s not rigged for the rich. My plan taxes the wealth of the 75,000 US households with a net worth over $50 million. Let’s demand the top 0.1% pay their fair share – & start rebuilding our middle class.” (votesmart.org)
  • "The top one-tenth of one percent that I want to say pay two cents more, they'll pay 3.2 percent in America. I'm tired of freeloading billionaires. I think it's time that we ask those at the very top to pay more so that every single one of our children gets a real..." (votesmart.org)
  • “"Millions of seniors rely on Medicare to pay for critical health care services, and we should not cut these essential benefits for people who need them most," said Warren. "Cutting benefits will not stop people from getting sick, it will only shift more of the cost of health care onto our seniors. We should be focused on bringing down the costs of health care, not slashing benefits for people who need care. I'm pleased to support the Medicare Protection Act, which will help protect older Americans from irresponsible benefits cuts and efforts to turn Medicare into a voucher program.”" (votesmart.org)
  • “To keep the promise of Medicare, we have to make sure the program stays afloat.”   (votesmart.org)
  • "And in the first 100 days, I want to bring in 135 million people into Medicare for all at no cost to them. Everybody under the age of 18, everybody who has a family of four income less than $50,000. I want to lower the age of Medicare to 50 and expand Medicare coverage to include vision and dental and long-term care." (votesmart.org)
  • “Our government is supposed to work for all Americans, no matter how rich or powerful. But because of weak laws on big money in politics and court cases like Citizens United, money slithers through Washington like a snake. Wealthy individuals and big corporations pump unlimited sums of dark money into campaigns.” (votesmart.org)
  • “That means overturning Citizens United. It also means ending the unwritten rules requiring anyone who wants to run for office to start by sucking up to rich donors and Washington insiders. No more donations from federal lobbyists. No more donations from PACs. And no more billionaire Super PACs.” (votesmart.org)
  • “America’s defense budget is more bloated than ever, but our national security cannot rely on a strong military alone. So why in the world is @realDonaldTrump trying to block billions in the @StateDept's diplomacy, development & global health funds?” (votesmart.org)
  • “Let’s cut our bloated defense budget. The US will spend more than $700 billion on defense this year alone. That is more than President Reagan spent during the Cold War. If more money for the Pentagon could solve our security challenges, we would have solved them by now.” (votesmart.org)
  • “The @DeptofDefense already has a huge budget – and now it’s using a gimmick to request $165 billion more than the amount allowed by law. It’s time to stop saying yes to more, more, more. We have to make smarter investments in our security and re-invest here at home.” (votesmart.org)
  • "I’ve called for an end to endless wars in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, and to reduce our overall defense spending and responsibly bring our combat troops home. Instead, we should prioritize diplomacy and reinvest in the network of partners and allies that is our unique strength." (www.militarytimes.com)
  • “America needs to start investing in our infrastructure again: in roads, bridges, mass transit, an efficient power grid, and high-speed Internet. We know that investing in infrastructure supports good construction jobs and creates the conditions for our economy to grow in the long term.” (votesmart.org)
  • "The Boston Harbor Improvement Project is what investment in infrastructure is all about: a deeper harbor means increasing container traffic at the harbor, and every tax dollar spent will produce nearly $9 in business activity. I commend the Environment and Public Works Committee for including this critical funding in the WRRDA," said Senator Warren. "This kind of federal investment helps strengthen our economy in Boston and throughout the Commonwealth." (votesmart.org)
  • "Glad to be a strong federal partner to build the roads, bridges, & basic infrastructure we need to strengthen our economy & protect public safety. We’re in this fight — shoulder to shoulder — all the way." (votesmart.org)
  • ""This federal investment to modernize South Station's rail infrastructure is wonderful news for Massachusetts residents, visitors, commuters, and workers, and will spur economic activity across the entire region," said Senator Warren. "Securing federal funding for our public transit system has been a top priority of mine since I first came to Washington, and I'm glad to have partnered with my colleagues to help deliver for this critical project." (votesmart.org)
  • “That is just plain old trickle-down economics: Give more money to corporations and the wealthy, and they will surely pass it along to everyone else. It hasn't worked so far, and it isn't going to work in the future. Well, it isn't going to work for anyone who isn't already wealthy. For them, that works great.” (votesmart.org)
  • “When you include these credits and deductions and loopholes, the average corporation's tax rate has been about 20 percent--less than the corporate tax rates of three-quarters of all developed nations. And some of the biggest corporations have managed to dodge all federal income taxes by using sophisticated tricks unavailable to families and small businesses. If we want to make our tax system fairer, we have to get rid of the special breaks that big corporations use to get a leg up on smaller competitors -- especially those that encourage them to ship jobs and investments overseas.” (votesmart.org)
  • “This bill also ensures that States cannot ignore any group of students who are consistently falling behind their peers. Let's face it. Historically, States haven't always stood up for their most vulnerable kids, and this bill makes certain that those kids will not be ignored again. That is why we have a Federal education law in the first place: to ensure that when the Federal Government gives States money to buy a good education for kids, that States have to use that money to support all of our kids--especially kids who need those resources the most. Senator Murphy and I offered amendments to achieve this goal when the bill came before the Senate.” (votesmart.org)
  • “This bill, which will replace No Child Left Behind, moves away from rigid standardized tests and respects the vital work our teachers do every day. I strongly support those changes. However, I voted against this bill when it was first approved by the Senate a few months ago because I felt it lacked even the minimum safeguards necessary to ensure that States would use Federal funds effectively to support teachers and students. I was deeply concerned that without stronger accountability, billions of dollars in taxpayer money would not actually reach those schools and those students who needed them the most.” (votesmart.org)
  • “Investing in clean energy & green manufacturing can grow our economy & reverse factory job losses from the past 2 decades, while making sure we #ActOnClimate. It’s beyond time for the @USChamber & @ShopFloorNAM to get on board. #ChamberofCarbon” (votesmart.org)
  • “It’s time to stop handing out tax breaks to Big Oil & padding corporate profits at our communities’ expense. Investing in clean energy & reducing carbon pollution are investments in our health, our environment, our national security, & our economy. #climaterisks #climatecosts” (votesmart.org)
  • “But we know that we can generate electricity with alternative energy sources like wind, solar, and hydropower. We also know that we can make energy usage far more efficient. We can commit ourselves to clean energy and energy efficiency now -- by ending tax subsidies for fossil fuel companies, choosing to invest in clean energy tax incentives and grants to help local communities transition to clean energy sources, and increasing federal support for energy efficiency programs that protect consumers and help low-income families weatherize their homes.”  (votesmart.org)
  • “It’s time to stop handing out tax breaks to Big Oil & padding corporate profits at our communities’ expense. Investing in clean energy & reducing carbon pollution are investments in our health, our environment, our national security, & our economy. #climaterisks #climatecosts” (votesmart.org)
  • “We can take steps, however small they may seem, like lessening pollution due to carbon-containing fuels, lower speed limits, increase[d] use of alternative fuels, chang[ing] the Nation's attitude about recycling ..... chang[ing] our transportation by ..... mak[ing} our cars more efficient, etc.” (votesmart.org)
  • “It’s been almost 4 months since the House passed a commonsense bill to require background checks for every gun sale – but the @SenateGOP haven’t done a thing. Listen to @GabbyGiffords, @SenateMajLdr McConnell. Our kids’ safety can’t wait another day. #BackgroundChecksNow” (votesmart.org)
  • “It's time to stand up to the National Rifle Association and its bought-and-paid-for Congressmen and pass sensible laws that keep weapons of war out of our communities. We need to ban large-capacity ammunition feeding devices that allow assailants to maximize their damage and restore common-sense measures to take killing machines like assault weapons off our streets entirely.” (votesmart.org)
  • “Overwhelming majorities of Americans -- Democrats and Republicans alike -- agree. It's time for Congress to finally take action and pass a universal background checks bill.” (votesmart.org)
  • “The Affordable Care Act is working to help seniors with their expenses and to keep the costs of health care down. We need to improve and build on the progress the law has made and not argue over tearing it down.”  (votesmart.org)
  • “Republicans have tried over & over again to repeal the Affordable Care Act in Congress, & failed every time. Now they’re trying to use the courts to strip health care from millions of Americans, including those with pre-existing conditions. We’ll fight this every step of the way.” (votesmart.org)
  • "I'm going to defend the Affordable Care Act from the sabotage of the Trump administration." (votesmart.org)
  • “Building a border wall won’t make us any safer. You know what will? Ending this ridiculous #TrumpShutdown and making sure vital agencies like the US Coast Guard, TSA, and federal law enforcement have the funds they need to maintain our national security.” (votesmart.org)
  • “I saw firsthand how @DHSgov separated mothers from their babies in detention. The world watched as they tear gassed migrant children seeking asylum. None of it has made our country any safer – and neither will spending billions of taxypayer dollars on a border wall.” (votesmart.org)
  • “I have long supported common-sense, comprehensive immigration reform: reform that protects our borders, creates a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who pay their taxes and go to the back of the line, and helps us retain talent trained at our world-class institutions.” (votesmart.org)
  • “The House sent an important message today: we must protect Dreamers, TPS holders, & DED beneficiaries from @realDonaldTrump’s racist, anti-immigrant agenda. The Senate should pass this bill immediately.  … #DreamAndPromiseNow” (www.bostonglobe.com)
  • "A nuclear-armed Iran represents a significant threat to the United States, to our allies in the Middle East, and to the world. Diplomacy represents our best hope of ending that threat, far better than the alternative of escalating tensions and war.”   (votesmart.org)
  • “I also believe it is much easier to counter Iran's destabilizing behavior if it does not have a nuclear weapon. In 2015, we reached a diplomatic agreement that places Iran's nuclear program under verifiable limits and unprecedented inspections, blocking Iran's path to a bomb. And for the first two years, it worked great -- international inspectors repeatedly certified that Iran remains in compliance, and our senior military leaders agree.” (votesmart.org)
  • “We must also support efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and secure nuclear materials worldwide, and work with and pressure other nations not to pursue their own nuclear capabilities. The United States should be a leader in creating a world in which nuclear war is less likely.” (votesmart.org)
  • “But I also came away with the firm conviction that defeating ISIS on the ground is only the beginning: To permanently defeat it and its affiliates, these communities must be secured and rebuilt to prevent a return to extremism. This is the responsibility of governments in the region, but the U.S. can and should lead the international community in providing sustained diplomatic, economic, and political support.” (votesmart.org)
  • “Last summer, I traveled to the region, and what I saw strengthened my belief that there are problems in Afghanistan that cannot be solved through military action alone. We should use our diplomatic and economic development resources to facilitate a political settlement between the Afghan government and the Taliban.” (votesmart.org)
  • “It’s long past time to bring our troops home from Afghanistan. And when they return, we need to make sure they get the health care, GI benefits, and other support they've earned.” (twitter.com)
  • “Let’s make sure that the three brave Americans killed in Afghanistan this week, including one who grew up in Boston, are the last Americans to lose their lives in this war. It’s time to bring our troops home from Afghanistan – starting now.” (twitter.com)
  • “So, look, I think that we ought to get out of the Middle East. I don't think we should have troops in the Middle East.” (votesmart.org)
  • “We need to get out, but we need to do this through a negotiated solution.” (votesmart.org)
  • “And I have to say, when President Trump says he's putting tariffs on the table, I think tariffs are one part of reworking our trade policy overall.”  (votesmart.org)
  • “I urge my colleagues to reject the TPP and stop an agreement that will tilt the playing field even more in favor of big multinational corporations and against working families.” (votesmart.org)
  • “We need a comprehensive trade agenda that benefits workers, manufacturers, consumers, and small businesses. Tariffs can be a part of that agenda, but imposing tariffs at the drop of a hat and starting a trade war with China with no plan will only harm our country's workers, consumers, and farmers. And we need to maintain our strong relationships with allies as we pursue that agenda.” (votesmart.org)

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