Hillary Clinton in ScienceDebate.org

On Drugs: $10B to prevent quiet epidemic of drug & alcohol addiction

CLINTON: Our country is in the grips of a quiet epidemic of drug and alcohol addiction. To combat America's deadly epidemic of drug and alcohol addiction, I have proposed a $10 billion initiative, and laid out a series of goals to help communities across the country. We need to expand the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment block grant and support new federal-state partnerships targeting prevention, treatment, recovery, and other areas of reform. Finally, we must prioritize rehabilitation and treatment over prison for low-level and non-violent offenders. Jail time should not be a substitute for treatment. Working together, we can combat this epidemic and ensure that people across the country are getting the care they need to live long and healthy lives.

TRUMP: We first should stop the inflow of opioids into the United States. We can do that and we will in the Trump administration.

On Education: Provide every student an education in computer science

CLINTON: Advances in science and engineering start with education. We need universal preschool, to get our kids off to a good start; good K-12 schools and teachers in every ZIP code; and to put higher education in reach for everyone with debt-free college and support for high-quality apprenticeships and training programs. We need strong STEM programming in every school, and we need to provide every public school student with access to education in computer science. Both basic and applied research are major drivers of innovation. Funding is needed not only for the basic science research agencies and the large science and engineering mission agencies but also for the broader universe of agencies that are increasingly dependent on STEM for their missions.

On Energy & Oil: $60B to make US the clean energy superpower of 21st century

1. Generate half of our electricity from clean sources, with half a billion solar panels installed by the end of my first term.
2. Cut energy waste in American homes, schools, hospitals and offices by 1/3 and make American manufacturing the cleanest and most efficient in the world.
3. Reduce American oil consumption by a third through cleaner fuels and more efficient cars, boilers, ships, and trucks.

On Energy & Oil: We need nuclear power to meet climate challenge

CLINTON: Meeting the climate challenge is too important to limit the tools available in this fight. Nuclear power--which accounts for more than 60 percent of our zero carbon power generation today--is one of those tools. I will work to ensure that the climate benefits of our existing nuclear power plants that are safe to operate are appropriately valued and increase investment in the research, development and deployment of advanced nuclear power. At the same time, we must continue to invest in the security of our nuclear materials at home, and improve coordination between federal, state, and local authorities. We must also seek to reduce the amount of nuclear material worldwide--working with other countries so minimize the use of weapons-grade material for civil nuclear programs.

On Environment: Conserving biodiversity is essential to our quality of life

CLINTON: Conserving biodiversity is essential to maintaining our quality of life. Healthy soils provide the foundation for agricultural productivity and help absorb carbon; wetlands soak up floodwaters and pollutants and protect our communities; forests filter our water and keep it clean; bees and other pollinators are essential to our food supply; and coral reefs and coastal marshes are nurseries for our fisheries. Although we have made considerable progress protecting our environment and conserving our natural resources, climate change, pollution, habitat destruction, unsustainable management practices, introduction of invasive species and other forces pose serious threats to biodiversity and our way of life. We need to collaborate across all sectors and at all levels to conserve our natural resources and maintain the viability of our ecosystems.

On Environment: Establish an American Parks Trust Fund

Internationally, we need greater cooperation to address declining biodiversity. My Administration will work collaboratively with other nations to advance biodiversity science, further our understanding of the causes of biodiversity loss, and take action to diminish them. We will share information about our conservation successes, including our national parks, fish and wildlife refuge systems, and marine reserves to aid other nations working to protect their natural resources and conserve biodiversity. And we will work collaboratively to end trafficking in wildlife and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing that threatens our oceans.

On Health Care: Early diagnosis and intervention for mental illness

HILLARY CLINTON: Nearly a fifth of all adults in the United States, more than 40 million people, are coping with a mental health issue. Close to 14 million people live with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Moreover, many of these individuals have additional complicating life circumstances, such as drug or alcohol addiction, homelessness, or involvement with the criminal justice system.

That's why I recently released a comprehensive and detailed plan to address this important issue that impacts so many American families. Under my plan, we'll promote early diagnosis and intervention, including launching a national initiative for suicide prevention. We'll integrate our nation's mental and physical health care systems so that health care delivery focuses on the "whole person," and significantly enhance community-based treatment opportunities.

On Technology: Inspirational, achievable, and affordable space initiatives

CLINTON: President Kennedy's challenge in 1962 to go to the Moon electrified the nation, prompted a long period of American leadership in science & technology, and spurred a generation of innovators. In the decades since, we have explored the sun and every planet in our solar system. As president, my administration will build on this progress, promote innovation, and advance inspirational, achievable, and affordable space initiatives. We must maintain our nation's leadership in space with a program that balances science, technology and exploration; protect our security and the future of the planet through international collaboration and Earth systems monitoring; and expand our robotic presence in the solar system. As a young girl, I was so inspired by America's leadership and accomplishments in space that I wrote to NASA about becoming an astronaut. As president, I will help inspire the next generation of young Americans.

On Technology: Underinvestment in water infrastructure impacts minorities

CLINTON: Chronic underinvestment in our nation's drinking and wastewater systems has sickened and endangered Americans from Flint, Michigan, to Ohio and West Virginia. Outdated and inadequate wastewater systems discharge more than 900 billion gallons of untreated sewage a year, posing health risks to humans and wildlife, disrupting ecosystems, and disproportionately impacting communities of color. In addition, many struggling communities around the United States have limited or no access to clean, safe water. We will invest in infrastructure and work with states, municipalities, and the private sector to bring our water systems into the 21st century and provide access to clean, safe drinking water. We will also work to bring cutting edge efficiency, treatment and reuse solutions to our nation's water challenges by establishing a new Water Innovation Lab.

On Technology: Respond to cyberattacks economically & militarily

CLINTON: As President, I will fight to ensure that the Internet remains a space for free exchange, providing all people equal access to knowledge and ideas. While we must protect this exchange and the privacy of individuals, we must also invest in cybersecurity, which is not only essential to our national and economic security, but will become increasingly important as devices across sectors are networked. As president I will make it clear that the United States will treat cyberattacks just like any other attack. We will be ready with serious political, economic and military responses and we will invest in protecting our governmental networks and national infrastructure. I believe the United States should lead the world in setting the rules of cyberspace. If America doesn't, others will.

On Technology: Collaborative consortia for technology transfer of R&D

The innovation payoff comes from the commercialization of research results. The first step is what universities call "technology transfer" and the medical community calls "translation"--demonstrating the use of research results in practice and sharing the knowledge with the business community. The government has a critical role to play at this stage by opening access to and sharing government-funded research results. I will support the development of collaborative consortia that accelerate the creation of new industries while providing valuable feedback to researchers.

On Technology: 1% of federal budget is underinvesting in basic research

CLINTON: Historically, federally funded basic research-- often done without a particular application in mind and intrinsically long term--has yielded breakthrough discoveries of new knowledge and technologies. I share the concerns of the science and technology community that the United States is underinvesting in research. Federal funding of basic research amounts to less than one percent of annual federal spending, yet it is an investment that pays big dividends. I believe it is essential that we strengthen our research capacity, by funding talented young investigators, looking for ways to prioritize "high-risk, high-reward" projects that have the potential to transform entire fields, and enhancing partnerships between government, universities, and the private sector.