Working for Civil Rights
The struggle for civil rights and human rights never ends. While we have made important progress in building a more just society, too many people still suffer unequal treatment in their quest to achieve the American dream and enjoy our country’s most basic freedoms. Congress should execute its full authority to remove barriers where they exist and ensure that all Americans are afforded equal rights and protections. Click here to read more.
Working for Democracy
It’s time to reform our democracy and restore the voices of everyday Americans. Congressman Sarbanes was the proud sponsor of the For the People Act (H.R.1) which would strengthen American democracy and return political power to the people through voting protections, ethics reforms and campaign finance overhauls. In addition, he has co-sponsored a constitutional amendment to reverse the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision and led on legislation to require all states to set up independent, non-partisan redistricting commissions. Click here to read more.
Working for Economic Fairness
As a nation, we must address income inequality in a thorough and holistic manner and ensure our tax code reflects our nation's values - encouraging private enterprise and innovation, strengthening communities and distributing the shared costs of government equitably. We must confront rising costs by holding large corporations accountable, increasing the minimum wage and enacting policies that make homeownership attainable for more Americans. Click here to read more.
Working for Education and Job Training
Education is the ticket to success for every aspiring young person. Every child deserves a safe, inclusive place to explore their passions and develop a lifelong love of learning. That is why Congressman Sarbanes is a strong supporter of early childhood development programs like Head Start and consistently supports strong funding for public education and teacher development programs. Click here to read more.
Working for the Environment
Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our day. Congress must work towards solutions that preserve our environment for the next generation and ensure a greener, healthier future for all Americans. We must move away from our dependence on fossil fuels and invest in clean, affordable energy. We also need to crack down on polluters, advance climate science research and invest in conservation projects and environmental justice efforts. Congressman Sarbanes has voted for legislation to help communities improve their resilience to a changing climate, reduce emissions and invest in sustainable energy development. He has also sponsored legislation to regulate chemicals that are hazardous to both human and environmental health. Click here to read more.
Working for Gun Safety
Americans are exhausted with gun violence. They expect gun owners to exercise their ownership in a responsible and safe manner. That’s why the great majority, including a majority of gun owners, support common sense safety measures such as universal background checks and red flag laws. In recent years, too many communities have suffered the tragedy of mass shootings by people that should never have had a gun. We must do more to prevent high-powered, military-style firearms from getting into the hands of people who shouldn’t have them. It's high time that Congress stood up to the gun lobby and took steps to stem the terrible tide of gun violence in our country. Click here to read more.
Working for Health
The foundation of good health is a clean environment. From there, we must also invest in public health, robust medical research and a health care system that provides access and coverage to every individual. Exploring new cures for disease at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and strengthening the Affordable Care Act are examples of key steps we can take to improve the health of all Americans. Click here to read more.
Working for Seniors
Our nation’s seniors have made and continue to make enormous contributions to our civic life and to the success and prosperity of our nation. Every day, they deploy their talent and experience through service and volunteerism. We owe it to them to keep Medicare premiums affordable and Social Security on pace with the cost of living. Congressman Sarbanes is a cosponsor of the Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act, which would “scrap the cap” on wages that are subject to the Social Security payroll tax and thereby extend the solvency of the Social Security Trust Fund by decades. It would also establish a new formula for computing the Cost of Living Adjustment for seniors so that it more fairly reflects their daily expenses. Congressman Sarbanes has also voted for legislation to provide greater flexibility in retirement options, safeguard retirees who unknowingly receive plan overpayments and eliminate provisions that unfairly reduce the Social Security benefits of millions of Americans who have devoted much of their careers to public service. Click here to read more.
Working for Small Businesses on Main Street
Small business is the engine that drives much of our economy. But too often the concerns of small business owners and their employees are pushed aside in favor of big business and multinational corporations. When we make public policy in Washington, it should be designed to bolster the can-do spirit of start-up innovators, small businesses and entrepreneurs - not just the well-connected big business crowd. An economy focused on Main Street can generate economic opportunity for millions of Americans. Click here to read more.
Working for Veterans
America's veterans fought to protect our country. They deserve every support we can offer to them and their families. That means streamlining the benefits process, ensuring that the VA health care system is delivering services in a timely and efficient way, and helping our returning veterans secure gainful employment. Click here to read more.
Working for Women’s Economic Empowerment
America has made great strides in ensuring that women and girls have equal access to opportunity, but there is much left to do. Women still only make 82 cents on the dollar compared to men, and that disparity is even greater for women of color. The United States lags many of our peer nations when it comes to providing mandatory sick leave and paid maternity leave. And a woman’s right to make her own reproductive choices is under new and dangerous attack. Every legislator must be persuaded to fight for progress on these and other issues, but we can accelerate that progress by electing more women at all levels of government. Click here to read more.