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John Sarbanes' Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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John Sarbanes did not provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2022 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

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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 2022.

  • "And a woman's right to make her own reproductive choices is under constant attack. Every legislator must be persuaded to fight for progress on these and other issues [...]" (www.johnsarbanes.com)
  • Rated 100% by NARAL Pro-Choice America. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3755 "Women's Health Protection Act of 2021." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Co-Sponsored the Medicare for All Act." (www.johnsarbanes.com)
  • "Congressman Sarbanes believes that a better way to protect the solvency of Social Security without adjusting benefits or raising the retirement age is to "Scrap the Cap" on earnings subject to the Social Security Payroll tax. This change would extend solvency for an additional 75 years." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by Alliance for Retired Americans. (votesmart.org)
  • "Co-sponsored the Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act-H.R. 1811." (www.johnsarbanes.com)
  • "I'm fighting in Congress to build a small donor matching system for funding campaigns, overturn Citizens United and increase the amount of disclosure we have for political donors." (www.johnsarbanes.com)
  • "Across the country, strong majorities of Democrats, Independents and Republicans are demanding that we strengthen campaign finance laws to combat this corruption. Several states and localities have endorsed citizen-funded elections, which can move our politics in a more positive direction. This week, the Senate had an opportunity to reflect this broad consensus and reverse the trend of money in politics with passage of the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act. Sadly, succumbing to the filibuster, the Senate sided with special interests over the public interest. We cannot be deterred in our efforts to lift up the voices of all Americans. I will continue fighting for a government by the people, not bought and paid for by big money special interests." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by Common Cause. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1 "For the People Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "Today, we passed meaningful reforms to transform policing and take aim at the systemic racism and culture of violence that continues to plague law enforcement across America," said Congressman Sarbanes. "Unlike the Trump White House and the Republican Senate, which only paid lip service to police reform, the measures we are supporting in the House are carefully designed to take on the culture of racism and violence that exists within our justice system." (votesmart.org)
  • ""This sweeping overhaul of American policing will help set a new tone and culture in law enforcement and dismantle the entrenched systems of power and privilege that have targeted and abused communities of color in this country -- for centuries," said Congressman Sarbanes, who co-sponsored the bill and voted to pass it in the 116th Congress. "We cannot allow the promise of America to continue to be betrayed by police officers who do not value Black lives. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act will help end this corruption of justice."" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "This sweeping overhaul of American policing will help set a new tone and culture in law enforcement and dismantle the entrenched systems of power and privilege that have targeted and abused communities of color in this country -- for centuries," said Congressman Sarbanes, who co-sponsored the bill and voted to pass it in the 116th Congress. "We cannot allow the promise of America to continue to be betrayed by police officers who do not value Black lives. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act will help end this corruption of justice." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 0% by Center for Security Policy. (votesmart.org)
  • "This legislation honors our obligation to servicemembers and their families in Maryland and across the country. It provides a pay raise for our servicemembers and makes critical investments that will modernize our infrastructure and continue to support good-paying jobs -- including those at the Coast Guard Yard. It includes my legislation to allow federal firefighters like those at the U.S. Naval Academy and Fort Meade to trade shifts without losing pay or taking leave, enabling them to do their job safely and effectively. It also incorporates legislation I cosponsored to implement stormwater best management practices to reduce flooding on and around military bases." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 1605 "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3684 "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Build Back Better Act." (votesmart.org)
  • "Congressman Sarbanes believes that we must put millions of Americans back to work rebuilding our nation's roads and bridges, public transportation and water and sewer systems, which are in desperate need of repair. By making these necessary investments now, we can spur our economy forward and bolster our nation's critical infrastructure." (votesmart.org)
  • "Marylanders will see the benefits of the Build Back Better Act throughout their lives. While cutting taxes for hardworking families, this legislation will deliver historic investments in child care and early education, make education beyond high school more accessible, expand health care coverage, lower prescription drug costs, create good-paying jobs, protect communities against environmental pollution -- especially our most vulnerable -- and support older and disabled Americans with long-term care needs." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1319 "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 266 - Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. (votesmart.org)
  • "Over the last several weeks, Congress has acted swiftly and purposefully to address the coronavirus crisis by helping shore up America's health care system and by providing financial support to American workers and small businesses impacted by the pandemic," said Congressman Sarbanes. "Today, we took another significant step forward in our coronavirus response effort by passing a wide-ranging bill that will not only inject critical funding into our health care system, but also expand and enhance key programs to protect workers and families as we continue to practice social distancing and help slow the spread of the virus." (votesmart.org)
  • ""The COVID-19 public health emergency has presented far-reaching and complex challenges for many Marylanders across the state, especially for individuals who have lost jobs as a result of the pandemic and those living in underserved communities that lack adequate legal services," the Delegation said. "We will continue to fight for robust federal resources to ensure that all Marylanders are protected under the law."" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The COVID-19 public health emergency has presented far-reaching and complex challenges for many Marylanders across the state, especially for individuals who have lost jobs as a result of the pandemic and those living in underserved communities that lack adequate legal services," the Delegation said. "We will continue to fight for robust federal resources to ensure that all Marylanders are protected under the law." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "As Americans face rising prices, the Inflation Reduction Act puts people over profits and strengthens our economy for the future. It delivers on several of my longest-held goals to lower prescription drug costs for seniors, expand access to affordable health care and combat the climate crisis," said Congressman Sarbanes. "This legislation proves that we can lift up American families and crack down on corporations that take advantage of consumers -- and that these smart, fair policies can even reduce the deficit and strengthen our economy for the future. Closing tax loopholes that allow the wealthiest Americans and corporations to avoid paying their fair share honors our promise to those who work hard to do their part. I am proud to support this legislation, which makes historic strides for Marylanders." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The Inflation Reduction Act will significantly lower energy costs for families. Through tax credits and $9 billion in rebates, households will be able to save on installing energy efficient appliances like heat pumps, ovens and HVAC systems that will reduce their energy bills." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "We do not have to pick between lowering costs and strengthening our economy. The #InflationReductionAct does both – it reduces the deficit by $300 billion over the next decade and helps families fight inflation without raising taxes on Americans making under $400,000 a year." (twitter.com)
  • ".@POTUS has announced student loan debt relief that will ease Americans’ burden of achieving their educational goals. Borrowers making less than $125,000 a year will be eligible for up to $10,000 in relief or $20,000 if they’re Pell Grant recipients." (twitter.com)
  • ".@POTUS made the right decision to extend the pause on student loan payments to August 31. This will help ease the burden of rising costs for millions of Americans struggling with student loan debt." (twitter.com)
  • "Almost immediately after this misguided decision, conservative-led legislatures in states across the country began imposing stringent new obstacles to the ballot box – including voter ID laws and other voter suppression schemes – that take direct aim at people of color." (twitter.com)
  • "Six years ago today, the Supreme Court's conservative majority gutted the Voting Rights Act and weakened critical protections for American voters. Almost immediately after this misguided decision, conservative-led legislatures in states across the country began imposing stringent new obstacles to the ballot box -- including voter ID laws and other voter suppression schemes -- that take direct aim at people of color and make it harder to vote in America." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5746 "Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "And then you look at the Solar Energy Technologies Office," said Sarbanes. "Again, they've done terrific work. [Solar energy has] been an economic driver, employing over 240,000 Americans, $17 billion of investment in the nation's economy. These are award-winning numbers by any measure, helping to keep driving the commercial cost of solar energy down, because of the continuous attention and focus that that office brings." (votesmart.org)
  • "Congressman Sarbanes is teaming with the U.S. Department of Energy and the City of Baltimore to create a new solar energy workforce training program -- a win-win that helps homeowners reduce utility costs while training workers to enter a dynamic growth industry." (www.johnsarbanes.com)
  • "The infrastructure overhaul would authorize more than $4.7 billion in critical renovations to federal buildings across the country. These twenty-first century modernization projects would reduce the federal government's carbon footprint, strengthen the resiliency of federal facilities, create thousands of good-paying manufacturing, construction, engineering and landscaping jobs and save taxpayers millions of dollars every single year. "This robust investment in energy efficient buildings and green infrastructure will help America lead by example in the fight against climate change," said Congressman Sarbanes, a prominent member of the House Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee. "By retrofitting federal buildings with net-zero energy technologies and efficiency upgrades, we can reduce carbon emissions and significantly lower energy costs for taxpayers."" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4447 "Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019." (votesmart.org)
  • "The infrastructure overhaul would authorize more than $4.7 billion in critical renovations to federal buildings across the country. These twenty-first century modernization projects would reduce the federal government's carbon footprint, strengthen the resiliency of federal facilities, create thousands of good-paying manufacturing, construction, engineering and landscaping jobs and save taxpayers millions of dollars every single year. "This robust investment in energy efficient buildings and green infrastructure will help America lead by example in the fight against climate change," said Congressman Sarbanes, a prominent member of the House Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee. "By retrofitting federal buildings with net-zero energy technologies and efficiency upgrades, we can reduce carbon emissions and significantly lower energy costs for taxpayers." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 96% by League of Conservation Voters. (votesmart.org)
  • ""Reckless decisions by the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans to expand offshore drilling along our coastlines pose serious risks to local economies, to public health and to marine ecosystems and wildlife," said Congressman Sarbanes, who as Co-Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force has forcefully pushed back against efforts by the Trump Administration to expand offshore drilling along Maryland's coastline and along the Atlantic coast. "In the midst of a global climate crisis, we cannot afford to bow down to dirty polluters," Sarbanes continued. "House Democrats will continue fighting for the people and blocking Big Oil and Gas from threatening the health, vitality and economic output of America's coastlines."" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Signed a letter stating: "Weakening federal methane regulations will have real-world consequences on families and individuals who live near oil and gas operations." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 9 "Climate Action Now Act." (votesmart.org)
  • "Reckless decisions by the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans to expand offshore drilling along our coastlines pose serious risks to local economies, to public health and to marine ecosystems and wildlife," said Congressman Sarbanes, who as Co-Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force has forcefully pushed back against efforts by the Trump Administration to expand offshore drilling along Maryland's coastline and along the Atlantic coast. "In the midst of a global climate crisis, we cannot afford to bow down to dirty polluters," Sarbanes continued. "House Democrats will continue fighting for the people and blocking Big Oil and Gas from threatening the health, vitality and economic output of America's coastlines." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Americans expect gun owners to exercise their ownership in a responsible and safe manner. That's why the great majority of Americans, including a majority of gun owners, support common sense safety measures such as universal background checks." (www.johnsarbanes.com)
  • ""Our nation's gun violence crisis affects nearly every community across the country," said Congressman Sarbanes, who co-sponsored both bills and has consistently called for gun safety reforms. "These bipartisan efforts to close loopholes in our nation's background check system will help save lives and better protect our communities from the daily scourge of gun violence."" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1446 "Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "Our nation's gun violence crisis affects nearly every community across the country," said Congressman Sarbanes, who co-sponsored both bills and has consistently called for gun safety reforms. "These bipartisan efforts to close loopholes in our nation's background check system will help save lives and better protect our communities from the daily scourge of gun violence." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "First of all, I want to push back pretty hard on the doomsday scenario that's being painted by some of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, which to me amounts to fearmongering," said Congressman Sarbanes. "There's a lot of distortions of what the cost of the Medicare For All proposal would be. These scenarios about what would happen to hospitals, rural hospitals -- the fact of the matter is that under the current Medicare and Medicaid programs there's a lot of investment and that's what goes into those kinds of hospitals and delivery systems. So if you had a Medicare For All system, I think you would continue to see that kind of investment. It's not just like we would walk away from these critical parts of our delivery system so that has to be accounted for when we're having this discussion." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "As Maryland and other states across the country brace for the economic and social impacts of the ongoing spread of coronavirus, we must help families weather the storm by extending critical resources to our most vulnerable communities and ensuring that American workers have the financial support they need," said Congressman Sarbanes. "In Congress, my colleagues and I will continue working to manage the outbreak, protect our communities and keep Americans safe." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to President Biden: “Furthermore, we cannot ignore the economic benefits of paid leave. Enacting paid leave also means that families will continue to earn some income at the very time when they need it most – when a family is growing or a member is sick and needs medical care. Workers will be able to continue to earn a portion of their wages, allowing them to continue to meet their basic needs and pay bills before returning to work. Moreover, lack of paid leave has meant that workers lose an estimated $22.5 billion in wages each year when that could have been used to keep a family afloat and spent in local economies." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6201 "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "H.R. 3 also creates a new, $2,000 out-of-pocket limit on Medicare prescription drug costs and imposes a new inflation rebate for the thousands of drugs that Medicare beneficiaries rely on through Parts B and D. If drug manufacturers raise the prices of these drugs above the rate of inflation, they must either lower their prices or repay the increase above inflation to the United States Treasury--a rebate that will help all consumers, even beyond Medicare." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Insulin costs over ten times more in the United States than in other high-income countries, and many Americans are forced to make impossible decisions that put their health at risk because they cannot afford it," said Congressman Sarbanes. "I voted for this legislation today to ensure that the millions of Americans with diabetes have access to this lifesaving drug regardless of drug companies' decisions to charge skyrocketing prices. I urge the Senate to work quickly to send this legislation to President Biden's desk." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3 "Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6833 "The Affordable Insulin Now Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "The #TrumpShutdown – a temper tantrum he’s throwing over a wildly unpopular border wall – will actually harm the men and women who put their lives on the line to secure our border, forcing about 54,000 Customs and Border Protection agents and customs officers to work without pay." (twitter.com)
  • "The bill would continue to hold DREAMers hostage, keep children locked in detention centers for months on end, make it harder for those fleeing violence and persecution to apply for asylum and waste billions of taxpayer dollars on President Trump's far-fetched border wall. " (votesmart.org)
  • ""Today, I voted to provide critical protections for immigrants in Maryland and across the United States who make incredible contributions to our economy and society," said Congressman Sarbanes. "The American Dream and Promise Act reinforces our nation's core values and honors our rich history of welcoming immigrants -- like my grandparents from Greece -- whose diversity and hard work help our country prosper."" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1333 "NO BAN Act." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6 "American Dream and Promise Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "Today, I voted to provide critical protections for immigrants in Maryland and across the United States who make incredible contributions to our economy and society," said Congressman Sarbanes. "The American Dream and Promise Act reinforces our nation's core values and honors our rich history of welcoming immigrants -- like my grandparents from Greece -- whose diversity and hard work help our country prosper." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1333 "NO BAN Act." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6 "American Dream and Promise Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "As a pariah state working to upend the global world order, Russia cannot be allowed to use its energy reserves to fund the atrocities it is imposing on the Ukrainian people. The measures passed today to ban oil imports and deny access to the World Trade Organization reinforce the actions taken by the free world to isolate Russia from the global economy. We will continue to meet Russian military escalation with corresponding economic and diplomatic sanctions." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I strongly support President Biden's actions to hold President Putin and those acting with him accountable for this blatant disregard for international law through severe sanctions and other actions to marginalize and isolate this revisionist state. I continue to urge President Biden and his administration to support the Ukrainian people through diplomatic, military, and humanitarian assistance." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6968 "Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Yesterday, I voted to pass legislation to revoke permanent normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, which will further isolate Russia from the world economy. We must continue to respond forcefully to Putin’s cruel attacks on the people of Ukraine. #StandWithUkraine" (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7691 "Making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the situation in Ukraine for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 3522 "Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "This tax proposal is a textbook example of how wealthy and well-connected special interests have hijacked our democracy. The bill is a windfall for Wall Street and the super-rich, and a bad deal for millions of everyday Americans. Instead of investing in middle class families and our children's future, this bill will provide massive giveaways to millionaires, billionaires and corporations. American families deserve better. To make things worse, the Republicans tucked in a little-noticed provision that will allow even more dark, undisclosed big money to flow into our politics." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5377 "Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Importantly, the new NAFTA agreement negotiated by House Democrats strips away many of the special-interest provisions pushed by Big Pharma and large corporations -- giveaways that were largely embraced by the Trump Administration and that were core elements of past trade agreements that harmed American workers and consumers." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5430 "United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act." (votesmart.org)

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