Choice & Women’s Health »
I strongly support the fundamental, constitutional right of a woman to make her own decisions regarding her reproductive health, and I’m working hard to improve and expand access to critical health care services for women, including safe, legal abortions.
Education »
Every student in America should be able to get a quality education, from early childhood through college, regardless of his or her race, zip code, or learning ability. Education is a personal issue for me – my mother was a teacher, my wife works in education, and as a parent of two school-age boys, I spend time helping with homework and attending parent-teacher conferences. And as someone who is still paying off college loans, I know the all-too-familiar feeling that families face when trying to figure out how to make college an affordable reality. That’s why I asked to be a member of the committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions in the Senate – so I can be at the center of debates about our nation’s commitment to education.
Election Reform »
Our democracy is based on the fundamental principle that all Americans have an equal voice in their government: one person, one vote. But today, due to a series of Supreme Court decisions like Citizens United, a tiny handful of ultra-wealthy donors have an outsized influence on our political system, tipping the scales of democracy away from everyday voters with their checkbooks.
Climate Change & The Environment »
As a teenager growing up in Wethersfield, I first became interested in public service after participating in cleanups on the nearby Connecticut River. That passion for environmental stewardship still drives me in the Senate where I am pushing for strong policies that combat climate change, curb pollution, and invest in renewable energy.
Foreign Policy »
It goes without saying that we live in a fragile, volatile world. Revolutions spring up overnight, powered by Twitter and Google. Instead of tracking armies of thousands gathering against us, we track individual bomb-makers hiding in ungovernable spaces. And as the lone global military superpower, we are, at all times, tempted to enforce world order, and come to the rescue of oppressed peoples.
Gun Violence »
Part of this job is sticking up for populations that have no voice in the political process, no lobbyists pushing their agenda, and no seat at the governing table in places like Washington and Hartford. For me, I believe that it is simply unacceptable for a country with 5% of the world’s population to hold 25% of the world’s prison population. We lock up too many people, wasting lives and taxpayer money. And the most egregious policy is to lock up kids, sometimes no older than 11 or 12, when better alternatives exist to address their delinquent behavior.
Mental Health & Addiction »
I have made it my mission in the Senate to improve our nation’s broken mental health system. America's mental health system has been neglected for too long and is in desperate need of reform. Too many children and adults with mental health needs in our country do not get the timely, high quality care they need to live healthy and productive lives.
Health & Wellness »
Here’s my simple belief – in the most powerful, affluent country in the world, nobody should die or go bankrupt simply because they have the misfortune of getting sick and not having enough money to see a doctor. Today, America spends twice as much on health care, per capita, as any other country in the world, and we get results that simply don’t warrant all that extra expenditure.
Immigration »
The story of America’s greatness is rooted in our immigrant history – our commitment to bring people here from every corner of the world. As other countries’ populations grow older, sapping them of working age adults and burdening public budgets with waves of retirees, America’s average age remains low because of our commitment to robust immigration. Those who try to turn our country against immigrants are not only preying on the worst kind of prejudice, but also ignoring the economic imperative of immigration.
Jobs »
When I talk to families in Connecticut, what often matters most is increasing the number of good paying, secure jobs in our state. While our economy has rebounded from the Great Recession and the unemployment rate is down, far too many Connecticut families still have a hard time making ends meet. I believe strongly that no one working full time in America should be living in poverty. That’s why I’m working to pass legislation that helps workers and guarantees a living wage. I support raising the federal minimum wage to $15 dollars an hour and I’ve introduced legislation like the MOVE Act and the Schedules That Work Act that are specifically targeted at improving working conditions for hourly employees.
Juvenile Justice Reform »
Part of this job is sticking up for populations that have no voice in the political process, no lobbyists pushing their agenda, and no seat at the governing table in places like Washington and Hartford. For me, I believe that it is simply unacceptable for a country with 5% of the world’s population to hold 25% of the world’s prison population. We lock up too many people, wasting lives and taxpayer money. And the most egregious policy is to lock up kids, sometimes no older than 11 or 12, when better alternatives exist to address their delinquent behavior.
Manufacturing »
My grandfather and great grandfather worked in the bearing factories of New Britain. Today, though those jobs are gone, manufacturing is coming back in Connecticut, and the federal government can play a leading role in giving this renaissance a boost.
Retirement Security »
My grandfather didn’t have it easy – he moved from job to job throughout his life trying to make ends meet. He was employed as a factory worker, a security guard, and even ran a convenience store in New Britain for a while. When he retired, he had saved as much as he could, but he needed Social Security to survive. And when my grandmother got really sick, it was Medicare that paid the bills and kept them out of bankruptcy. My grandparents are simply representative of the millions of seniors who rely on Social Security to help pay bills, Medicare to keep them well, and Medicaid to help them if they run out of money to pay for their needs.
Tax Reform »
Our current federal tax system simply does not work any longer, for individuals, businesses, or for the interests of long term economic growth. I believe that any effort to reform the tax code should be built around a few relatively simple principles.
Connecticut's Roads & Rails »
One of Connecticut’s economic strengths is our proximity to the economic power centers of New York and Boston. But this strength is waning as our transportation arteries get more and more clogged—and Connecticut commuters are getting more and more fed up. One of my top priorities in Congress is securing robust transportation funding for our state and dramatically increasing the amount of federal support for mass transit. I helped secure over $3.5 billion in federal funds for Connecticut's roads and rails.in the long-term highway bill that was passed in 2015.
Veterans »
To me, it’s simple: the brave men and women of our armed forces serve our country selflessly and we have a responsibility to provide them with timely care and assistance the minute they come home. From affordable quality housing to better access to health care, our veterans deserve the absolute best resources available.
