Several of the Democratic candidates for president have demonstrated how they contrast with the current occupant of the Oval Office in terms of how they would lead the country through disasters. Senator Amy Klobuchar released her plan for Global Pandemic Prevention, Detection and Response Policy. This is from Senator Klobuchar’s campaign:
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The recent outbreak of a new strain of coronavirus is a stark reminder of the persistent threats posed by infectious diseases. Senator Klobuchar believes the United States must continue to lead the global fight to prevent, detect and respond to pandemics. In the Senate, she has championed efforts to address outbreaks at home and abroad. She successfully secured critical funding to combat Ebola in West Africa, helping strengthen health care infrastructure. And as Chair of the Senate Steering and Outreach Committee, she spearheaded efforts to rapidly address the spread of the Zika virus and support local prevention measures and research. As President, she will prioritize taking on global pandemics and protecting U.S. national security. She will:
Renew U.S. leadership and recommit to the Global
Health Security Agenda, an initiative launched under the Obama administration
to respond to the threat that infectious diseases pose to the global community.
Work with our allies and through multilateral organizations
like the World Health Organization to improve local health infrastructure in
at-risk countries and regions.
Fully fund U.S. departments, agencies, and programs
that are on the front lines in preventing and responding to outbreaks, both at
home and overseas, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, State
Department, United States Agency for International Development, Biomedical
Advanced Research and Development Authority, and the President’s Emergency Plan
for AIDS Relief.
Strengthen early-warning systems to detect and
respond to outbreaks on the ground before they spread into full-fledged
pandemics.
Develop the global rapid-response system for
deploying international medical teams to respond to outbreaks at the
source.
Increase stockpiles of existing vaccines and
treatments and streamline delivery systems for rapid deployment during
outbreaks.
Invest in capabilities for accelerating the
production of new vaccines and treatments when new pathogens emerge.
Leverage public-private partnerships that can unlock
new investments and innovations.
The vigorous contest of
Democrats seeking the 2020 presidential nomination has produced excellent
policy proposals to address major issues. Senator Amy Klobuchar has
released her “Housing First” plan. This is from the Klobuchar campaign:
LOS ANGELES, CA – Ahead of a housing event
with Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, State Senator Susan Rubio and National Low
Income Housing Coalition President and CEO Diane Yentel, Senator Amy Klobuchar
released her Housing First plan.
As President, Senator Klobuchar will invest over $1 trillion in housing
and poverty reduction. Right now, millions of Americans struggle to pay their
rent, put food on the table for their children, or find a good paying job.
Senator Klobuchar believes there is more we can do as a country to combat
poverty and ensure economic justice for all Americans, and it begins with
making sure every American has access to a safe, affordable place to call
home.
Research shows that a stable home can mean a better education, greater
financial stability and a healthier life. Senator Klobuchar will overhaul our
country’s housing policy so all Americans can have the opportunity to succeed.
As part of her housing and poverty plan, Senator Klobuchar will completely
eliminate the Section 8 backlog and provide rental assistance to all Americans
who qualify, limit average wait times for Section 8 housing assistance to three
months, and provide temporary housing for those at risk of homelessness. And to
eliminate unmet housing needs, she will invest significantly in expanding the
affordable housing supply and connecting people to affordable housing.
In addition, Senator Klobuchar has bold plans to expand the Earned
Income Tax Credit (EITC), as well as invest in nutrition and child care. These
policies are designed to cut child poverty in half in 10 years and eliminate it
within a generation and are based on a report from the National Academy of
Sciences.
Guarantee Access to Affordable Housing
Provide Section 8 Rental Assistance to All Qualifying
Americans. Today too many Americans have trouble accessing rental
assistance. An estimated 4.4 million families are currently on waiting lists
for Public Housing or Section 8 housing vouchers and many more can’t even get
on the waiting lists because they are closed. As President, Senator Klobuchar
will completely eliminate the Section 8 backlog and make sure that every
American who qualifies for Section 8 rental assistance receives a voucher or
unit.
Limit average wait times for Section 8 housing assistance
to three months. Today wait times for Section 8 housing assistance are
often 2-3 years and can be much longer and it can take up to 2-3 months for the
local housing authority to review applications, confirm eligibility, and place
Americans on a waiting list. As President, Senator Klobuchar will limit average
wait times for Section 8 assistance to no more than three months.
Provide temporary housing for those at risk of
homelessness while they are on Section 8 waitlists. To ensure that no
one is forced to be homeless while waiting for Section 8 housing, Senator
Klobuchar will create a new grant program for states to provide temporary
support for those at risk of homelessness while on the Section 8 waitlist.
Make sure that Section 8 vouchers reflect rental
prices. Senator Klobuchar will direct the Department of Housing and
Urban Development to make sure it accurately collects market data about the
cost of rental housing and provides flexibility to local housing agencies to
adjust voucher amounts in higher-cost areas.
Guarantee that all qualifying families with children
receive Section 8 rental assistance. The policy of eliminating all
unmet need for housing assistance in America will more than meet the
recommendation of the National Academy of Sciences report to make Housing
Choice Vouchers available to all qualifying families with children, as part of
putting our country on track to cut child poverty in half in the next decade
and end it within a generation.
Invest in Affordable Housing Infrastructure. To
eliminate the unmet need for rental assistance, we must increase affordable
housing supply. Senator Klobuchar will push to expand current Low-Income
Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) allocations to support the construction of
additional units and work with states to strengthen rules to encourage a
significant portion of LIHTC construction in high opportunity neighborhoods.
Her infrastructure package will also address the estimated $50 billion in
capital repairs needed to public housing.
Invest in the Housing Trust Fund. Senator
Klobuchar will expand funding to build, rehabilitate, and operate homes for
low-income families, including in rural areas and in Indian country by funding
the Housing Trust Fund at a minimum of $40 billion per year.
Increase the Capital Magnet Fund. The Capital
Magnet Fund provides grants to finance affordable housing and related economic
development activities and community service facilities. Senator Klobuchar will
increase funding for the program, which enables awardees to create financing
tools such as loan loss reserves, revolving loan funds, risk-sharing loans, and
loan guarantees.
Lift the bond volume cap for housing. Bonds can
be an effective way to finance the construction of affordable single-family and
small multifamily housing. As President, Senator Klobuchar will lift the volume
cap specifically for housing projects to help provide additional funding to
tackle the shortage of affordable housing in our country.
Promote effective zoning rules. Outdated zoning
rules can make it harder to build affordable housing in many areas. As
President, Senator Klobuchar will prioritize areas that have updated their
zoning rules when awarding federal housing and infrastructure grants.
Connect People to Available Housing Opportunities. Senator
Klobuchar will work to create a new federal grant program that helps states
increase outreach to low-income renters to make them aware of the resources
available to them. The funding will be available for caseworkers, community
development centers, and partnerships with nonprofits.
Reduce fees and red tape for low-income renters. As
President, Senator Klobuchar will push to increase operating funding for public
housing authorities and in return will require them to lower fees charged to
applicants and tenants. She will work to streamline the application process
including background checks and credit checks to reduce red tape.
Connect students to affordable housing. A recent
study from the Hope Center for College, Community and Justice found that over
60 percent of student respondents were food or housing insecure, and for many
students room and board accounts for more than half their total costs according
to HUD. Senator Klobuchar will double the maximum Pell Grant — which can be
used for housing and certain other non-tuition expenses — to $12,000 per year
and expand eligibility to families making up to $100,000 per year. She will
work with states to establish microgrant programs to help students cover rent
or other necessary expenses if they face unexpected financial hardship. Senator
Klobuchar will also expand resources for student renters, increase student
access to existing affordable housing programs and promote the development of
affordable housing around college campuses. Read more about Senator Klobuchar’s
policies to support students here.
Increase auto enrollment in support programs. A
lack of clear information about eligibility and cumbersome enrollment
procedures prevent many Americans from using support programs for which they
are eligible. Senator Klobuchar will work with states and across federal
agencies to increase auto enrollment across all eligible support programs, like
Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP, LIHEAP, and housing assistance, when a person enrolls in
any one program.
Give renters access to emergency funds for rent. The
path toward eviction can start with an unexpected emergency expense. As she has
previously announced, Senator Klobuchar will work to create innovative,
portable personal savings accounts called UP Accounts that can be used for
retirement and emergencies — including non-routine expenses like rent payments
in situations like a lapse in earnings, a car accident, or family leave. Under
her plan, employers will set aside at least 50 cents per hour worked, helping a
worker build more than $600,000 in wealth over the course of a career.
Combat Segregation and Discrimination. As
President, Senator Klobuchar will ban all landlords from discriminating against
people based on the source of their income, including housing vouchers or
disability benefits. She will also protect renters by preventing the
blacklisting of people who have been to court over eviction and prohibiting
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran
status. She will suspend the Trump Administration’s proposals to weaken fair
housing rules including the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule and
restore enforcement and oversight powers to the Office of Fair Lending and
Opportunity to monitor fair lending practices and coordinate with the
Department of Justice to prevent lending discrimination before it happens.
Ban the box. Finding affordable housing can be a
major obstacle to people returning to the community after they have been
released from incarceration. As President, Senator Klobuchar will prohibit
landlords from asking rental applicants about past criminal convictions.
Background checks will only be permitted after making a conditional offer of
housing.
Partner with states and localities to strengthen tenant
protections. Senator Klobuchar will create an incentive program for
states and localities that encourage the adoption of just cause eviction
protections and a tenant bill of rights, including prior notification before
evictions. States and localities that put these protections in place —
including limits on security deposits to one month’s rent — can receive additional
federal funds for affordable housing supply.
Help Seniors and People with Disabilities Who Want to
Stay in Their Homes. Senator Klobuchar will update regulations for
reverse mortgages to make sure seniors have access to safe products that make
it easier to stay in their homes, as well as expand support for affordable
senior housing programs that assist people with disabilities. As part of her
seniors plan, Senator Klobuchar is proposing a tax credit of up to $6,000 a
year to provide financial relief to those caring for an aging relative or a
relative with a disability to help offset expenses, including necessary home
modifications to allow people to stay in their homes. And in the first 100 days
of her Administration, Senator Klobuchar will reverse the Trump
Administration’s proposed changes to federal housing subsidies that could
triple rent for some households and would be particularly harmful for seniors.
Senator Klobuchar is also committed to expanding transportation programs and
services for older adults and people with disabilities, particularly in rural
and underserved populations. She also supports expanding resources for Meals on
Wheels, transit options for seniors and programs like LIHEAP and the
Weatherization Assistance Program that helps households in need reduce energy
spending. Read more about Senator Klobuchar’s
plan to support seniors here.
Increase Access to Homeownership. Homeownership
is out of reach for too many Americans. As President, Senator Klobuchar will
build on programs that allow certain types of rental housing assistance to be
used for home ownership expenses and work to pass legislation that expands
access to capital for down payments and makes it easier to build a credit
history by allowing credit bureaus to use on-time payment data from cell phone
bills, utilities, and rent in calculating credit scores. She will strengthen the
Community Reinvestment Act, develop policies to encourage financial
institutions to make loans and investment in local communities, especially
communities in need, and conduct greater outreach to assess the true credit
needs of certain areas. She will also strengthen federal homebuyer education
programs including targeted programs for communities with low levels of
homeownership. Read more about Senator Klobuchar’s
plans to increase access to homeownership here.
Revitalize Neglected Neighborhoods and Invest in Energy
Efficiency. In some neighborhoods, neglected properties make
investments to improve living conditions or build property value economically
infeasible. Neighboring blighted and abandoned properties further reduce the
possibility of investment, leading to a downward spiral. Senator Klobuchar will
advocate for a new federal tax credit, similar to the Low-Income Housing Tax
Credit, to encourage investment in family-owned homes in distressed
neighborhoods. In addition, Senator Klobuchar will launch a major initiative to
retrofit existing homes to reduce their emissions and address environmental
hazards through grants and tax credits that support insulation, weatherization
improvements, upgrades to heating and cooling systems, and replacement of lead
pipes and other health hazards.
Reduce Homelessness. Over half a million
Americans experience homelessness every night. Senator Klobuchar will make a
major investment in homeless assistance grants that provide emergency and
long-term housing and build on her work in the Senate increasing access to case
management services like counseling and job training. This also means addressing
the unique challenges of specific homeless populations including those living
in rural areas, domestic violence victims, and the formerly incarcerated.
Increase Affordable Rental Housing in Rural Communities
and Improve Access to Information about Rural Housing Programs. 54
million Americans live in rural areas with a severe need for more affordable
rental housing. Senator Klobuchar will strengthen rural rental assistance
programs and significantly increase investments in the rural housing supply. She
will also improve training for state, local and federal agencies so communities
and developers can better access housing opportunities, as well as improve and
expand programs that provide technical assistance to rural nonprofits to
connect rural communities with resources to develop housing.
Increase Support for Workers
Strengthen the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The
EITC has a strong record of success in encouraging work and alleviating
poverty. About 26 million Americans currently benefit from EITC, and it
prevents close to 6 million people, including 3 million children, from living
in poverty. As President, Senator Klobuchar will work to strengthen the EITC
for workers in families with children by increasing the phase-in rate so the
lowest-income workers reach the maximum benefit more quickly, increasing the
maximum credit by about 30 percent and expanding eligibility for the credit so
more workers will receive assistance. These improvements will more than satisfy
the recommendation of the National Academy of Sciences report to strengthen the
EITC, as part of putting our country on track to cut child poverty in half in
the next decade and end it within a generation.
Expand EITC Eligibility. Childless workers under
age 25 and over age 64 are not currently eligible for the EITC. As President,
Senator Klobuchar will work to expand eligibility by lowering the minimum age
to 18, with an exception for full time students and dependents, and increasing
the maximum age in line with already scheduled increases in the eligibility age
for Social Security.
Provide EITC Beneficiaries With the Option of Advanced
Periodic Payments. Receiving a single payment when EITC beneficiaries
file their taxes at the end of the year can make it difficult for EITC
beneficiaries to cover expenses that come up over the course of the year. As
President, Senator Klobuchar will give beneficiaries the option to receive
periodic payments of the EITC in advance to give them more regular income
throughout the year.
Raise the Federal Minimum Wage to $15 an Hour. As
President, Senator Klobuchar will push for legislation to raise the federal
minimum wage to $15 an hour and eliminate the tipped minimum wage.
Expand Access to Child Care
Invest in Quality, Affordable Child Care. Senator
Klobuchar believes that early, quality child care and education is one of the
most important public investments we can make as a country. As President, she
will work to create a new federal-state partnership to make child care more
affordable by capping spending on child care at seven percent of income for
families making up to 150 percent of their state’s median income. Read more about Senator Klobuchar’s
child care policies here.
Improve the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit
(CDCTC). Senator Klobuchar will convert the CDCTC to a
fully-refundable tax credit and concentrate its benefits on families with the
lowest incomes and with children under the age of five. These improvements will
meet the recommendation of the National Academy of Sciences report to
strengthen the CDCTC, as part of putting our country on track to cut child
poverty in half in the next decade and end it within a generation.
Maintain the Increased Child Tax Credit. The
2017 tax bill doubled the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 per child to $2,000.
Although Senator Klobuchar will repeal the regressive portions of this tax
bill, she will maintain the increased Child Tax Credit.
Strengthen Affordable Nutrition Programs
Increase SNAP Benefits and Improve School Nutrition
Programs. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a
vital resource for meaningful relief for Americans when it is most needed.
While the Trump Administration tries to impose draconian cuts on the program,
Senator Klobuchar believes we must strengthen it for families in need. Senator
Klobuchar will increase the maximum SNAP allocation by 30 percent and provide
an additional $30 a month to families for each child between 12 and 17 years
old. These improvements will meet the recommendation of the National Academy of
Sciences report to strengthen SNAP, as part of putting our country on track to
cut child poverty in half in the next decade and end it within a generation.
Senator Klobuchar will also streamline the certification process for elderly
and disabled recipients who are living on fixed incomes and make it easier for
low-income college students to enroll in the program. As a member of
the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Klobuchar has been a champion for
protecting and strengthening the safety net for Americans in need. She has
supported programs like SNAP, the Emergency Food Assistance Program, and the
Commodity Supplemental Food Program and pushed for the Fresh Fruit and
Vegetable Program, which helps introduce children to a variety of fresh fruits
and vegetables. She also introduced and passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids
Act to support healthy meals for children, and the HELP Schools Act to
strengthen nutrition in school lunches. As President, Senator Klobuchar will
expand free breakfast programs, summer meal programs, and the availability of
meals and snacks to students outside of normal school hours. She will also make
it easier for schools to partner with local agricultural producers to give
students access to healthy, local food.
Strengthen the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Research has consistently shown
that participating in WIC improves nutrition and health outcomes for low-income
families. As President, Senator Klobuchar supports efforts to promote outreach,
especially harder to reach populations like students with children,
grandparents caring for children, and foster parents, simplify and streamline
WIC enrollment, including through auto enrollment when possible, and expand
benefits and eligibility.
Secure Equal Access to Justice
Provide Access to Counsel. Senator Klobuchar
will create a new federal grant program with the goal of eliminating the unmet
need when it comes to providing access to counsel in civil cases involving
basic human needs, which means providing counsel for people who are dealing
with evictions, being denied access to health care, and having wages unfairly
taken.
Ensure Federal Investments Are Reaching the Communities
Suffering the Most From Decades of Neglect. Unequal patterns of
federal investment, often the result of systemic racism and discrimination,
have led to decades of neglect in some communities. Senator Klobuchar is
committed to adopting Congressman Jim Clyburn’s 10-20-30 plan, in which 10
percent of federal resources are committed to communities where at least 20
percent of the population has been living below the poverty line for 30 years
or more. She supported the original 10-20-30 formula in the American
Reinvestment and Recovery Act, and as President, she will work to ensure that
at least 10 percent of every agency’s funding for discretionary programs goes
to areas dealing with persistent poverty under the 10-20-30 formula.
To pay for her trillion dollar Housing First proposal, the
Senator will use revenue from ending the war in Afghanistan, repealing
regressive portions of the 2017 Republican tax bill, strengthening tools to crack
down on international tax havens and creating a new minimum tax on large
corporations.
The vigorous contest of Democrats
seeking the 2020 presidential nomination has produced excellent policy
proposals to address major issues. One of the major issues is how to
restructure the economy for sustainability and protect jobs. Senator Amy
Klobuchar just released a comprehensive plan to address the future of work
in a changing economy This is from the Klobuchar campaign:
DES MOINES – Today, ahead of a panel discussion
at Machinists Lodge 254 in Des Moines, Senator Amy Klobuchar released her plan
for the future of work and a changing economy. Senator Klobuchar’s proposal is
a comprehensive plan to address digital disruption and renew the social
contract in the gig economy, respect the dignity of work, invest in America’s
future and focus on economic justice and shared prosperity.
Senator Klobuchar’s plan includes updating consumer and worker
protections, strengthening collective bargaining and labor rights, establishing
national paid family leave, creating portable personal retirement accounts,
boosting entrepreneurship and investing in cybersecurity.
Senator Klobuchar’s Plan for the Future of Work and a
Changing Economy
In America, no matter where you come from, who you know, or where you
live, if you work hard, you should be able to make it in this country. But
that’s not the case for too many people in today’s economy. Senator Klobuchar
is committed to championing economic policies that give all Ameicans an
opportunity to succeed. That means connecting our students and affordable
education to the jobs of today and tomorrow, increasing wages and respecting
the dignity of work, making health care more affordable, ensuring a secure
retirement, investing in our infrastructure and creating jobs, focusing on
economic justice and shared prosperity, and budgeting responsibly for our
future. And it means a Competitive Agenda for America to ensure that America
continues to be a country that thinks, that invents, that makes stuff, and that
exports to the world.
Address Digital Disruption
Senator Klobuchar believes we need to start tackling the challenges
presented by digital disruption and a changing economy. The future of work is
changing, which is putting stress on the social contract we’ve had in this
country when it comes to job training, employment, and retirement. Senator
Klobuchar’s plan is a plan for the future: offering stronger worker
protections, reasserting protections for consumers in a digital world,
investing in cybersecurity across the economy to prevent crippling attacks on
infrastructure and commerce, and taking on consolidation which is threatening
to take us into a new Gilded Age.
Renew the Social Contract for the Gig Economy. Senator
Klobuchar believes we must update our laws to reflect the evolving nature of
work.
Invest in education and job training, including for
workers at risk of losing their jobs to automation. Senator Klobuchar
is committed to creating new opportunities and ensuring a just transition for
workers who have been displaced by the changing economy. She believes the
federal government has an important role to play during economic transitions.
As President she will take action to ensure that workers can pursue additional
education and can do so without a financial burden at any age. She will also
create a new tax credit for employers that invest in training for workers at
risk of being laid off through on-site training programs or provide paid time
off for off-site retraining.
Make it easier to save for retirement. The
retirement system we have today wasn’t designed for today’s economy where
workers stay in a job for an average of four years and more than 57 million
Americans are working in the gig economy. As President, Senator Klobuchar will
work to create innovative, portable personal retirement accounts called
UP-Savings Accounts. Under her plan, employers will set aside at least 50 cents
per hour worked, helping a worker build more than $600,000 in wealth over the
course of a career.
Invest in quality, affordable child care and create a
national paid family and medical leave program. As President, Senator
Klobuchar will create a national paid family leave program to provide workers
with 12 weeks of paid leave per year to care for a new child, a family member
with a serious health condition, or their own serious health condition. She
will also create a new federal-state partnership to make child care more
affordable by capping spending on child care at seven percent of income for
families making up to 150 percent of their state’s median income, invest in
expanding the availability of child care, and work to raise wages for
caregivers and early childhood teachers. Read more about Senator Klobuchar’s
child care and paid family leave policies here.
Give workers access to a non-profit public option for
health insurance. As President, Senator Klobuchar will work to pass
legislation to create a non-profit public option that expands Medicare or
Medicaid. She will also build on the Affordable Care Act to help bring down
costs to consumers, including expanding premium subsidies, providing
cost-sharing reductions, making it easier for states to put reinsurance in
place, and continuing to implement delivery system reform. And she will take on
the other health care challenges we face including the price of prescription
drugs, mental health care, addiction and long-term care. Read more about Senator Klobuchar’s
health care policies here.
Allow gig workers to organize and prevent employees from
being misclassified as independent contractors. As President, Senator
Klobuchar will work to pass Senator Patty Murray’s Protecting the Right to
Organize Act — a bill Senator Klobuchar co-sponsors in the Senate — that
protects gig workers by preventing employers from misclassifying their
employees as independent contractors.
Update the tax code to work for gig workers. Gig
workers face additional challenges in properly tracking earnings and expenses
and calculating and paying taxes. As President, Senator Klobuchar will simplify
withholding for self-employed workers. Giving workers the option of having
their self-employment taxes withheld directly from their 1099s would reduce the
burden of quarterly tax filing and help smooth irregular incomes. She will also
lower the 1099-K threshold for gig economy platforms, so workers have more
information about their earnings, and consider creating a gig worker standard
business deduction to simplify the calculation of business expenses for gig
workers.
Update Consumer Protections for the 21st Century
Economy. Advances in technology have opened new opportunities for
consumers, entrepreneurs and businesses, but they have also created new threats
to privacy. Consumer protection laws have not kept pace with these
technological advances. As President, Senator Klobuchar will update consumer
protections so they work in the 21st century economy.
Strengthen consumer privacy protections. As
President, Senator Klobuchar will work to pass legislation similar to the
Consumer Online Privacy Rights Act, which she leads with Senator Maria
Cantwell. The bill would establish strong privacy rights for consumers
including the right to access their data and greater transparency, the right to
prevent data from being distributed to unknown third parties, the right to
delete or correct their data and the right to take their data to a competitor.
It would also establish a “duty of loyalty,” which would prohibit
companies from engaging in deceptive and harmful data practices. In addition,
the legislation would require companies to implement strong data security
policies, receive affirmative consent from consumers for collecting sensitive
information, and give consumers, states, and the Federal Trade Commission new
enforcement authorities. Senator Klobuchar will also work to pass legislation
based on her bipartisan Protecting Personal Health Data Act to create
protections for new health technologies not covered by existing privacy laws.
Increase rights for consumers after data breaches. As
more personal information is collected and stored online, consumers are
increasingly vulnerable to having their data exposed in a data breach. As
President, Senator Klobuchar will push for legislation similar to her
bipartisan Social Media Privacy and Consumer Rights Act to require companies to
notify users within 72 hours when their data has been breached and offer
meaningful remedies for people whose data has been compromised.
Empower consumer protection agencies. Without
effective enforcement, fraud and scams — like robocalls, senior fraud,
identity theft, and predatory student loans — have become problems for too
many Americans. As President, Senator Klobuchar will make sure that the federal
agencies charged with protecting consumers have the tools they need to be
effective cops on the beat, including personnel, technological expertise, and
strong enforcement authorities.
Tackle new forms of discrimination. As
President, Senator Klobuchar will update our laws to counter new forms of
discrimination, like digital redlining and racial bias built into algorithms
that are playing a larger role in everything from hiring decisions to medical
care.
Provide access to a free and open internet. Consumers
and businesses deserve a level playing field on the internet. As President,
Senator Klobuchar will work to codify strong net neutrality principles and make
immediate progress in her first 100 days by using federal contracting
requirements to encourage broadband providers to honor net neutrality
principles and promote a free and open internet.
Invest in Cybersecurity That Protects Our Economy and Our
Democracy. Our economy increasingly relies on internet-connected
devices and infrastructure and this trend will only accelerate in the coming
years. This creates opportunities for terrorists, foreign governments, and
competing firms that could severely damage our economy. And we already know
that our election infrastructure is vulnerable to cyber attack and foreign
governments are working to interfere in our elections. Read more about Senator
Klobuchar’s plans to protect our democracy here.
Build the cybersecurity workforce our economy
needs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the United States will
add over 550,000 new information technology jobs to our economy over the next
10 years, including in big data and information security. As President, Senator
Klobuchar will expand STEM programs, including for women and traditionally
underrepresented minorities, and invest in apprenticeships so students and
workers can get on-the-job training in the technology jobs of the future, and
she will expand access to credentials through tution-free one- and two-year
degrees, technical certifications, and tuition-free community college.
Protect critical infrastructure against cyberattacks. Cyberattacks
on our electric grid, transportation infrastructure, or water management
systems could be devastating to our economy. As President, Senator Klobuchar
will work to build federal partnerships with the private sector to implement
NIST’s cybersecurity framework. She will make sure the federal government is
assisting companies in addressing global supply chain risks and increasing the
security of emerging technologies. Senator Klobuchar will also improve federal
preparedness for responding to cyber incidents.
Increase cybersecurity expertise in the federal
government. As President, Senator Klobuchar will make cybersecurity an
immediate priority. She will issue an Executive Order launching government-wide
cybersecurity initiatives, fast-tracking and streamlining procurement of modern
information technology across agencies. She will also work to pass legislation
similar to her bipartisan Cyber Security Exchange Act to provide a path for
cyber experts at private firms or academia to work for federal agencies for up
to two years. Federal workers will also be given the opportunity to work in the
private sector to develop their skills in the latest cybersecurity
practices.
Strengthen Antitrust Enforcement. U.S. firms
have engaged in $10 trillion worth of acquisitions during the past
decade. Senator Klobuchar believes we need to do more when it comes to
taking on monopoly power and promoting competition not just for our consumers
but for our businesses. Competition does more than just lower prices. It
improves quality, spurs innovation, makes it easier for entrepreneurs to start
new businesses, and creates better jobs. As the top Democrat on the Senate
Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee, Senator Klobuchar has been a leader in taking
on this new Gilded Age. She leads the Consolidation Prevention and Competition
Promotion Act to make sure our antitrust laws adequately promote competition
and protect consumers, the Merger Enforcement Improvement Act to give antitrust
enforcement agencies the tools they need to be effective, and the Merger Filing
Fee Modernization Act to update merger filing fees.
Investigate monopolization claims and review mergers that
have already taken place. As President, Senator Klobuchar will harness
the power of investigations to look at acquisitions that have already occured
and investigate monopolization claims, including whether the integration of
services insulate tech companies from competition.
Strengthen merger enforcement. As President,
Senator Klobuchar will make sure that our antitrust agencies have the resources
they need to be aggressive and effective, updating the outdated merger filing
fees so that the merging parties of the largest deals start paying their fair
share. She will also give the agencies tools to analyze the effectiveness of
merger conditions so they can make better and stronger enforcement decisions.
Give antitrust agencies and courts the legal tools
necessary to promote competition. As President, Senator Klobuchar will
work to pass legislation creating a more stringent legal standard to protect
competition, shifting the burden of proof for mega-mergers from the government
to the parties to demonstrate that their mergers do not reduce competition, and
clarifying that existing antitrust laws should take into account more than
price and that they should also consider vertical integration, harm to
innovation, as well as monopsony — a market condition where there is only one
buyer.
Create a new competition advocate. As President,
Senator Klobuchar will create a new position to oversee the effectiveness of
merger enforcement. The Office of the Competition Advocate would help consumers
raise complaints about anti-competitive activity, encourage antitrust
investigations, and analyze and publish reports on merger activity.
Respect the Dignity of Work
Senator Klobuchar believes that everyone who works hard should be able
earn enough to care for and support their family. Respecting the dignity of
work means raising the minimum wage, providing paid family leave and child care
and making sure people have a secure retirement.
Raise the Minimum Wage to $15 an Hour and Enforce
It. As President, Senator Klobuchar will push for legislation to raise
the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and eliminate the tipped minimum wage.
To make immediate progress toward this goal, she will increase the minimum wage
for federal contractors to that threshold. She will also immediately strengthen
enforcement and expand investigations to make sure that our wage laws are
properly enforced and that workers are able to recover back pay when the
government rules in their favor.
Create a National Paid Family and Medical Leave Program. The
United States is the only industrialized nation without a national paid leave
program, and only 19 percent of American workers have access to paid family
leave through their employer. As President, Senator Klobuchar will create a
national paid family leave program to provide workers with 12 weeks of paid
leave per year to care for a new child, a family member with a serious health
condition, or their own serious health condition. Read more about Senator Klobuchar’s
plan for paid family and medical leave here.
Invest in Quality, Affordable Child Care. Senator
Klobuchar believes that early, quality child care and education is one of the
most important public investments we can make as a country. As President,
Senator Klobuchar will work to create a new federal-state partnership to make
child care more affordable by capping spending on child care at seven percent
of income for families making up to 150 percent of their state’s median income
and invest in expanding the availability of child care and raising wages for caregivers
and early childhood teachers. Read more about Senator Klobuchar’s
plan for child care here.
Make It Easier to Retire. As President, Senator
Klobuchar will work to create innovative, portable personal retirement accounts
called UP-Savings Accounts. Under her plan, employers will set aside at least
50 cents per hour worked, helping a worker build more than $600,000 in wealth
over the course of a career. She will continue to push for legislation to
protect retiree pensions. Senator Klobuchar will also work to strengthen Social
Security, and she believes that this program must remain solvent for
generations to come and she will fight against risky schemes to privatize it.
As President, Senator Klobuchar will work to lift the Social Security payroll
cap. Currently the payroll tax only applies to wages up to $133,000. Senator
Klobuchar supports subjecting income above $250,000 to the payroll tax and
extending the long-term solvency of Social Security. And Senator Klobuchar will
make sure people are treated fairly by the current Social Security system. As
President, she will work to strengthen and improve Social Security benefits for
widows and people who took significant time out of the paid workforce to care
for their children, aging parents, or sick family members. Senator Klobuchar
also opposes cuts and risky schemes to privatize Medicare and will take action
to strengthen Medicare and find solutions so it remains solvent. She will
improve Medicare for current beneficiaries by reforming payment policies
through measures like site neutral payments and providing incentives for
getting the best quality health care at the best price, including bundled
payments and telehealth. Read more about Senator Klobuchar’s
policies for seniors here.
Stand up for Our Unions. As the granddaughter of
an iron ore miner and the daughter of a union teacher and a union newspaperman,
Senator Klobuchar knows firsthand how unions give Americans and their families
the opportunities they need to succeed. As President, she will support real
labor law reform, ensure free and fair union elections, protect collective
bargaining rights, roll back Right to Work laws, and make it easier — and not
harder — for workers to join unions. Read more about Senator Klobuchar’s
labor policies here.
Invest in America’s Future
Right now, our economy is stable thanks to the efforts of our workers
and our businesses. Senator Klobuchar believes that real leaders use times of
stability to take on the challenges before them and invest for the future. As
President, Senator Klobuchar will strengthen our economy by empowering small
businesses and entrepreneurs and expanding exports, get our fiscal house in
order and tackle the big challenges we face as a country.
Empower Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs and Expand
Exports. Senator Klobuchar knows that small businesses and
entrepreneurs help power our economy and create jobs. Supporting small
businesses is one of the best ways to maintain a dynamic economy. And in an
increasingly global economy, she is committed to giving more businesses the
opportunity to export and reach customers across the world.
Expand access to capital for small businesses. Lack
of access to capital is one of the biggest obstacles to starting a small
business. As President, Senator Klobuchar will expand Small Business
Administration (SBA) lending programs and make it easier for small businesses
to get the loans and technical assistance they need to grow. She will also work
to increase small dollar lending by the SBA, which can be particularly
important for women and people of color seeking to start a small
business.
Promote entrepreneurship and reverse the “startup slump.” New
businesses drive economic growth, but fewer startups are launched every year.
Startup rates have fallen to near 30-year lows. Senator Klobuchar recently
launched the bipartisan Senate Entrepreneurship Caucus with Senator Tim Scott
to address the most pressing issues facing entrepreneurs. As President, she
will build on her work through the America COMPETES Act to close the gap
between innovation and commercialization, help colleges and universities
partner with entrepreneurs, accelerate the commercialization of federally
funded research and update regional innovation programs at the Economic
Development Administration. To reverse the startup slump she will also tackle
unprecedented corporate consolidation, make it easier to export, simplify small
business rules, expand access to capital, as well as promote incubators,
mentoring and training.
Make it easier to export, especially for small businesses. Ninety-five
percent of the world’s potential customers live outside of the U.S., but less
than one percent of American businesses export. As President, Senator Klobuchar
will restart the President’s Export Council, which brings together business,
labor, and agricultural leaders with Members of Congress and key Administration
officials to help promote a comprehensive export and trade strategy. She will
also work to pass legislation based on her bipartisan Promoting Rural Exports
Act to establish a Rural Export Center to help rural businesses export their
products to new international markets. And since international tourism is one
of our top exports, she will work to reauthorize Brand USA so the United States
can compete to attract foreign visitors.
Support small manufacturers. As President,
Senator Klobuchar will support and expand the Manufacturing Extension
Partnership program, which the Trump Administration has tried to eliminate. The
program helps small manufacturers innovate, upgrade their technology and
improve production. She will work to create a manufacturing tax incentive to
encourage investment in rural communities or communities that have faced or are
about to face manufacturing job losses. She will also support our small
manufacturers by expanding guaranteed loan programs that make it easier for
rural manufacturers to access capital, pushing for a new tax credit for
manufacturers to hire registered apprentices, providing financing and grants
for equipment and technology upgrades, and working with states, localities,
research universities and community colleges to promote workforce development,
apprenticeships, and innovation in manufacturing.
Govern with Fiscal Responsibility. In less than
three years, President Trump has added $4 trillion to the national debt. The
nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that by 2029, the national
debt will be higher than it has been at any time since 1946, right after World
War II. And each year over the next decade the federal government will spend an
average of about $1.2 trillion more than it collects in revenue. As President,
Senator Klobuchar will reverse this trend with the goal of lowering the debt to
GDP ratio by the end of her first term and putting our country on a sustainable
fiscal path.
Move to a biennial budget process. Senator
Klobuchar will push to overhaul the way Congress budgets federal dollars to
strengthen oversight of government spending and move the country forward when
it comes to tackling the nation’s debt. She is a co-sponsor of Senators Johnny
Isakson and Jeanne Shaheen’s Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act, which
would create a two-year budget and appropriations cycle with the first year
dedicated to appropriating federal dollars and the next year dedicated to
conducting oversight of how those federal dollars are being used. Senator
Klobuchar also supports moving from a 10-year forecasting window to a 25-year
forecasting window for Congressional Budget Office and Joint Tax Committee
scores, as the expanded window will better capture the long-term fiscal impact
of federal policies.
Establish a dedicated fund to tackle the U.S. debt and
support our economy. Senator Klobuchar will establish a dedicated fund
to make a down payment to tackle the U.S. debt and protect our economy. She
will initially seed the fund with $300 billion by raising the corporate tax
rate and dedicating savings from the government-wide budget review. When the
economy is doing well, the fund will finance deficit reduction. When specific
economic indicators show our economy is in a recession, the funding will
automatically be diverted to increase spending on programs that are effective
at stimulating the economy like infrastructure spending, increased unemployment
and nutrition assistance, and an increased federal share of Medicaid and CHIP
spending. As tax changes are implemented and as departments complete Senator
Klobuchar’s government-wide review, she will invest additional government-wide
savings towards expanding the fund to decrease the deficit and support our
economy.
Eliminate duplicative government spending. Senator
Klobuchar will immediately order all cabinet secretaries to undertake a
comprehensive review of their department’s budget and identify a list of
duplicative and unnecessary programs as well as potential gaps in spending.
When it comes to our nation’s defense, Senator Klobuchar is committed to
maintaining and extending our military superiority over any adversary that
would challenge us. She will ensure that our troops are the best-trained and
best-equipped in the world, while also providing for their families at home.
Yet virtually every analysis of the Pentagon’s budget has found duplicative and
unnecessary programs – so she will ask her Secretary of Defense and other
cabinet secretaries to take a close look at how money is being spent with an
eye towards eliminating duplicative and unnecessary spending.
Tackle Today’s Challenges for a Stronger Future. Senator
Klobuchar believes we need to govern from opportunity, not chaos. And governing
from opportunity means meeting the challenges we face head on.
Build a 21st century workforce. Senator
Klobuchar believes we should align our education system with the needs of our
economy. As President, she will champion tuition-free one- and two-year
community college degrees and technical certifications, expand apprenticeships,
and make it easier for Americans who need help to afford four-year degrees. She
will work to reduce the burden of student loans, support our Historically Black
Colleges and Universities, and expand Pell Grants. Read more about Senator Klobuchar’s
post-secondary education policies here.
Pass comprehensive immigration reform. Senator
Klobuchar believes that comprehensive immigration reform is crucial to moving
our economy and our country forward. As President, she will push for a
comprehensive immigration reform bill that includes the DREAM Act, targeted
border security and an accountable pathway to earned citizenship.
Invest in our infrastructure. Senator Klobuchar
has proposed a bold plan to rebuild America’s infrastructure, invest in our
future, and create millions of good-paying American jobs. Her plan includes
repairing and replacing our roads, highways and bridges as well as building
smart climate infrastructure, ensuring clean water, modernizing our airports,
seaports and inland waterways, expanding reliable public transit options,
rebuilding our schools, overhauling our country’s housing policy, and
connecting every household to the internet by 2022. Read more about Senator Klobuchar’s
policies to build America’s infrastructure here.
Make housing more affordable. Senator Klobuchar believes everyone deserves a safe and affordable home. As President, Senator Klobuchar will expand the Housing Choice Voucher program to make vouchers available to all qualifying households with children, increase access to homeownership while investing in neglected neighborhoods, tackle homelessness, and increase affordable rental housing in rural communities. She will also fight housing discrimination and invest in providing access to counsel in civil cases involving basic human needs. Read more about Senator Klobuchar’s housing policies here.
Focus on Economic Justice and Shared Prosperity
Senator Klobuchar believes that right now the Trump economy works for President Trump and his wealthy friends, not for everyone else. As President, she will take on structural racism and remove barriers to success and support communities at risk from being left behind in the new economy.
Address Structural Racism and Barriers to Success. Senator
Klobuchar is committed to addressing the structural racism in our society and
making sure that everyone has the opportunity to succeed. She believes that no
matter where you live, who you know, where you come from, or what you look
like, you should be able to make it in this country.
Work to end child poverty. As President, within
her first 100 days, Senator Klobuchar will put forward a plan to cut childhood
poverty in half in ten years and end child poverty in a generation. The plan
will be based on a National Academies of Science report and include expanding
the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Care Tax Credit, SNAP benefits and
overhauling our country’s housing policy.
Eliminate the wage gap. Today, women working
full-time earn 80 cents for every dollar paid to a man, and the gaps are even
larger for women of color. As President, Senator Klobuchar will work to pass
Senator Patty Murray’s Paycheck Fairness Act to ensure that employers pay
employees equally for equal work — including by prohibiting employers from
asking about the salary history of prospective employees.
Eliminate the wealth gap. Today, Black and
Latino households have only about a tenth of the median net worth of white
households. Senator Klobuchar’s proposal to establish portable, employer-funded
UP-Savings Accounts for retirement savings will help address this disparity.
She is also co-chair of the Diversifying Technology Caucus and the
Entrepreneurship Caucus with Senator Tim Scott. As President she will work to
get more women and people of color in STEM jobs and she will fully empower
agencies to aggressively fight modern-day redlining that prevents businesses
owned by people of color from getting loans and take on predatory lending that
results in higher interest rates in low-income communities of color.
Make education the great equalizer. Senator
Klobuchar believes a good education is one of the very best investments we can
make in our country’s future. As President, Senator Klobuchar will help make
education the great equalizer by increasing teacher salaries, investing in math
and science to prepare our students for the jobs of tomorrow, and rebuilding
our school infrastructure. She has proposed “Progress Partnerships” to help
states take bold action to fund our public schools — including making sure
infrastructure funding goes to high need areas and reviewing state funding
formulas to improve equity. She will also put back in place guidance from
President Obama directing schools to reduce racial disparities in how they
discipline students.
Support Communities at Risk From Being Left Behind in the
Changing Economy. As President, Senator Klobuchar is committed to
providing additional support to at-risk communities so that no one is left
behind.
Expand loans for and investments in local communities in
need. For the past 40 years, the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) has
encouraged financial institutions to make loans and investment in local
communities, especially low-income and minority communities. Senator Klobuchar
will protect the CRA and instruct financial regulators to conduct greater outreach
to assess the true credit needs of their communities.
Support and strengthen the Economic Development
Administration. The Economic Development Administration (EDA) works
directly with communities and regions to promote competitiveness and innovation.
It has a proven track record of success and on average every $1 of EDA
infrastructure funding generates $15 in private investment. Still, the Trump
Administration has repeatedly proposed eliminating the agency. Senator
Klobuchar will ensure the agency has the resources to carry out its mission.
Bridge the rural-urban divide. Senator Klobuchar
has proposed a plan for America’s Heartland that will strengthen our
agricultural and rural communities, bridge the rural-urban divide, and make
sure that kids who grow up in rural America can stay in rural America. This
includes connecting every household to high speed internet by 2022. She knows
that America’s prosperity depends on the success of our farmers and rural
businesses and as a senior member of the Agriculture Committee, she’s been a
champion for farmers and rural communities in the Senate. Read more about Senator Klobuchar’s
agriculture and rural policies here.
Fulfill our responsibility to our communities and workers who have helped power this country. As the granddaughter of a miner who worked 1,500 feet underground, Senator Klobuchar understands the hard work and sacrifice of those who built and powered our country. She is committed to supporting and creating new opportunities for workers and communities that have depended on the fossil fuel industry as our country transitions away from fossil fuels. Senator Klobuchar will work with the public and private sectors to attract new employers and maintain public services, while investing in infrastructure and educational opportunities in areas that experience job loss. As part of any carbon pricing system, she will create a significant manufacturing tax incentive to encourage investment in communities that have faced or are about to face job losses. To make it easier for workers to find new jobs, Senator Klobuchar will also create a new tax credit for companies that hire workers who have previously depended on the fossil fuel industry for employment.
Senator Klobuchar describes how she will pay for these plans and more here, here, here, here, here and here. To pay for her deficit reduction fund, Senator Klobuchar will increase the corporate rate by two additional points to 27 percent and initiate a government-wide budget review. To pay for her child poverty plan, Senator Klobuchar will repeal the regressive portions of the 2017 Republican tax bill.
The vigorous contest of
Democrats seeking the 2020 presidential nomination has produced excellent
policy proposals to address major issues. In a recent poll, Americans have
indicated that education is a top issue. Senator Amy Klobuchar released her “Many Paths to Success”
Post-Secondary Education Plan.
This is from the Klobuchar campaign:
Senator Klobuchar believes there are many paths to success. Her grandpa worked
1,500 feet underground in the mines, never graduated from high school, and
saved money in a coffee can in the basement to send her dad to community
college. Her sister didn’t graduate from high school, worked in manufacturing
in Iowa, got her GED, went to community college and eventually got a four-year
degree.
Today many of the fastest growing occupations require one- and two-year
degrees. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that there will be 74,000 job
openings for electricians over the next 10 years, 68,200 openings for plumbers,
and over 137,000 openings for nurses’ assistants. Senator Klobuchar believes we
must do more to connect people to an affordable education for the jobs we have
available today and tomorrow.
That’s why as President, Senator Klobuchar will focus on championing
tuition-free one- and two-year community college degrees and technical
certifications, expanding apprenticeship opportunities, respecting the dignity
of work by paying people a decent living wage so they can care for and support
their families, as well as making it easier for Americans who need help to
afford four year degrees.
As part of her Post-Secondary Education Plan, Senator Klobuchar
will:
Provide Tuition Free One- and Two-Year Community College Degrees and
Technical Certifications, Promote Apprenticeships, and Respect the Dignity of
Work
● Provide tuition-free community college and technical
certifications. Today many of the fastest growing occupations require one-
and two-year degrees. As President, Senator Klobuchar will create a new
federal-state partnership to provide tuition-free community college one- and
two-year degrees, technical certifications and industry-recognized credentials.
The federal government will match $3 for every $1 invested by the state for
students who qualify for in-state tuition, are enrolled at least half-time, and
maintain satisfactory academic progress. When certain economic indicators show
a state has increased financial need, the federal share of the match will
increase. To qualify for the federal funding, states will also be required to
maintain their spending on higher education, limit the rate of tuition
increases and ensure that students can easily transfer their credits to
four-year programs. This proposal is based on Senator Baldwin’s America’s
College Promise Act and an Obama Administration proposal.
● Connecting students to jobs and ensuring the
dignity of work. It is not enough to provide students and workers with an
affordable education, we must also connect students to job openings and ensure
the dignity of work for the jobs that are available today. As President,
Senator Klobuchar will invest in our workers so that everyone who works hard
can earn enough to care for and support their family. That means raising the
minimum wage, providing child care, and paid family leave and making sure
people have a secure retirement. She will also work with high schools,
community colleges, universities, businesses, labor unions, trade associations
and job training centers to provide information to students earlier in their
education about the availability and outlook for jobs in different careers,
their expected earning potential, and the necessary educational
credentials.
● Invest in apprenticeships. Apprenticeships combine
academic instruction with on-the-job training to give students the skills they
need to succeed while helping employers create a source of qualified workers.
Senator Klobuchar will direct her Secretary of Labor to analyze the use of
apprenticeships for In-Demand occupations, launch a nationwide campaign, and
expand apprenticeship opportunities and benefits with the goal of doubling the
number of apprenticeships to over a million by the end of her first term. She
will also work to pass the American Apprenticeship Act, a
bipartisan bill she leads in the Senate that would help states create and expand
tuition assistance programs for students in pre-apprenticeship and Registered
Apprenticeship programs.
● Improve tax incentives for retraining and
post-secondary education. Tax credits help make college more affordable for
many families, but too often they are not designed to help non-traditional
students. As President, Senator Klobuchar will work to pass bills she currently
leads in the Senate to allow older students and workers to use tax-advantaged
“529” savings accounts for recognized post-secondary credentials and
occupational licenses. As President, she will also pass bipartisan legislation
she leads in the Senate to remove age-based contribution restrictions for
Coverdell education accounts, allowing the accounts to be used for a broader
range of career and technical education costs. Both tax incentives would apply
to older students and workers pursuing retraining opportunities.
● Adapt high school curricula to improve workforce
readiness and post-secondary success and expand opportunities for dual
enrollment. As part of her previously announced Progress Partnerships for
K-12 education, Senator Klobuchar will create incentives for state education
departments to evaluate and improve student career readiness, including
coursework, curriculum and other policies that prepare students for the jobs
available in today’s workforce. As President, Senator Klobuchar will also help
school districts cover the tuition expenses of high schoolers enrolled in
community colleges, apprenticeships, technical certifications, and universities
through dual enrollment programs.
Lower the Cost of College and Reduce the Burden of Student
Loans
● Double the maximum Pell Grant and expand
eligibility to families making up to $100,000 per year. As President,
Senator Klobuchar will double the maximum Pell Grant — which, unlike loans, do
not have to be repaid — to $12,000 per year and expand eligibility to families
making up to $100,000 per year. She will also index Pell Grant levels to
inflation.
● Provide financial support beyond tuition. For
many college students, non-tuition expenses can present a significant hurdle to
completing their education. In addition to expanding Pell Grants, which can be
used for certain non-tuition expenses, Senator Klobuchar will work with states to
establish microgrant programs to help students with necessary expenses if they
face unexpected financial hardship. In addition, she will expand categorical
eligibility for SNAP benefits for low-income students and support pilot
projects to increase the availability of federal housing assistance to
students.
● Simplify the financial aid process. The
income verification process for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA) can be a significant barrier for low-income students. As President,
Senator Klobuchar will work to improve coordination between the IRS and
Department of Education to streamline income verification. She will also allow
previous year tax forms to be used to avoid complications from income
estimates.
● Fix the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
and expand it to cover In-Demand occupations. Loan forgiveness can be
a powerful tool to help encourage recent graduates and current students to
enter public service, but the current Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
is broken. As President, Senator Klobuchar will completely overhaul the Public
Service Loan Forgiveness program to require lenders to provide better
information to borrowers about their eligibility and progress toward
forgiveness, allow borrowers more flexibility to meet the program requirements,
and streamline reporting and verification requirements. She will also expand
the loan forgiveness program to borrowers who work in In-Demand occupations so
we can match students with the job openings of today and tomorrow. Under the
In-Demand occupation loan forgiveness program, any remaining balance on
undergraduate federal student loans would be forgiven after 10 years of
payments through an income-driven repayment plan.
● Allow borrowers to refinance their student loans to
lower rates. Senator Klobuchar believes that if billionaires can
refinance their yachts, students should be able to refinance their student
loans. As President, Senator Klobuchar will work with Congress to pass
legislation that allows students and parents with existing federal and private
student loans for undergraduate and graduate programs to refinance their loans
at lower rates.
● Protect student borrowers and increasing financial
literacy. Too many students have been taken advantage of by
unscrupulous private lenders. As President, Senator Klobuchar will restore and
strengthen rules that allow students who believe they were defrauded by their
colleges to apply for loan forgiveness, providing relief to thousands of
additional students. She will also establish best practices for student
financial literacy and require schools to notify student borrowers of their
total loan obligations, estimated interest rate, and expected monthly payment.
This proposal is modeled after the bipartisan Empowering Student Borrowers
Act, which Senator Klobuchar has co-sponsored in the Senate.
Support Multiple Paths to Success and Invest in Retraining
● Establish a Worker Training Tax Credit. Today
businesses are investing less in workforce training, particularly when it comes
to lower wage workers who are most at risk of losing their jobs to automation
and other emerging technologies. As President, Senator Klobuchar would create a
new tax credit for employers that invest in training for workers at risk of
being laid off through on-site training programs or provide paid time off for
off-site retraining. To qualify for the tax credit, training would have to lead
to an industry-recognized credential, certificate, or degree.
● Invest in adult basic education. In her
first 100 days as President, Senator Klobuchar will reverse President Trump’s
proposal to cut basic education programs for adults, and launch an initiative
focused on increasing opportunities for adults to master literacy and basic
math skills.
● Promote stackable credentials. Stackable
credentials are certifications or occupational licenses that can be combined
with additional coursework that will then lead to an associates degree. As
President, Senator Klobuchar will encourage states to work with employers,
unions, trade associations, and community colleges to develop stackable
credentials for In-Demand fields that provide meaningful employment skills
while building towards a degree.
● Expand accountable skills-based education.
Senator Klobuchar supports finding ways to give students credit for the skills
and knowledge they have from previous jobs or military experience. As a
Senator, her legislation was signed into law to make it easier for veterans
with training to become paramedics and law enforcement officers. As President,
Senator Klobuchar will initiate a grant program for skills-based education with
strong accountability and transparency standards to make it easier for students
to receive credit for skills and knowledge they’ve already acquired.
● Give students returning to school later in life a
fair shot. Students should be able to pursue post-secondary
opportunities later in life. Senator Klobuchar will allow students who are
returning to post-secondary education to requalify for Pell Grants by resetting
their Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and to receive additional Pell
Grants even if they have reached the Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU). She will
also restore Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated students.
● Improve GED programs. As President, Senator Klobuchar will work to improve GED programs by linking them to career skills and community college curricula while increasing students’ chances of success through wraparound support services.
Provide All Students Opportunities for Success
● Increase STEM education including for women and
underrepresented minorities. As co-chair of the Diversify Tech Caucus and
Women’s High Tech Coalition, Senator Klobuchar has been a leader in expanding
STEM education including for women and underrepresented minorities. As Senator,
she successfully passed multiple bills to promote STEM-focused programs at
schools, improve the representation of underrepresented groups on the National
Science Foundation’s Advisory Panel, improve retention of minority STEM
teachers, strengthen NASA’s STEM outreach, and help the National Science
Foundation assist female entrepreneurs. As President, Senator Klobuchar will
continue to promote STEM education including computer science and data literacy.
● Strengthen and increase affordability for
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority Serving
Institutions (MSIs). As President Senator Klobuchar will invest in HBCUs
and MSIs through a new Pathways to Student Success initiative. Participating
HBCUs and MSIs will receive federal funding to waive or significantly reduce
the first two years of tuition for low-income students at four-year
schools.
● Expand and fully support TRIO and GEAR UP. The
TRIO and GEAR UP programs help low-income, first-generation college students,
and students with disabilities, veterans, homeless youth, foster youth, and
individuals underrepresented in graduate education prepare for and succeed in
higher education. The Trump Administration has attempted to cut funding for
these programs, but as President, Senator Klobuchar will expand these programs
and ensure that they are fully funded.
● Ensure veterans have access to the educational
opportunities they have earned. Senator Klobuchar has been a champion
for expanding and modernizing education benefits for our servicemembers. As
President, she will push to reduce the burden of student debt on servicemembers
by lowering or eliminating the accrual of interest on student loans during
their service. She will also ensure that members of the National Guard and
Reserve receive the same GI Bill education benefits as their counterparts in
active duty and adjust tuition assistance for members of the National Guard and
Reserve to keep the tuition assistance competitive. And to support veterans on
college campuses and expand career counseling, Senator Klobuchar will launch
and implement a grant program to invest in college veteran education
centers.
● Remove barriers to education for homeless and
foster youth. During her first 100 days as President, Senator
Klobuchar will direct her Secretary of Education to remove barriers to higher
education for homeless and foster youth, including by ensuring grant programs
identify, recruit and prepare homeless and foster students for post-secondary
education.
● Invest in Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). As
President, Senator Klobuchar will work to ensure that Tribal Colleges and
Universities are fully funded and that TCUs, Alaska Native-serving
institutions, Native Hawaiian-serving institutions and Native American-serving
nontribal institutions will be eligible for the Pathways to Student Success
initiative. She will also build on her work to provide resources for tribal
schools so that they can prepare students to be career and college ready.
● Support students with disabilities. Senator
Klobuchar is committed to accessible education for people of differing
abilities. That includes making sure that education facilities accommodate
people with disabilities, educators have the training and resources to
effectively teach students with learning and other disabilities, and schools
provide supportive resources for students with disabilities.
● Support student parents. Students who
have children are more likely to drop out of their educational programs without
completing them. As President, Senator Klobuchar will expand the Child Care
Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) Program, which provides on-campus
child care services. She will also expand the eligibility for the Child and
Dependent Care Tax Credit to cover child care expenses while parents pursue
postsecondary education and make financial aid calculations fairer for student
parents.
To pay for these investments, Senator Klobuchar will raise the capital
gains and dividends rate for people in the top two income tax brackets, limit
the amount of capital gain deferral allowable through like-kind exchanges, and
implement the Buffet Rule through a 30 percent minimum tax for people with
incomes over $1 million.
Senator Amy Klobuchar has pledged that the For the People Act — legislation that contains 13 of Senator Klobuchar’s legislative provisions to improve access to the ballot box — will be the first bill she sends to Congress as President. (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
The vigorous contest of Democrats seeking the 2020 presidential nomination has produced excellent policy proposals to address major issues. Senator Amy Klobuchar has pledged that the For the People Act — legislation that contains 13 of Senator Klobuchar’s legislative provisions to improve access to the ballot box — will be the first bill she sends to Congress as President. This is from the Klobuchar campaign:
MINNEAPOLIS,
MN –
The right to vote has been hard-fought and hard-won. Right now, insidious
forces are working to take that right away. There are those who suppress the
vote with intimidation, repress our voices with dark money, and refuse to
address foreign attacks on our elections.
Not Senator Klobuchar.
Senator Klobuchar believes it’s time to take back our democracy. She’s leading
the effort in Congress to automatically register every American to vote when
they turn 18, and she has fought for the passage of legislation that would
restore the Voting Rights Act to take on discrimination at the polls. She’s
also worked to get dark money out of politics and in her first month as a
Senator, she helped lead the successful push for meaningful ethics reform in
Congress.
At the same time, Senator Klobuchar is working to make it harder for foreign
adversaries to interfere in our elections. In 2018, she secured $380 million in
election security funds so states could improve their election infrastructure
and protect their elections from attacks by foreign adversaries. And she’s leading
legislation in the Senate to protect our elections with backup paper ballots,
election audits, and accountability for political ads on the internet.
Senator Klobuchar has pledged that the For the People Act — legislation that
has thirteen of Senator Klobuchar’s legislative provisions — will be the first
bill she sends to Congress as President.
She will also champion a voting rights and democracy reform package that:
Eliminates obstacles to voting and makes it easier to vote by
Spearheading
automatic voter registration for all eligible citizens on their eighteenth
birthday by passing and signing into law Senator Klobuchar’s Register America
to Vote Act
Restoring
the Voting Rights Act protections for voters in states with a recent history of
discrimination
Breaking
down institutional barriers to voting, promoting early voting, and prohibiting
states from purging voters from rolls for not voting in recent elections by
passing and signing into law Senator Klobuchar’s SAVE VOTERS Act
Establishing
minimum notification requirements for voters affected by polling place changes
Designating
election day as a federal holiday
Working
with states to assist voters with disabilities
Passing
Same Day Registration to require states to allow people to register to vote on
the same day as the election by passing and signing into law Senator
Klobuchar’s Same Day Registration Act
Ensures
elections are free and fair by
Restoring
citizens’ right to vote after being released from incarceration.
Ending
partisan gerrymandering
Requiring
backup paper ballots and providing election security grants to states for cyber
improvements and audits as part of the Election Security Act — an effort
Senator Klobuchar has led and continues to lead in the Senate
Ensuring
accountability for political ads on the internet by passing and signing into
law Senator Klobuchar’s bipartisan Honest Ads Act
Ensuring
ballots are counted from Americans serving in the military and their family
members
Combating
foreign interference campaigns by improving media literacy education that
teaches students skills to identify misinformation online
Overhauls
our campaign finance system by
Supporting
a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United
Establishing
a campaign finance system to increase the power of small donors through a
multiple matching system for small donations
In
addition, Senator Klobuchar has laid out a plan for her first 100 days that
includes executive action she can take to strengthen our democracy
immediately:
Revive the aggressive protection of voting rights. Senator
Klobuchar will restore the federal government’s longstanding position of
challenging intentionally racially discriminatory voting laws. And while
Congress works to restore the Voting Rights Act (VRA), Senator
Klobuchar will direct the Department of Justice to use Section 3 of the VRA to
“bail-in” jurisdictions to its preclearance requirements, allowing federal
courts to place jurisdictions under the oversight requirement of the VRA.
Prioritize cybersecurity and protect our elections and other American
infrastructure from cyber attack. As President, Senator Klobuchar will
make cybersecurity an immediate priority. She will issue an Executive Order
launching government-wide cybersecurity initiatives, fast-tracking and
streamlining procurement of modern information technology across agencies. She
will also launch a cabinet-level taskforce on election cybersecurity to
coordinate across agencies, including the intelligence community, on how the
federal government can work with state and local governments to address cyber
threats to our democracy and infrastructure. She will also introduce
legislation that provides election security funding, requires backup paper
ballots, and requires campaigns to report contacts from foreign nationals
seeking to interfere in an election to federal authorities.
Impose full sanctions on Russia for hostile act against the United States
and its allies. In 2017, Congress passed legislation providing
additional authorities for the President to impose sanctions on Russia in
response to its election interference and other aggressive actions. The Trump
Administration has resisted full implementation of these sanctions. Senator
Klobuchar will use these authorities to the fullest extent possible to impose
serious costs on the Putin regime and its enablers for hostile acts against the
United States and our allies.
Shine a light on the corporate dark money spending. Senator
Klobuchar will shine a light on the dark money by requiring publicly traded
companies to disclose all political spending over $10,000 to their
shareholders.
Bring transparency to dark money issue advocacy. Senator Klobuchar
will direct the IRS to institute the requirement that tax-exempt organizations
that engage in issue advocacy disclose to the IRS the names of individual
donors who contribute more than $5,000 per year.
Restore protections for journalists and protect the First Amendment. Senator
Klobuchar will restore former Attorney General Eric Holder’s guidance on protections
for journalists so that they are not jailed for doing their jobs.
Overhaul ethics rules for White House employees and other senior officials. Senator
Klobuchar will make clear that the President and Vice President must follow our
conflict of interest laws, do more to investigate foreign agents who lobby in
the United States, give the Office of Government Ethics more enforcement power,
and provide additional protections for all Special Counsels.
Ensure that the President is not above the law. Senator Klobuchar
will instruct the Justice Department to withdraw the Office of Legal Counsel’s
opinions prohibiting the indictment of a sitting president.
Fill judicial vacancies by nominating well-qualified judges on day one. Senator
Klobuchar will waste no time in working with the Senate and the American Bar
Association to nominate a full slate of well-qualified judges who will follow
the law to fill judicial vacancies on federal courts on day one of her
presidency.
All the Democratic candidates for 2020 have strong stands
on gun safety regulations they would implement to reduce the sick, tragic
epidemic of gun violence.
Beto O’Rourke had his break-out moment at the third
Democratic Debate, in Houston no less, forcefully declaring, “Hell, yes, we’re going to take your AR-15, your AK-47. We’re
not going to allow it to be used against our fellow Americans anymore. If the
high-impact, high-velocity round, when it hits your body, shreds everything
inside of your body because it was designed to do that so that you would bleed
to death on a battlefield … when we see that being used against children.”
Senator Amy Klobuchar was joined at the Democratic Debate in Houston by gun safety activists from across the country and following the debate, issued her detailed plan for enacting gun safety measures. This is from the Klobuchar campaign:
MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Gun violence in America has cut short far too many lives, torn families apart and plagued communities across the country. This year there has been an average of about one mass shooting a week in which three or more people have died, including the shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio that killed 31 people in less than 24 hours. At the same time, everyday gun violence in this country continues to take the lives of the equivalent of a classroom of school children every week.
The gun homicide rate in the United States is 25 times higher than other developed countries and gun safety laws are long overdue. Senator Klobuchar has been standing up to the NRA and fighting for stronger gun safety measures since she was the Hennepin County Attorney, working with local law enforcement to push to ban military-style assault weapons. In the Senate, she has supported legislation to ban assault weapons and bump stocks and improve background checks.
As a member of the Judiciary Committee, she authored legislation that would prevent convicted stalkers from purchasing firearms and close the “boyfriend loophole” by expanding the definition of a domestic abuser to include dating partners. That Klobuchar legislation has now passed the House of Representatives and has been blocked by Republicans in the Senate.
Because of her leadership on gun violence prevention, Senator Klobuchar advocated for gun safety legislation at a meeting with President Trump at the White House after Parkland. Seated across from Senator Klobuchar at the meeting, President Trump publicly declared that he supported doing something on background checks nine times. The next day he then met with the NRA and folded. The legislation never was pushed by the White House.
At tonight’s debate, Senator Klobuchar is joined by gun safety activists Roberta McKelvin, Perry and Sharia Bradley, and Mattie Scott as well as the former mayor of Cedar Rapids, IA, Kay Halloran, who is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition.
Instituting universal background checks by closing the gun show loophole.
Banning bump stocks that can increase a semi-automatic rifle’s rate of fire to 700 rounds per minute.
Banning high capacity magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
Quickly raising the age to buy military-style assault weapons from 18 to 21 and fighting to ban the sale of assault weapons.
Providing grants to states to implement extreme risk provisions to empower families and law enforcement to keep guns away from people who show signs of threatening behavior.
Closing the “Charleston loophole” by giving law enforcement additional time to complete background checks.
Closing the “boyfriend loophole” by preventing people who have abused dating partners from buying or owning firearms.
Establishing a waiting period for sales of handguns and assault rifles, which law enforcement can waive in the case of an emergency.
Prohibiting the online publication of code for 3D printing firearms.
Holding manufacturers and distributors of gun kits to the same standards as those of completed firearms.
Providing funding for the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention to conduct research on firearm safety and gun violence prevention.
In addition, Senator Klobuchar has laid
out a plan for her
first 100 days that includes
executive action she can take immediately to address gun violence:
Immediately close the
“boyfriend loophole.”
Consider gun violence
as a public health issue in CDC studies.
Crack down on gun
manufacturers and dealers that break the law.
Prevent people with
severe mental illness from acquiring guns.
Prevent federal
funding from being used to arm teachers.
Senator Amy Klobuchar,left, on stage in Houston for the third Democratic Debate, hosted by ABC News.
Senator Amy Klobuchar had her best moments in the third
Democratic Debate, Sept. 12, in addressing health care and drawing the
distinction between Senator Bernie Sanders’ Medicare-for-All solution in the
quest, shared by all the Democratic candidates, of universal health care at an
affordable cost, health care as a right, not a privilege.
This is from the Klobuchar campaign:
MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Senator Amy Klobuchar has been a leader in the Senate to lower the cost of prescription drugs, expand access to affordable health care and protect reproductive rights. She was the first candidate in this race to release a comprehensive plan to combat addiction and prioritize mental health — two issues she’s championed her entire career.
Senator Klobuchar supports:
Universal health care for all Americans, and she
believes the quickest way to get there is through a public option that
expands Medicare or Medicaid.
Changes to the Affordable Care Act to help bring
down costs to consumers including providing cost-sharing reductions, making it
easier for states to put reinsurance in place, and continuing to implement
delivery system reform.
Lifting the ban on Medicare negotiations for
prescription drugs, allowing personal importation of safe drugs from countries
like Canada, and stopping pharmaceutical companies from blocking less-expensive generics.
Taking on mental health and addiction by launching
new prevention and early intervention initiatives, expanding access to treatment,
and giving Americans a path to sustainable recovery because she believes
everyone has the right — and the opportunity — to receive effective,
professional treatment and help.
Stopping the concerted attack to undermine and
eliminate a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions. She believes
recent bans in states are dangerous, they are unconstitutional, and they are
out of step with the majority of Americans. Amy will continue working to
protect the health and lives of women across the country.
Immediately suspend the Trump Administration’s
efforts to eliminate the Affordable Care Act’s protections for people with
pre-existing conditions.
Immediately allow for the safe importation of
prescription drugs from countries like Canada.
Expand VA health benefits for women veterans and
their babies.
Prioritize mental health and addiction.
End “pay for delay” agreements that increase the
cost of prescription drugs.
Propose legislation to get us to universal health
care.
Develop best models of care to address disparities
in maternal and infant mortality and address the shortage of maternity care
health professional in underserved rural and urban areas.
Stop Trump sabotage of the ACA by ending workarounds
that allow states to raise premiums for sicker people and shift ACA premium
subsidies away from lower-income enrollees.
End the sale of junk insurance policies that
eliminate existing protections for consumers.
End anticompetitive practices that increase the
price of prescription drugs.
Encourage reinsurance programs.
Expand Medicaid reimbursement for people receiving
mental health or substance use treatment.
Ensure
funding for Planned Parenthood, end the gag rule, and restore the Title X
program.
Expand investments in veterans telehealth
services.
Invest in the Veterans Health Administration.
Reassess the granting of Medicaid waivers, including
states that have privatized Medicaid.
Direct the Department of Defense and VA to track
servicemembers and veterans exposed to toxic chemicals.
Direct the Department of Health and Human Services
to consider VHA facilities when designating Health Professional Shortage
Areas.
Strengthen the National Science Foundation and the
National Institutes of Health.
Invest in Alzheimer’s research.
Prioritize health care delivery system reform to
reduce health care costs.
Expand the open enrollment period for health
insurance under the Affordable Care Act so more people can get insurance
coverage.
The vigorous contest of Democrats seeking the 2020 presidential
nomination has produced excellent policy proposals to address major issues.
With this summer posting heat records and yet another Category 5 hurricane wreaking
havoc in the Caribbean and Atlantic islands and barreling down on the East
Coast, US Senator Amy Klobuchar has released her plan to tackle the Climate
Crisis, which is distinguished for a focus on agriculture and the Heartland, in
addition to the more common focus on manufacturing, transportation and clean,
renewable energy. This is from the Klobuchar campaign:
MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The climate crisis isn’t
happening in 100 years — it’s happening now. 2018 was the fourth-hottest year
on record globally and it was another near-record year for U.S. weather and
climate disasters. The dire warnings in the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change and the National Climate Assessment make clear that immediate action is
needed. The National Climate Assessment lays out how increasing global
temperatures are harming our country’s food systems and public health by
increasing the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, while
displacement and destruction caused by climate-related natural disasters
threaten our economy and national security.
Senator Klobuchar is a strong voice from the Midwest when it comes to
climate change. In the Senate, she leads the fight to combat climate change by
serving on the Senate Climate Action Taskforce, has fought for legislation to
reduce greenhouse gases, and has led a Senate resolution recognizing that
global climate change is occurring and will continue to pose ongoing risks
unless we take action. She authored legislation setting a national renewable
electricity standard and she successfully extended renewable energy production
tax credits. The first bill Senator Klobuchar ever introduced was a carbon counter
bill to establish the first national greenhouse gas registry to track emissions
by major industries.
We can’t wait. That’s why Senator Klobuchar is committed to taking
immediate action — without Congress — to transform our energy sector, unlock
scientific breakthroughs, hold the fossil fuel industry accountable, and
support workers and communities that are on the front lines of the climate
crisis. She will:
Use the full power of the presidency to tackle the climate crisis.
Starting on day one of her administration, Senator Klobuchar will take
aggressive executive action to confront the climate crisis. She will introduce
sweeping climate legislation in the first 100 days of her presidency, but she
also won’t wait for Congress when it comes to the full range of legal actions a
President can take to address climate change. Specifically, in the first 100
days of her administration Senator Klobuchar will:
Get the United States back in the Paris International
Climate Agreement on day one. On day one of Senator Klobuchar’s presidency
she will get us back into the Paris International Climate Change Agreement, and
she will immediately begin working with global leaders to strengthen the
agreement so that the United States maintains global leadership to address the
climate crisis.
Restore the Clean Power Plan. Senator Klobuchar will
bring back the Clean Power Plan, which set emissions standards for states with
respect to reductions in carbon dioxide emissions. She will negotiate even
stronger emissions standards that account for the progress states have already
made.
Bring back the fuel-economy standards. Senator Klobuchar
will restore and strengthen our fuel economy standards, which are key to making
an immediate impact on the emissions of cars and light trucks. The Trump
Administration has weakened the fuel-economy standards for cars and light
trucks and has challenged the right of California and other states to follow
more stringent standards.
Introduce sweeping legislation that will put our country
on the path to 100% net zero emissions by 2050. In her first 100 days as
President, Senator Klobuchar will introduce and work with Congress to pass
sweeping legislation that will put our country on a path to achieving 100%
net-zero emissions no later than 2050.
End the Trump Administration’s censoring of climate
science. Senator Klobuchar will end Trump Administration efforts to censor
climate science through actions like deleting climate-focused websites,
removing the phrase “climate change” from reports, and preventing government
scientists from attending conferences on climate change.
Set ambitious goals to reduce the carbon footprint of the
federal government. During the first 100 days of her administration,
Senator Klobuchar will aggressively work to reduce the federal government’s
significant carbon footprint. As President, she will set ambitious goals to
increase the efficiency of federal buildings, data centers, and vehicles,
reduce water consumption, and increase the use of renewable energy.
Reinstate the National Climate Assessment Advisory
Committee to immediately start addressing the climate crisis. The National Climate
Assessment Advisory Committee was charged with translating the findings of the
National Climate Assessment into concrete goals. During the first 100 days of
her administration, Senator Klobuchar will reinstate this committee that
President Trump let expire.
Hold the fossil fuel industry accountable. Senator
Klobuchar is committed to standing up to the oil companies and holding the
fossil fuel industry accountable. She will:
End federal fossil fuel subsidies. For too long,
taxpayers have subsidized the massive profits of fossil fuel companies. Senator
Klobuchar will end federal tax subsidies for fossil fuel exploration and
production.
Make politicians accountable to voters, not special
interests. Again and again, bold action on climate has been blocked by the
power of special interests. As President, Senator Klobuchar will put people
first by working to pass a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United
and get dark money out of our politics, as well as establish a campaign finance
system that increases the power of small donors through a matching system for
small donations. She will investigate potential wrongdoings and hold energy
companies accountable.
Expanding Renewable Energy and Transforming the Energy
Sector
There is a scientific consensus that in order to avoid the
worst effects of climate change we will need to achieve 100% net-zero emissions
no later than 2050, which cannot be done without a wholesale transformation of
the energy sector. To expand renewable energy and transform the energy sector
to produce clean power, Senator Klobuchar will:
Invest in infrastructure and provide incentives for state
and local governments, nonprofits, and private companies to expand clean energy
production. Senator Klobuchar will support a landmark carbon pricing system
that does not have a regressive impact on Americans and will help make clean
energy production more cost competitive. She will also do more to accelerate
the adoption of clean energy, including by subsidizing production and investment
by state and local governments, nonprofits and private companies, as well as by
upgrading our grid infrastructure and storage capabilities.
Provide production and investment tax credits.
Senator Klobuchar will create a technology neutral tax credit to support
production of or investment into clean sources of energy. She will also create
a clean energy bond program so that tax-exempt entities can benefit. The
credits will be phased out as overall emissions are reduced.
Upgrade energy grids and storage capacity. Our
country’s electric grid needs an upgrade to account for the irregular nature of
certain clean energy sources, accommodate distributed energy production, and
facilitate smart metering and other innovative technologies. As President,
Senator Klobuchar will create a competitive grant program and a new investment
tax credit to promote investments in grid improvements and storage. She will
also provide rural electric cooperatives access to technical resources and expertise
to overcome the barriers to renewable energy storage and grid improvements
based on a bipartisan bill she leads in the Senate.
Streamline renewable energy production on federal land.
Many federal lands have significant renewable energy potential. As President,
Senator Klobuchar will work to streamline the permitting process for renewable
projects on federal lands while protecting sensitive ecosystems and ensuring a
fair distribution of payments.
Empower municipal utilities and electric cooperatives to
lead on clean energy. Senator Klobuchar knows that one size doesn’t fit all
when it comes to clean energy policy. She will make sure smaller producers,
including municipal utilities and electric cooperatives, have a seat at the
table when decisions are made about federal energy policy. In the Senate, she
authored bipartisan legislation that was signed into law that enables rural
electric power cooperatives and their members to continue to use
energy-efficient water heaters as part of conservation programs. This law
allows cooperatives to optimize both their own energy management and the
environmental benefits of water heaters.
Reduce climate pollution. A carbon price will create
an economic incentive to reduce carbon pollution and there is more we can do to
limit climate pollution from existing fossil fuel production.
Restore and expand the Clean Power Plan. In her first
100 days as President, Senator Klobuchar will bring back the Clean Power Plan,
which set emissions standards for states with respect to reductions in carbon
dioxide emissions. She will negotiate even stronger emissions standards that
account for the progress states have made.
Strengthen enforcement of the Clean Air Act and other
environmental laws. Under the Trump Administration, EPA enforcement efforts
have fallen dramatically. As President, Senator Klobuchar will direct the EPA
to vigorously enforce the Clean Air Act and other environmental laws and make
sure the enforcers have the resources they need.
Reduce methane leakage from oil and gas production.
Methane has as much as 84 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide. The
Trump Administration has rolled back EPA and BLM rules to prevent methane
leakage even though the Senate defeated an attempt to repeal the BLM methane
rule on a bipartisan vote and many companies already comply with stricter state
rules. As President, Senator Klobuchar will restore and strengthen the EPA and
BLM methane rules.
Support research to improve negative emissions
technologies. To supplement other mitigation efforts as we transition
to clean energy, Senator Klobuchar will support research to improve negative
emissions technologies that could be used to reduce the amount of carbon
currently in the atmosphere.
Ban new fossil fuel permitting on federal lands and
review and restore environmental protections repealed by the Trump
Administration. To help accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels,
Senator Klobuchar will ban new fossil fuel permits on federal lands. Senator
Klobuchar will also undertake a comprehensive review and restore environmental
protections repealed by the Trump Administration. The Trump Administration has
revoked dozens of guidance documents and rules that protect people’s safety,
health and the environment when it comes to our power plants, oil refineries,
national parks and wildlife refuges, offshore drilling, pipelines, and oil and
gas development. Senator Klobuchar will undertake a thorough review of all the
repealed guidance and rules, and work to restore our environmental and safety
protections.
Increasing Efficiency and Rebuilding a Green America
Confronting the climate crisis also means improving energy
efficiency and rebuilding infrastructure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
stand up to the effects of climate change. As President, Senator Klobuchar
will:
Increase efficiency and move toward an electrified
transportation sector. Today, transportation accounts for about 30 percent
of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Senator Klobuchar will work to reduce
emissions in the transportation sector through increasing fuel economy,
supporting electrification, and promoting efficient transportation
options.
Bring back the fuel-economy standards. In her first
100 days as President, Senator Klobuchar will restore and strengthen our fuel
economy standards, which are key to making an immediate impact on the emissions
of cars and light trucks. The Trump Administration has weakened the
fuel-economy standards for cars and light trucks and has challenged the right
of California and other states to follow more stringent standards.
Invest in electric vehicle infrastructure and promote
electric vehicle sales. As President, Senator Klobuchar will make a significant
investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure and bring back the tax
credit for electric vehicle purchases.
Strengthen transit and commuter rail networks and support
low- and no-carbon alternatives. As President, Senator Klobuchar will refocus
federal transportation grants to prioritize transit projects, first and last
mile connections, and bicycle and pedestrian improvements. She will also
develop new incentives for transit systems and school districts to replace
their existing bus fleets with low- and no-carbon alternatives.
Revitalize freight and passenger rail. Railroads are
an energy- and cost-effective way for producers to bring their goods to market
and get people where they need to go. As President, Senator Klobuchar will
encourage investment in short-line and freight rail networks. She will also
address safety concerns including by mandating two-man crews, improving braking
systems, and ensuring communities are prepared to respond to derailments
involving hazardous cargo. In addition, she will build on her work pushing for
greater competition in freight markets by providing fair treatment for captive
shippers, appointing well qualified members to the Surface Transportation
Board, and reviewing and addressing consolidation in the freight rail industry.
She is also committed to expanding high-speed rail and Amtrak service in rural
America.
Innovate in international shipping and aviation.
International shipping and aviation account for a growing share of carbon
emissions. As President, Senator Klobuchar will support research and strengthen
international agreements to reduce emissions from sources like aviation and
shipping.
Support green manufacturing and provide consumers with
green options. Manufacturing processes and consumer goods can have a
significant climate impact. New technologies can significantly reduce carbon
pollution, but we need to make sure manufacturers have the tools to adopt these
technologies.
Assist businesses transitioning to green manufacturing
processes. Senator Klobuchar is committed to ensuring businesses have the
resources they need to transition to green manufacturing processes. She will
increase technical support through the Manufacturing Extension Partnership and
regional development strategies and encourage partnerships with community
colleges and research universities. She will also expand manufacturing tax
credits to specifically support upgrades and investments to reduce greenhouse
gas pollution for manufacturers of all sizes.
Build a market for new and existing climate-friendly
products. As President, Senator Klobuchar will support a market for
climate-friendly products by promoting federal procurement policies that
account for low-carbon energy sources and climate conscious processes.
Create a “Buy Clean” product labeling system. Many
consumers are concerned about how their purchasing decisions affect the
climate. As President, Senator Klobuchar will create a “Buy Clean” product
labeling system to give consumers clear information about products that are
produced to minimize their climate impact.
Institute an import fee on carbon-intensive goods. We
cannot allow foreign competitors to undercut U.S. manufacturers that are
producing goods with climate conscious processes. That’s why as President,
Senator Klobuchar will work to institute a fee on imports of carbon-intensive
goods from foreign countries.
Invest in green jobs and infrastructure. Senator
Klobuchar has proposed a $1 trillion infrastructure package that will modernize
our aging energy infrastructure so that it is secure and efficient. This
massive infrastructure investment will create good-paying union jobs and give
workers the skills they need to succeed in the green economy.
Retrofit buildings to reduce their emissions. Residential
and commercial buildings account for a significant share of U.S. greenhouse gas
emissions. Senator Klobuchar will launch a major initiative to retrofit
existing buildings to reduce their emissions through grants and tax credits
that support insulation, weatherization improvements, upgrades to heating and
cooling systems, and other energy saving upgrades.
Make new buildings climate friendly. As President,
Senator Klobuchar will support the development of the next generation of
low-emission buildings through model building energy codes and benchmarking and
transparency programs that cut carbon pollution and energy bills for American
families and businesses.
Promote effective zoning rules to minimize climate
impacts. Some cities are beginning to update their zoning policies through
initiatives like Minneapolis 2040. Senator Klobuchar will prioritize areas that
have updated their zoning rules when awarding federal housing and
infrastructure grants.
Expand the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Senator
Klobuchar has been a strong supporter of the Land and Water Conservation Fund
(LWCF), which preserves natural resources while supporting outdoor recreation
through investments on our public lands. As President, Senator Klobuchar will
push to permanently fund the LWCF.
Coordinate with broadband and other infrastructure
priorities. In the Senate, Senator Klobuchar has been a leading proponent
of “dig once” policies and other ways to reduce costs by coordinating
infrastructure deployment. As President, she will direct federal agencies to
maximize opportunities for coordinating climate, broadband, and other types of
infrastructure deployment.
Build climate resiliency into all federal infrastructure
investments. As President, Senator Klobuchar will make federal infrastructure
investments resilient to both current and future climate risks and partner with
states and communities to develop regionally coordinated, resilient
infrastructure strategies.
Promoting Research and Unlocking New Scientific
Breakthroughs for Green Technologies
At the same time as we move forward aggressively with the
tools we have today, we need to invest in research that will create new
opportunities to tackle the climate crisis. To unlock new scientific
breakthroughs and promote research, Senator Klobuchar will:
Invest in federally sponsored research. Basic and
applied research can uncover new technologies, make existing products more
efficient, and reduce the costs of the tools we need to take on climate change.
Senator Klobuchar will increase investment in federally sponsored research.
Expand direct federal research. As President, Senator
Klobuchar will make bold investments in direct climate research at the
Department of Energy, National Labs, ARPA-E and the Department of Defense.
Partner with universities and non-profits. As
President, Senator Klobuchar will support a major expansion of federal grants
for climate research to universities and non-profits.
Unleash the creativity of the private sector.
American workers and businesses are a vital source of innovation. Senator
Klobuchar believes we must include the private sector in climate research and
innovation.
Strengthen tax incentives for climate research.
Senator Klobuchar will strengthen existing tax credits for businesses investing
in research to develop new processes, technologies and products that reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and help tackle the climate crisis.
Encourage collaboration between researchers and the private
sector. As President, Senator Klobuchar will make it easier for federal
research grant recipients to partner with the private sector and provide
set-aside grants for projects with strong commercialization potential.
Help American companies become global green leaders.
As President, Senator Klobuchar will increase support for businesses looking to
export green products and technologies through a new initiative across U.S.
export promotion agencies.
Respect science and empower scientists. As President,
Senator Klobuchar will stop the constant attacks on scientists and science. She
will also direct all federal agencies to reimplement scientific integrity
policies, reverse rules limiting what types of science agencies can use, and
restart data collection canceled by the Trump Administration.
Mobilizing the Heartland
Senator Klobuchar is a strong voice from the Midwest when it
comes to climate change. She will give rural areas the tools they need to be
leaders in clean energy production, support agricultural practices that take on
climate change and make sure the heartland benefits from rebuilding a green
America.
Support rural clean energy production. Clean energy,
including wind and solar, is a major driver of job growth in rural areas. In
fact, 99 percent of operating wind capacity is located in rural areas. As part
of Senator Klobuchar’s plan to tackle climate change, she will prioritize rural
energy development, including expanding storage capacity and strengthening our
energy grid. And as we continue to develop advanced biofuel technologies, she
will strengthen the renewable fuel standard.
Invest in wind and solar and support rural energy
development. As President, Senator Klobuchar will invest in interregional
transmission lines and grid improvements to support the development of
renewable energy. She will launch a grant program to help rural cooperatives
develop energy storage and microgrid projects for renewable energy generation,
transmission and storage. She will also support increased investment in small,
distributed wind, solar and biogas projects.
Provide technical resources for small, rural energy
producers and distributors. As President, Senator Klobuchar will push for
new economic and environmental opportunities in rural America by investing in
rural renewable energy development and by passing and signing into law her
bipartisan Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy (EASE) Act to provide rural
electric cooperatives access to technical resources and expertise to overcome
the barriers to renewable energy storage and grid improvements.
Investing in and providing incentives for homegrown
energy. Senator Klobuchar believes that homegrown biofuels are an important
part of our rural economies, our nation’s energy security and reducing
greenhouse gas emissions. In the Senate, she has been a leader when it comes to
standing up to the Administration’s misuse of small refinery renewable fuel
standard (RFS) waivers. She has also worked successfully in the Senate to
provide financing and grant support to biobased manufacturers. As President,
Senator Klobuchar will strengthen the RFS, end the overuse of secret RFS small
refinery waivers, promote the use of blender pumps, pass a statute to ensure
year-round E15 sales, and invest in advanced and cellulosic biofuels.
Help farmers be leaders in responding to the climate crisis.
We can position American farmers to be leaders in responding to the climate
crisis by increasing land conservation and expanding on new techniques that
help store more carbon in topsoil on productive farmland.
Invest in conservation innovation. Senator Klobuchar
will target research into soil carbon sequestration, which could improve soil
health as well as reduce carbon levels in the atmosphere. She will also expand
Conservation Innovation Grants to test emerging conservation approaches,
including practices that increase carbon sequestration levels. And building on
provisions she included in the 2018 farm bill, Senator Klobuchar will further
improve agriculture data research of conservation practices to help farmers
reduce risk and increase profitability.
Protect native sod and improve soil health. Senator
Klobuchar pushed for a provision in the 2018 Farm Bill that closed a loophole
allowing some non-insured crops to be planted four consecutive years without a
reduction in crop insurance assistance for succeeding insured crops. As
President, she will expand nationwide the sodsaver’s prohibition to substitute
crop insurance yields on native sod that is converted to cropland. She will
also expand the Soil Health and Income Protection Pilot Program to help provide
farmers an alternative to cropping less productive cropland.
Expand conservation practices. Senator Klobuchar has
been a champion of supporting farmer conservation efforts and promoting farming
practices that reduce soil erosion and improve air and water quality, including
by helping pass the 2018 Farm Bill, which included several of her priorities.
As President, she will support significant new investments in conservation of
working and retired lands. Senator Klobuchar will support the continued expansion
of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and increase resources for the
Conservation Stewardship Program to help provide farmers the tools they need to
protect and enhance natural resources on working agricultural lands. And after
successfully increasing the acreage cap of the Conservation Reserve Program,
Senator Klobuchar will work to attract more enrollees and ensure payment rates
are fair.
Use green infrastructure investment to strengthen rural
communities. There is a significant infrastructure backlog in rural
America. From roads and bridges to levees and stormwater systems many rural
areas face infrastructure challenges that will be difficult to address without
federal investment. Upgrading rural infrastructure to meet our climate goals
will also provide an opportunity to address the backlog and overcome
infrastructure challenges that are holding back rural America.
Strengthen rural transportation infrastructure. Rural
transportation infrastructure is at risk from the effects of climate change. As
President, Senator Klobuchar will invest in the repair and improvement of rural
bridges that are not part of the federal-aid highway network and invest in the
Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to improve inland waterways and ports, including
funding for the Navigation and Ecosystem Restoration Program to modernize and
expand outdated locks and restore ecosystems along the Mississippi.
Expand energy efficiency programs. Energy costs can
be a significant burden on farms, small businesses and households in rural
communities. Senator Klobuchar has long worked to see that the Rural Energy for
America Program (REAP) has the resources needed to provide grants to farms and
rural businesses to install energy efficient technologies, and she will
continue to push for additional resources. In the Senate, she authored
bipartisan legislation that was signed into law that empowers the nonprofit
community to make energy-efficiency improvements to their buildings and
offices.
Upgrade levees to account for more frequent and severe
floods. The floods we saw throughout the Midwest this year show why we
cannot wait to upgrade our levees so they can protect communities from more
frequent and severe floods. Senator Klobuchar will make upgrading levees a
major focus of her infrastructure investment in the heartland.
Update the rural housing stock. Much of the existing
rural housing stock is outdated and in poor condition, which contributes to the
rural housing crisis. Investments in weatherizing and updating homes and their
heating and cooling systems will build value and help renew the rural housing
stock.
Bring high-speed broadband to every household and
business in America. Broadband access can reduce commuting and make
business and farms more efficient. In an effort to close the rural-urban
divide, Senator Klobuchar has previously announced a commitment to connect
every household in America to high-speed internet by 2022. She will focus on
creating accurate broadband maps to identify areas that lack adequate access, bringing
high-speed internet infrastructure to areas most in need, including by
expanding Rural Utility Service grants, and providing greater incentives for
existing providers to upgrade their networks to cover unserved and underserved
areas. She will also work to quickly implement the recommendations of the
Precision Ag Connectivity Task Force to help farmers fully realize the
potential of broadband in their operations.
Leaving No One Behind
Vulnerable communities are currently experiencing a
disproportionate share of the effects of climate change. Senator Klobuchar is
committed to leaving no one behind through investments in climate adaptation
and support for frontline communities. She will also focus on fulfilling our
responsibility to our communities and workers who have helped power this
country.
Support communities that are most directly experiencing
the effects of climate change. Traditionally marginalized communities
including African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and disabled Americans
are experiencing some of the most severe effects of climate change. Senator
Klobuchar will prioritize assisting these communities as they adapt to the
effects of climate change.
Make sure vulnerable communities are a key part of all
decision making. We cannot continue to make decisions about climate change
without directly and meaningfully involving the communities that are most
affected. Senator Klobuchar will make sure traditionally marginalized
communities are a key part of all decision-making processes.
Direct resources to the communities with the greatest
needs. As President, Senator Klobuchar will create tax incentives and
increase federal funding to communities that are most directly experiencing the
effects of climate change. She will also prioritize these communities for
infrastructure investments and in other federal climate change programs.
Strengthen environmental justice programs at the EPA.
The Trump Administration has worked to dismantle environmental justice
programs. Senator Klobuchar will invest in the EPA’s Environmental Justice
Grants, Funding and Technical Assistance and Office of Civil Rights.
Invest in affordable housing that promotes climate
resilience and mitigation. As President, Senator Klobuchar will ensure that
all federal housing programs put strong standards in place to reduce carbon
emissions and she will invest in retrofitting so that existing housing is more
energy efficient.
Strengthen LIHEAP and SNAP to protect the most vulnerable
Americans. To be sure that the most vulnerable Americans do not bear
the costs of climate change mitigation and adaptation, Senator Klobuchar will
strengthen two important programs for low-income Americans — LIHEAP, which
helps with home energy costs, and SNAP, which provides nutrition assistance.
Use disaster funding to build more resilient communities. As
President, Senator Klobuchar will work to end the Stafford Act prohibition that
prevents disaster funding from being used for significant infrastructure
improvements. She will also increase funding for FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program.
Fulfill our responsibility to our communities and workers
who have helped power this country. As the granddaughter of miner who
worked 1,500 feet underground, Senator Klobuchar understands the hard work and
sacrifice of those who built and powered our country. She is committed to
supporting and creating new opportunities for workers and communities that have
depended on the fossil fuel industry.
Promote community assistance and support workers.
Senator Klobuchar will work with the public and private sector to attract new
employers and maintain public services, while investing in infrastructure and
educational opportunities in areas that experience job loss. As part of any
carbon pricing system, she will create a significant manufacturing tax
incentive to encourage investment in rural communities or communities that have
faced or are about to face job losses. To make it easier for workers to find
new jobs, Senator Klobuchar will create a new tax credit for companies that
hire workers who had previously depended on the fossil fuel industry for
employment. Workers will also be able to take advantage of Senator Klobuchar’s
previously announced plan to provide tuition-free one- and two-year community
college degrees and technical certifications and expand student loan
forgiveness programs to workers in in-demand occupations.
Reestablish U.S. International Leadership on Climate.
When it comes to global leadership on climate change, the United States has
abdicated its leadership role under the Trump Administration. As President,
Senator Klobuchar will reassert U.S. global leadership to confront the climate
crisis.
Get the United States back in the Paris International
Climate Agreement on day one. On day one of Senator Klobuchar’s presidency
she will get the United States back into the Paris International Climate Change
Agreement, and she will immediately begin working with global leaders to
strengthen the agreement so that the United States maintains global leadership
to address the climate crisis.
Build on the Paris International Climate Agreement to
achieve global emissions reductions we need. Senator Klobuchar will work
with international leaders to build consensus around stronger goals to limit
global warming to no more than 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit. She will also recommit
to controls on other greenhouse gasses through agreements like the Kigali
Amendment. And she will increase U.S. support for the Green Climate Fund.
Establish meaningful enforcement of international climate
goals. The United States is the second largest emitter of greenhouse
gasses, but still only accounts for about 15 percent of global greenhouse gas
emissions. Preventing catastrophic global warming will require meaningful
enforcement mechanisms to ensure other countries also meet their emission
reduction goals, which means making accountability for climate commitments a central
part of our international agenda, taking on China’s efforts to promote dirty
energy sources in other countries, and considering climate goals in all types
of international assistance.
Protect our national security. As President
Senator Klobuchar will elevate the voices of our military and security experts
who have repeatedly warned that climate change will increase the risks of
international conflict and humanitarian crises. She will work with our allies
to support countries most affected by climate change, including addressing
global food and water shortages, supporting climate resilient development,
helping countries adapt to the effects of climate change, and preparing for the
increased risk of natural disasters.
To pay for these critical investments, Senator Klobuchar
will:
Work with Congress to put a price on carbon that does not
have a regressive impact on Americans. We know that carbon pollution has
significant costs, but for too long the public has been forced to bear those
costs while those responsible for the pollution have paid nothing. Most
economists agree that the most efficient way to promote a transition away from
fossil fuels is by putting a price on carbon. As President, Senator Klobuchar
will work with Congress to put a carbon pricing system in place that does not
have a regressive impact on Americans.
Develop Clean Energy Bonds. As President, Senator
Klobuchar will create Clean Energy Bonds that will support investment in clean
energy projects. Investors would earn back their full investment as well as
interest from energy savings to the government and loan repayments for clean
energy projects. Estimates suggest that these clean energy bonds could raise up
to $50 billion and leverage $150 billion for clean energy innovation and the creation
of over 1 million jobs.
End federal fossil fuel subsidies. For too long,
taxpayers have subsidized the massive profits of fossil fuel companies. Senator
Klobuchar will end federal tax subsidies for fossil fuel exploration and
production.
Make a series of corporate tax reforms. To pay for a
green infrastructure investment worth hundreds of billions of dollars, Senator
Klobuchar will make a series of corporate tax reforms including adjusting the
corporate tax rate to 25%, closing loopholes that encourage U.S. companies to
move jobs and operations overseas, establishing a financial risk fee on our
largest banks, and increasing efforts for tax enforcement.
Increase the capital gains rate. To support and
create new opportunities for workers and communities that have depended on the
fossil fuel industry, Senator Klobuchar will raise the capital gains rate for
Americans who make over $200,000.
Close the trust fund loophole. To support updating
our buildings and providing consumers support through programs like LIHEAP and
rebates, Senator Klobuchar will close the trust fund loophole.
The vigorous contest of Democrats seeking the 2020 presidential nomination has produced excellent policy proposals to address major issues. On August 8, immediately after the back-to-back massacres in El Paso, Dayton and Gilroy, US Senator Amy Klobuchar released her plan to keep communities safe from the rising tide of domestic terrorism and hate crimes. This is from the Klobuchar campaign:
“The events of the last week have served as a disturbing reminder that hate crimes and domestic terrorism are on the rise in our country,” said Senator Amy Klobuchar. “As President, I will end the hateful rhetoric that has become all too routine during the Trump Administration and make combating domestic terrorism and hate-motivated violence a priority. We will strengthen enforcement against those who commit acts of hate – including white nationalist hate crimes – and work with law enforcement and communities around the country to increase protections and not only combat these threats, but to address the root causes of domestic terrorism.”
Senator Klobuchar has been taking on hate crimes and combating hate since she was the Hennepin County Attorney. She has seen firsthand the terrible trauma that hate crimes can inflict – not just on individual victims, but on whole communities. And because of her work on this issue as County Attorney, she was invited to the White House when President Bill Clinton proposed the Matthew Shepard federal hate crimes bill.
As County Attorney, she vigorously prosecuted hate crimes. Her office prosecuted defendants responsible for crimes against a 14-year-old boy who was shot while riding his bike on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in a Minneapolis suburb because of the color of his skin, a Minneapolis middle school that was terrorized with burning crosses placed on its grounds, a Korean church in Minneapolis that was desecrated with spray-painted hate messages targeted against blacks, women and gays, and a Hispanic man who was assaulted and severely injured simply because he was speaking Spanish.
In the Senate, Senator Klobuchar has been a leader when it comes to combating hate. She supported the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act and she has pushed to provide additional grant funding to safeguard all faith-based community centers and to protect religious institutions in the face of rising threats of violence. She has been a champion when it comes to securing federal resources to help heal distressed communities after hate crimes. She has also urged the Trump Administration to strengthen measures to combat the threat of white supremacist violence.
As President, Senator Klobuchar will take the following actions to combat hate and domestic terrorism:
Domestic Terrorism
Prioritize combating domestic terrorism
and empower law enforcement to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of
hate-motivated violence, including against minorities, people of color,
immigrants, and the LGBTQ community.
Direct the Department of Homeland
Security to resume its work tracking right wing extremism, including white
nationalism.
Require federal law enforcement agencies
to regularly assess the threat of domestic terrorism and increase training and
resources for state and local law enforcement to address it.
Law Enforcement
In addition to the gun safety proposals
the Senator has previously outlined, prevent people convicted of violent
misdemeanor hate crimes from purchasing or possessing firearms.
Strengthen enforcement of hate crimes,
including white nationalist hate crimes.
Make lynching a federal hate
crime.
Work with Communities
Require the Justice Department and the
Department of Commerce to assess how current forms of communication are being
used to spread hate and recommend ways to combat threats.
Better coordinate efforts to focus on
combating domestic terrorism not only through law enforcement but also by
addressing the root causes of domestic terrorism.
Increase protections for places of
worship and schools.
Restore the Voting Rights Act protections
for voters immediately in states with a recent history of discrimination.
Fully staff and fund the Justice
Department’s Community Relations Service, which provides communities facing
racial and other conflict with services.
The vigorous contest of Democrats
seeking the 2020 presidential nomination has produced excellent policy
proposals to address major issues. Senator Amy Klobuchar’s “Plan from the
Heartland” seeks to strengthen agricultural and rural communities. This is a
summary from the Klobuchar campaign:
MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Senator Amy Klobuchar is proposing a plan for America’s Heartland that will strengthen our agricultural and rural communities, bridge the rural-urban divide, and make sure that kids who grow up in rural America can stay in rural America. Senator Klobuchar knows that America’s prosperity depends on the success of our farmers and as a senior member of the Agriculture Committee, she’s been a champion for farmers and rural communities in the Senate. Her plan builds on her record of getting things done for rural America and as President, she will:
1. HEARTLAND
ECONOMICS
Support our
farmers. Our farmers are facing significant uncertainty as a result
of recent floods and other natural disasters, unprecedented market
consolidation, low commodity prices, and uncertainty surrounding market access
in some of our biggest export markets. As President, Senator Klobuchar would
invest in growth opportunities like renewables to raise farm incomes and create
good paying jobs, and maintain and expand critical safety nets.
Expand commodity support, disaster programs, and federal crop insurance for our small and family-owned farms. As a senior member of the Agriculture Committee, Senator Klobuchar worked to write and pass three farm bills with strong farm safety nets for our farmers. As President, Senator Klobuchar would push to index farm safety net support levels to reflect changes in our country’s cost of production, low commodity prices, and loss of global market access. She would also work to improve and fully fund permanent disaster programs and improve support levels, loan rates and program delivery. Senator Klobuchar also supports improving and expanding commodity support and federal crop insurance programs and increasing the average premium subsidy for crop insurance. And as dairy farms continue to close, Senator Klobuchar would convene a commission to immediately address the dairy crisis.
Strengthen the Animal Disease Vaccine Bank and prioritize crop and livestock health. Strengthening our agricultural disease prevention, surveillance, and response capabilities is critical to our farmers and livestock producers, as new emerging diseases like African Swine Fever could cause billions in damages should they reach the U.S. Senator Klobuchar understands that we need to be doing everything we can to prevent catastrophic disease outbreaks before they start, and if we do have an outbreak, we need to be prepared. She authored and passed provisions to create a disaster response program and a foot and mouth disease (FMD) vaccine bank to protect farmers against the next disease outbreak. As President, she will fully fund disease eradication programs, support new research, and push for additional emergency support for farmers, producers and ranchers impacted by agricultural diseases.
Ensure safety net programs are targeted to help family-owned and small farms and beginning farmers and make sure farmers know about all the available support programs. Senator Klobuchar has repeatedly led efforts to reform the farm support payment system, including an income cap on eligibility for commodity payments. As President, she will work to ensure payments are directed toward those who need them most, including small and family-owned farms. She would enforce the prohibition against artificial subdivision of farms to avoid limits and work to protect family farms from cuts scheduled under the terms of any budget act. Senator Klobuchar will support regional food systems and also create and expand programs that educate farmers on available programs and opportunities including by supporting existing outreach and extension programs through our land grant universities.
Promote exports
and drive job growth. With 95 percent of the world’s customers living
outside our borders, opening up new markets and lowering trade barriers is
critical to our agricultural and rural economy. Our farmers produce food, fuel,
feed, and fiber, and they need export markets where they can sell their
products. Senator Klobuchar will direct her administration to create a national
rural export strategy to coordinate efforts across agencies and review all
international tariffs in place as of 2021 and she will build on her work in the
Senate to continue to increase access for U.S. agriculture producers. In her
first 100 days as President, she will restart the President’s Export Council,
which brings together business, labor, and agricultural leaders with Members of
Congress and key Administration officials to help promote a comprehensive
export and trade strategy.
Invest in rural
infrastructure and transportation. Rural areas are a major focus of
Senator Klobuchar’s $1 trillion infrastructure plan, and she will require a new
Infrastructure Financing Authority to make investments in rural areas. As
President, Senator Klobuchar will invest in the repair and improvement of rural
bridges that are not part of the federal-aid highway network and invest in the
Harbor Maintenance Trust fund to improve inland waterways and ports, including
funding for the Navigation and Ecosystem Restoration Program to modernize and
expand outdated locks and restore ecosystems along the Mississippi. She
will direct additional resources to help close the backlog in USDA’s Water and
Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. To keep rural and general aviation
airports strong, she will continue support for the Essential Air Service and
Airport Improvement Program.
Bring high-speed broadband to every household and business in America. Broadband creates jobs, opens new economic opportunities, and allows America to compete and succeed in an increasingly digital world, but roughly one in four rural Americans say access to high-speed internet is a major problem. In an effort to close the rural-urban divide, Senator Klobuchar has previously announced a commitment to connect every household in America to the internet by 2022. She will focus on creating accurate broadband maps to identify areas that lack adequate access, bringing high-speed internet infrastructure to areas most in need, including by expanding Rural Utility Service grants, and providing greater incentives for existing providers to upgrade their networks to cover unserved and underserved areas. She will also work to quickly implement the recommendations of the Precision Ag Connectivity Task Force to help farmers fully realize the potential of broadband in their operations.
Revitalizing freight and passenger rail. Railroads provide a vital link between rural communities and a cost-effective way for producers to bring their goods to market. As President, Senator Klobuchar will encourage investment in short-line and freight rail networks. She will also address safety concerns including two-man crews, better braking systems, and ensuring communities are prepared to respond to derailments involving hazardous cargo. She will also build on her work pushing for greater competition in freight markets by providing fair treatment for captive shippers, appointing well qualified members to the Surface Transportation Board, and reviewing and addressing consolidation in the freight rail industry. She is also committed to expanding Amtrak service in rural America.
Expand
opportunities for rural small businesses, entrepreneurs and beginning farmers. Rural America
is home to many innovators and entrepreneurs, but we need to do more to help
give them the tools they need to succeed and expand job opportunities in rural
areas. Senator Klobuchar will strengthen USDA programs that support
entrepreneurs like the Value-Added Producer Grants, Rural Microentrepreneur
Assistance Program, Intermediary Relending Program, and Agricultural Innovation
Centers. She will promote regional cooperation to facilitate economies of scale
among businesses, development organizations, government programs, and community
area anchor institutions. She will also fully implement and support the Farm
Bill provision restoring the USDA’s Under Secretary of Rural Development so
that rural development remains a top priority for the department.
Expand access to capital and loans for small and family-owned farms. Senator Klobuchar has worked successfully in the Senate to increase the caps on Farm Service Agency loans to ensure farmers and ranchers have access to the land and capital they need. As President, she will push to further increase the maximum loan amount that an individual farmer or rancher can receive under the direct farm ownership and operating loans, where some loans are reserved for beginning farmers. At the same time, Senator Klobuchar will work to increase the size of Farm Service Agency’s loan portfolio to ensure more farmers are able to access this critical lending source. She would also make sure that equipment updates — that allow farmers to take advantage of technology and innovation — are readily available and that loans and credit are targeted to small and family-owned farms.
Strengthen rural small business lending. Small businesses in rural areas face additional obstacles in accessing credit because many traditional lenders do not have the infrastructure and experience to effectively serve rural America. As President, Senator Klobuchar will expand and strengthen USDA’s Business and Industry Loan Guarantee Program and the Rural Business Investment Program, which supports start-up of venture capital firms, and she will continue support for the Farm Credit System. She will continue to support sensible regulation of community banks and credit unions, which are important sources of credit for rural businesses. She will push to reauthorize the New Market Tax Credit and make sure it effectively serves rural America. She will also improve controls to ensure government programs designed for small businesses actually serve small businesses.
Support agricultural research. The Trump Administration has repeatedly proposed budgets for USDA that cut billions for rural development, conservation, and research. These include the forced closure of agricultural research laboratories and stations. In her first 100 days as President, Senator Klobuchar will re-open these laboratories and give these important programs the support they deserve. She will also publish all government-funded studies on climate change conducted by in-house scientists and in collaboration with land-grant universities. And she will halt the arbitrary relocation of USDA scientific agencies which has resulted in staff attrition and decreased capacity.
Support our new and beginning farmers. Senator Klobuchar believes if we want to continue to maintain our country’s agricultural strength and keep our rural communities vibrant, we need to do more to support our new and beginning farmers and ranchers. As a Senator she has authored several provisions that would expand loans and land transitions to beginning farmers. As President, she would push for a new tax credit for farmers who sell land or equipment to beginning farmers and expand assistance to beginning farmers and ranchers so that they have better access to land, capital, and risk management tools. Senator Klobuchar has also been a champion in the Senate for permanent mandatory funding for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, and as President she would continue to promote efforts with non-profit and university partners to provide farm business education and on-site trainings for beginning farmers.
Promote rural
workforce development to connect people to jobs and address workforce shortages. Senator
Klobuchar will address rural workforce shortages and close the skills gap by
promoting apprenticeships so students and workers can get on-the-job training.
She will direct her Secretary of Labor to analyze the use of apprenticeships
and expand apprenticeship opportunities and benefits in rural areas. Senator
Klobuchar is also committed to passing comprehensive immigration reform in the
first year of her presidency. Immigrants accounted for more than a third of
rural population growth from 2000 to 2018 and comprehensive immigration should
include providing a pathway to citizenship and updated policies that will help
rural communities get the workers they need when they need them.
Expand student loan forgiveness to help our farmers. Senator Klobuchar has proposed a loan forgiveness program — modeled after the public service loan forgiveness program — that would forgive federal student loan debt for in-demand occupations that will include farmers and people who choose careers in agriculture.
Agricultural
Competition and Concentration. The concentration across
agricultural markets and steep decline in family farms have resulted in an
increasingly anti-competitive industry. Senator Klobuchar is committed to
reducing barriers for family farmers and promoting fair, transparent practices
that increase competition.
Taking on consolidation. Senator Klobuchar will look at large acquisitions and mergers in the agriculture industry that have already happened and assess whether the integration of services insulate agricultural corporations from competition. She will also make sure that our antitrust agencies have the resources they need to aggressively enforce our antitrust laws. And she will give antitrust agencies and courts the legal tools necessary to promote competition by updating legal standards, shifting the burden of proof for mega-mergers to the merging parties to show that their transactions do not reduce competition, clarifying that existing antitrust laws should take into account more than price and should consider vertical integration, harms to innovation, and monopsony, where a buyer has the power to reduce wages or the prices it pays for agricultural products. As President, Senator Klobuchar would also require the USDA to collect and publish concentration information in agricultural markets and allow the USDA to participate in the review of proposed mergers in the agricultural sector. As President, her Administration would thoroughly review our agriculture laws and assess their application in an environment with increased market concentration.
Support strong enforcement by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The CFTC budget has stagnated in recent years making it difficult for the commission to do its job. Senator Klobuchar will provide the CFTC with the resources to make sure our commodity markets work, encourage the commission to put the needs of farmers first in all of its decisions, and move aggressively to stop price manipulation in energy and other markets.
Restore staffing levels at the Department of Agriculture. Under the first two years of the Trump Administration, between December 2016 and March 2018, USDA had more staff departures than any other federal agency. This has severely impacted USDA’s ability to carry out its mission on behalf of rural communities and farmers. During her first 100 days as President, Senator Klobuchar will restore staffing levels to the appropriate levels. She will also stop politically-motivated relocations that result in the loss of critical agency expertise.
2. LIVING IN
RURAL AMERICA
Expanding rural
health care and saving our rural hospitals. As President,
Senator Klobuchar would revise our Medicare rules to help rural hospitals stay
open, provide expanded support to our critical access hospital and community
health centers, over half of which are located in rural areas, and dramatically
expand telehealth services. To address rural workforce shortages, she will
build on the Conrad 30 program that allows international doctors trained in the
United States to extend their stay in the country if they agree to practice in
underserved communities. To further bolster the health care workforce Senator
Klobuchar will expand student loan forgiveness programs for health care and
long term care workers practicing in underserved areas. She will also reform
Medicare telehealth rules that unfairly limit coverage and reimbursement.
Preserve and strengthen rural hospitals. Over 100 rural hospitals have closed since 2010 and more than more than a third of rural hospitals, providing care to almost 12 million Americans, are at risk of closing. As President, Senator Klobuchar will help hospitals in rural areas stay open by creating a new Rural Emergency Hospital classification under Medicare to give hospitals more support if they maintain an emergency room and provide outpatient services.
Provide sustainable reimbursements for rural health care providers. Today, inadequate reimbursement from federal health programs that do not take into account the additional costs of rural health providers puts significant pressure on the rural health care system. Senator Klobuchar will adjust Medicare’s geographic practice cost index to reflect the actual costs of providing health care in rural areas. She will also provide ongoing financial relief by ending the two percent Medicare automatic reimbursement cut for rural hospitals.
Tackle rural mental health and addiction. Mental health and addiction services are often lacking in rural areas where accessibility, availability, affordability and acceptability may be limited. For example, 65 percent of non-metropolitan counties do not have a psychiatrist and almost half of non-metropolitan counties do not have a psychologist. As President, Senator Klobuchar will strengthen mental health and addiction programs in rural America by investing in and expanding the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, tackling the opioid epidemic and increasing access to mental health and substance use care, including support for clinics and community-based services, as well as technical support and telehealth services. She will address the challenge of farmer suicide, while also focusing on recruitment, retention, training and workplace protections for the mental health and substance use health care workforce in rural areas and our hardest hit communities.
Support rural
education and public schools. On average, rural districts receive
just under 20 percent of state education funding and have smaller student
populations, so they’re often disadvantaged by funding formulas. And higher
transportation costs for students who live in rural areas can often mean even
less money for instruction. As part of her previously announced “Progress
Partnerships” Senator Klobuchar will help improve rural schools by encouraging
states to create funding formula commissions to improve equity and establish
equitable school infrastructure funding mechanism.
Empower community colleges to be community hubs for economic development and workforce training. In many rural areas, local community colleges provide key economic development and workforce training resources for the community. Senator Klobuchar will work to better integrate federal business and workforce development programs with local community colleges building on the Small Business Administration’s successful Small Business Development Centers.
Invest in land-grant universities agricultural research. Recognizing the long standing contributions of our land-grant universities to innovation and development in agriculture, as well as their central role in their communities, Senator Klobuchar will also expand resources available to these schools for capital projects, research and extension programs.
Address child
care and energy costs and expand access to affordable housing. Many Americans
want to live and work in rural communities but cannot find an affordable place
to live. More than 50 million Americans live in rural areas with a severe need
for more affordable rental housing. Senator Klobuchar will strengthen rural rental
assistance programs, increase investments in the rural housing supply. We also
need to cut red tape and improve communication among local, state, and federal
officials so renters, communities, and developers have access to information
about the programs available in rural America. Senator Klobuchar will also
strengthen protections for mobile home owners.
Directly address the challenge of rural child care: Rural communities experience unique challenges when it comes to child care, as nearly two-thirds of rural families live in a child care desert, or an area where there are at least three young children for every licensed child care slot — or no licensed child care providers at all. As President, Senator Klobuchar would expand assistance for child care, with a focus on rural areas by increasing funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant and increasing the subsidy rate so that rural child care providers can more easily meet their operating expenses and increase the quality of their programs. She would also work to pass a landmark childcare proposal limiting child care payments to 7 percent of a family’s income and making targeted investments to build the supply of licensed child care in rural child care deserts.
Make energy costs affordable. Recognizing that rural households pay a significantly higher share of their income on energy costs than the national rate, Senator Klobuchar will also will preserve and expand resources for LIHEAP and the Weatherization Assistance Program, which helps households in need reduce energy spending. Senator Klobuchar is a strong supporter of the Rural Energy for America program and Rural Energy Savings program so that farmers and rural communities can access renewable energy solutions that lower their costs.
3. PROTECTING OUR
FUTURE
Expand
conservation practices. Senator Klobuchar has been a champion of
supporting farmer conservation efforts and promoting farming practices that
reduce soil erosion and improve air and water quality, including by helping
pass the 2018 Farm Bill, which included several of her priorities. As
President, she will support significant new investments in conservation of
working and retired lands. Senator Klobuchar will support the continued
expansion of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and increase
resources for the Conservation Stewardship Program to help provide farmers the
tools they need to protect and enhance natural resources on working
agricultural lands. And after successfully increasing the acreage cap of the
Conservation Reserve Program, Senator Klobuchar will work to attract more
enrollees and ensure payment rates are fair.
Protect native sod and improve soil health. Senator
Klobuchar pushed for provision in the 2018 Farm Bill that closed a
loophole allowing some non-insured crops to be planted four consecutive
years without a reduction in crop insurance assistance for succeeding
insured crops. As President, she will expand nationwide the sodsaver’s
prohibition to substitute crop insurance yields on native sod that is converted
to cropland. She will also expand the Soil
Health and Income Protection Pilot Program to
help provide farmers an alternative to cropping less productive cropland.
Invest in conservation innovation. Senator
Klobuchar will target research into soil carbon sequestration, which could
improve soil health as well as reduce carbon levels in the atmosphere. She
will also expand Conservation Innovation Grants to test emerging
conservation approaches, including practices that increase carbon
sequestration levels. And building on provisions she included in the 2018
farm bill, Senator Klobuchar will further improve agriculture data
research of conservation practices to help farmers reduce risk and
increase profitability.
Investing in and
providing incentives for homegrown energy. Senator Klobuchar believes that
homegrown biofuels are key to our rural economies, our nation’s energy
security, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In the Senate, she has been a
leader when it comes to standing up to the Administration’s misuse of small
refinery renewable fuel standard (RFS) waivers. She has also worked successfully
in the Senate to provide financing and grant support to biobased manufacturers.
She authored an amendment that was included in the Farm Bill that provides
mandatory funding to support biobased marketing, manufacturing.
Strengthen the RFS. As President, Senator
Klobuchar will work with the EPA to continue and strengthen the RFS.
Continuing to increase the required blend levels will add value to farm
products, reduce the use of fossil fuels, and contribute to better air
quality.
End the overuse of secret RFS small refinery waivers. In the
first 100 days of her presidency, Senator Klobuchar has pledged to end the
misguided overuse of secret RFS small refinery waivers that have been
granted to big oil companies at the expense of farmers. As President, she
will take action to increase transparency in the waiver application
process and to make sure that the market for Renewable Identification
Numbers accurately accounts for the overuse of small refinery
waivers.
Promote the use of blender pumps. In addition,
Senator Klobuchar will promote and invest in blender pump infrastructure
by restarting and building upon USDA’s Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership,
providing consumers more refueling choice and supporting the transition
away from fossil fuels.
Pass a statute to ensure year-round E15 sales. After
successfully pushing for the administration to allow for the year-round
sale of E15, Senator Klobuchar will also advance legislation that would
allow for year-round E15 sales to remove regulatory uncertainty and help
reduce the consumption of fossil fuels.
Extend biodiesel and second generation biofuels tax credits. Senator
Klobuchar has long championed tax credits for renewable energy and as
President she will push to extend biodiesel and second generation biofuels
tax credits.
Invest in wind
and solar and support rural energy development. Clean energy,
including wind and solar, is a major driver of job growth in rural areas. In
fact, 99 percent of operating wind capacity is located in rural areas. A part
of Senator Klobuchar’s plan to tackle climate change, she will prioritize rural
energy development, including expanding storage capacity and strengthening our
energy grid is critical for continuing to scale up renewable energy. Senator
Klobuchar will invest in interregional transmission lines and grid improvements
to support the development of renewable energy and establish a Clean Energy
bond program to expand clean energy tax incentives. And as President, Senator
Klobuchar will launch a grant program to help rural cooperatives develop energy
storage and microgrid projects for renewable energy for generation,
transmission and storage. She will also support increased investment in small,
distributed wind, solar and biogas projects.
Expand energy
efficiency programs. Energy costs can be a significant burden on farms,
small businesses and households in rural communities. Senator Klobuchar has
long worked to see that the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) has the
resources needed to provide grants to farms and rural businesses to install
energy efficient technologies, and she will continue to push for additional
resources.
Safeguard federal
lands. Federal lands are integral to many rural economies. Senator
Klobuchar is committed to preserving these lands for future generations
including by restoring environmental protections repealed by the Trump
Administration. She will also make sure that rural counties that host
tax-exempt federal lands will receive their payments in-lieu of taxes in a
predictable and uninterrupted manner.
4. LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND
Reducing child
poverty in rural areas. According to the Department of Agriculture, poverty
rates in rural America are still higher than in urban areas, and one in five
rural households with children face food insecurity. As part of her plan to cut
childhood poverty in half within ten years, Senator Klobuchar will expand the
earned income tax credit, the child care tax credit, and SNAP benefits and make
housing choice vouchers available to every qualifying household with a
child.
Meeting the nutrition needs of our most vulnerable citizens. As a
member of the Agriculture Committee, Senator Klobuchar has always pushed
for a strong nutrition title in the Farm Bill. As President, she will make
sure that nutrition programs are there for families when they need them,
while also strengthening employment and training programs that help get
people back into the workforce. She will oppose efforts to institute
draconian and ineffective work requirements and reverse the harmful
rulemakings that the Trump Administration has proposed that would force
millions of families, elderly, and veterans out of nutrition programs.
Overcoming persistent poverty. Senator
Klobuchar supports Congressman Jim Clyburn’s 10-20-30 proposal, which would
require that a minimum of 10% of federal funds of a particular program go
to persistent poverty communities, where the poverty level has been 20% or
higher over the past 30 years.
Rural Veterans. Roughly one in
four U.S. veterans live in rural areas, and many face challenges accessing
health care and affordable housing. Building on her strong track record of
supporting veterans, including our veterans in rural areas, Senator Klobuchar
will focus on ensuring our veterans receive the support they deserve. As
President, she will work to attract medical professionals to VA health care
facilities in rural areas, invest in VA telehealth services and expand
transportation options for our veterans. In addition, she will expand programs
to connect veterans in rural areas to affordable housing and invest in programs
that tackle veterans homelessness.
Helping farmers
in bankruptcy. In many regions, farm bankruptcy rates are reaching their
highest point in a decade due to persistently low commodity prices, economic
uncertainty and tight farm lending regulations. As President, Senator Klobuchar
will work to allow more family farmers to seek relief under Chapter 12
bankruptcy, which would allow family farmers to reorganize and keep the farm
after falling on hard times. This builds off of Senator Klobuchar’s bipartisan
legislation that recently passed the Senate and House. She will also promote
support programs and education for farmers so they are familiar with sound farm
management principles in an effort to reduce foreclosure rates.
Fight
discrimination and empower communities of color. People of color
make up one in five Americans living in rural areas, but too often systemic
racism limits their contributions to rural economies. Senator Klobuchar will
instruct all federal agencies to aggressively enforce anti-discrimination rules
when it comes to housing, education, employment and wages. She will strengthen
USDA’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, increase diversity
in senior leadership positions at USDA, and develop better metrics to
accurately reflect the impact of USDA programs of people of color. She will
also increase rural outreach by the Minority Business Development
Administration to help minority businesses overcome social and economic
disadvantages.
Partner with Native American tribes. Senator Klobuchar is committed to partnering with Native American tribes in rural areas. As President, she will end the Trump Administration’s attacks on tribal sovereignty and increase meaningful tribal consultation. She will fully support the Indian Health Service and build on her work to provide resources for tribal schools. She will work to expand broadband deployment on tribal lands including working to restore the Tribal Lifeline program, which the Trump Administration has tried to eliminate. She will also direct the USDA to increase support for tribal agricultural needs.
Supporting rural seniors. Older Americans who live in rural areas can be isolated, with fewer transportation options and limited access to other important services like transportation, health care, and affordable housing. As President, Senator Klobuchar will make sure her USDA and other federal agencies are investing in housing, health care, transportation and nutrition programs for our country’s rural seniors. She will support generous tax-credits and programs that allow seniors to remain and age in their homes as long as possible, with a focus on promoting affordable housing and long-term care options.
