Brenda Jones in 2018 House MI elections
On Civil Rights:
Fight for funding & legal protection for LGBT community
Sexual orientation and identity deserve the same legal protections as other protected classes of individuals. I will continue demanding funding and legal protection for LGBT individuals, including: Fully funding research to end new HIV infections
and protecting HIV+ individuals against discrimination; Enacting federal hate crime legislation to fight against violent crimes; and Passing legislation to protect LGBT individuals from attacks under the cover of "religious freedom."
Source: 2018 Congress MI-13 election site BrendaJonesForCongress.com
Oct 9, 2018
On Corporations:
Close corporate tax loopholes; make them pay fair share
I strongly oppose the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. This bill will not benefit the middle class but instead will put more money in the pockets of wealthy corporate executives and shareholders. I will demand that Congress implements more progressive
tax policies across the board for both individuals and corporations, including on pass-through and estate income. Closing corporate loopholes that permit billion dollar corporations to avoid fair taxes is essential to the growth of the economy.
Source: 2018 Congress MI-13 election site BrendaJonesForCongress.com
Oct 9, 2018
On Crime:
Work to decriminalize non-violent federal offenses
I plan to immediately introduce legislation to decriminalize non-violent federal offenses. Investing in non-criminal medical treatment programs for heroin and other opioid addictions is also a critical step to improving the disparities in criminal
justice reform. For-profit prisons should not exist; and I will immediately work to defund them. I will also introduce legislation to prohibit the use of federal criminal records to deny a citizens of voting rights or general employment.
Source: 2018 Congress MI-13 election site BrendaJonesForCongress.com
Oct 9, 2018
On Education:
Federally fund state & public higher education choices
Higher education should be attainable by everyone. Education and real-world training in a 21st century environment should not be out of reach. Strengthening HBCU's in the country should be a priority, which will provide fair and equal opportunities.
Wholly funding trade schools, community colleges, state universities and HBCU's in the federal budget will: Alleviate national student debts, Improve the quality of schools; and Boost the economy by creating small business owners and higher wages.
Source: 2018 Congress MI-13 election site BrendaJonesForCongress.com
Oct 9, 2018
On Energy & Oil:
Backs clean energy incentives & expanding renewables
I fully support defending and expanding the progress made to address climate change, reducing the use of fossil fuels, and decreasing air and water pollutants. Promoting clean energy incentives and expanding
renewable energy projects will be essential to moving the U.S. toward a clean energy economy and I will push for these programs at every opportunity.
Source: 2018 Congress MI-13 election site BrendaJonesForCongress.com
Oct 9, 2018
On Environment:
Close loopholes that exempt drilling & fracking from EPA
Promoting clean energy incentives and expanding renewable energy projects will be essential to moving the U.S. toward a clean energy economy and I will push for these programs at every opportunity.
I will work to close loopholes that exempt drilling and fracking operations from basic environmental protections provided by laws such as the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act.
Source: 2018 Congress MI-13 election site BrendaJonesForCongress.com
Oct 9, 2018
On Health Care:
Supports a single-payer Medicare-for-All healthcare system
I firmly stand by implementing a single-payer Medicare-for-All system in the country. Healthcare is a right and the United States is the only major developed country that does not guarantee this right. Along with supporting a
Medicare-for-All system, which will negotiate prescription drug prices internationally, I will also support a campaign to get the remainder of Congressional Democrats on board with this human right.
Source: 2018 Congress MI-13 election site BrendaJonesForCongress.com
Oct 9, 2018
On Homeland Security:
Remove burden of proof from Vets; stop delays in benefits
Our country should not engage in war if it is not able to care for its veterans when they return home. I know that our government has failed our country with a backlog of cases where benefits are delayed or wrongfully denied. Congress should reverse
the burden of proof when allocating benefits, so that injuries well-documented in a veteran's service and medical records are assumed to be true until proven otherwise. The burden should not be on the veteran to prove their injuries are legitimate.
Source: 2018 Congress MI-13 election site BrendaJonesForCongress.com
Oct 9, 2018
On Immigration:
Congress should create reasonable pathway for immigration
I will introduce meaningful immigration reform allowing families who are living and working in the U.S. to have a realistic opportunity to avoid separation and be able to continue contributing to our economy. Real immigration reform also means that
people from across the globe who want to call the U.S. home should be able to do this within a reasonable amount of time. Congress must create a reasonable pathway to immigration for anyone who is willing to pay taxes and contribute to the US economy.
Source: 2018 Congress MI-13 election site BrendaJonesForCongress.com
Oct 9, 2018
On Jobs:
Increase minimum wage to $15/hr and match inflation rate
Congress should increase incentives for federal agencies to send more government positions and facilities to regions slowest to recover from the recession. Raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour with annual increases to match the rate of inflation
will help grow the shrinking middle class. Additional tax incentives for manufacturers to create jobs will benefit economically-depressed regions. Fighting for collective bargaining nationally is also essential to workers' rights and fair wages.
Source: 2018 Congress MI-13 election site BrendaJonesForCongress.com
Oct 9, 2018
On Social Security:
Expand Social Security; amend contribution limits
I stand by expanding our Social Security System as much as possible and will propose amending Social Security contributions, so they are progressive across all income brackets, without limitation with the objective of
the wealthy paying their fair share into the system. I also support implementing a constitutional amendment to prohibit removing funds from Social Security for any reason.
Source: 2018 Congress MI-13 election site BrendaJonesForCongress.com
Oct 9, 2018
On War & Peace:
Diplomacy is basis of foreign policy; war is last resort
Diplomacy must be the starting point for every relationship with a foreign country.
Economic sanctions are important to tip the scales of any nation's policies toward democracy and human rights. War is a last resort for only the most extreme of cases.
Source: 2018 Congress MI-13 election site BrendaJonesForCongress.com
Oct 9, 2018
On Education:
Universal education plan: early education through college
Q: How will you help the American public improve their economic positions?A: Our laws must ensure that the American dream is a realistic goal for every family. This will remain my top priority. This means creating a universal education plan
(that includes college, skilled-trades, and early childhood education), and strengthening national labor laws to protect our hard-working men & women. I will work to remove obstacles that prevent individuals from achieving economic stability.
Source: League of Women Voters Q&A on 2018 Congress MI-13 election
Sep 9, 2018
On Energy & Oil:
Invest in clean, renewable and alternative energy sources
I will fight to promote incentives to invest in clean, renewable and alternative energy sources. Protecting wildlife & national parks from private interests such as drilling, fracking and mining is also important to preservation for future generations.
I also favor a study to determine if funding for the Great Lakes Initiative is meeting the evolving needs of our region's waterways. I will advocate for testing to ensure lead or air pollution does not affect our health.
Source: League of Women Voters Q&A on 2018 Congress MI-13 election
Sep 9, 2018
On Environment:
Protect wildlife and national parks from private interests
Q: What policies do you support to meet U.S. energy needs while protecting our water, air and land for current and future generations? Explain how those actions or policies would affect the future of the Great Lakes.Brenda Jones: I support fully
funding the EPA to ensure monitoring and enforcing environmental standards including the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. And protecting wildlife and national parks from private interests such as drilling, fracking and mining.
Source: League of Women Voters Q&A on 2018 Congress MI-13 election
Sep 9, 2018
On Government Reform:
Eliminate discriminatory voter suppression laws
Q: What federal policies do you support regarding voting rights?Brenda Jones: I support making voting accessible to every American. Congress must work to eliminate the impact of discriminatory voter suppression laws and practices across the country.
In order to do this, I will fight to implement measures to automate voter registration, expand early and mail-in voting, and increase funding for our local clerks' offices.
Source: League of Women Voters Q&A on 2018 Congress MI-13 election
Sep 9, 2018
On Government Reform:
Eliminate dark money in federal elections
Q: What federal policies do you support regarding campaign funding?Brenda Jones: I will work to pass laws to eliminate dark money in federal elections.
and reduce the influence of corporate dollars on campaigns.
Source: League of Women Voters Q&A on 2018 Congress MI-13 election
Sep 9, 2018
On Health Care:
Single-payer system is best, without individual mandate
Q: What are your concerns and plans regarding U.S. health care policies and programs, including those affecting maternal and child health?Brenda Jones: My concerns with today's healthcare system include elimination of the individual mandate to the
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, prescription drug prices for seniors on Medicare and Healthcare for all (including dental and vision) & paid maternity leave.
A single-payer healthcare system is the best answer to ensure the health and welfare of our nation. I will work to protect every American, especially our veterans, because healthcare should be a human right.
Congress must continue to work on more inclusive legislation until no one is without healthcare, prescription, vision or dental coverage.
Source: League of Women Voters Q&A on 2018 Congress MI-13 election
Sep 9, 2018
On Immigration:
Protect DREAMers, and pathway to citizenship for others
Q: What are your concerns and plans regarding U.S. immigration policy?A: Recently, I met a family whose father was deported after 26 years of being here in the U.S. This man was not a criminal and was targeted for deportation.
This is wrong. While I support removing any criminal element from our population, our immigration policies need a comprehensive reform.
This must include protecting our Dreamers, and creating a realistic pathway to citizenship for our undocumented individuals.
Some of our citizens were brought here as slaves and had to fight to gain true citizenship. We should not have to repeat this painful history. I will advocate for a compassionate approach to this issue.
Source: League of Women Voters Q&A on 2018 Congress MI-13 election
Sep 9, 2018
On Principles & Values:
Stand up for constituents when not getting their fair share
Q: Tell the voters why they should vote for you.Jones: They can trust me to represent them with honor and dignity. To stand up for them when they are not getting their fair share and to remove obstacles that get in the way of their success.
We don't hear enough about the amazing people that live in the 13th. To move forward, we all need to work together. Making a difference in the quality of people's lives is what I want to do for the people of the 13th District.
Source: Southgate News-Herald coverage: 2018 Congress MI-13 election
Jul 26, 2018
On Welfare & Poverty:
Abolish unfair redlining practices in her district
Q: What do you see as the most important issue facing your constituents?Jones: Redlining is the most important issue facing my constituents. The stranglehold on the struggle for economic security for residents of the 13th District is a
direct result of the redlining of Southeast Michigan. Our quality of life cannot depend on our zip codes. As the 13th District's Congresswoman, I will fight to prevent these unfair financial practices from the banking and insurance industries.
Source: Southgate News-Herald coverage: 2018 Congress MI-13 election
Jul 26, 2018
Page last updated: Dec 01, 2021