Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Adriano Espaillat for US Congress NY-13
Candidate Name: Adriano Espaillat
Office Seeking Election for: US Congress NY-13
Website: https://adrianoespaillat.com
With the possibility of Donald J. Trump winning (stealing) the next Presidential election and ending democracy and civil rights in the United States, it is more important than ever that we elect progressive, dynamic leaders to the United States Congress.
1. Based upon your life experiences and accomplishments why should we believe you would be a dynamic, progressive leader who would stand up for Civil Rights and Democracy?
As an NYS Assemblymember, NYS State Senator, and Member of Congress, I have upheld my oath to the US Constitution time and time again. My record includes cosponsoring the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021, supporting the Dream Act at all levels of government, and more. I have been arrested in the act of protesting unfair actions against the citizens of this country and will continue to use my platform to speak for the disenfranchised.
2. What is your involvement in the LGBTQ Civil Rights movement? What candidates have you or are you supporting who are openly LGBTQ? What legislation have you/do you support to further LGBTQ rights? Do you /will you
have an LGBTQ liaison in your office? What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer or professional basis?
One of my first acts in Congress was to join the LGBT Equality Caucus which I remain in to this day. I was an original cosponsor of the Equality Act of 2017 that expanded civil rights protections to the LGBT community. My voting record in support of LGBT causes dates back to my time in the New York State Legislature when I voted in favor of marriage equality. I have been involved with and supported by Stonewall Democrats & Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club dating back over a decade. I have endorsed a plethora of LGBT candidates including Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell, Councilman turned Congressman Ritchie Torres, and more.
3. What demonstrations, rallies, and protests have you participated in support of LGBTQ issues, African-American, Hispanic, Asian-American Civil Rights, pro-choice legislation, criminal justice issues, and Resist Trump?
I have taken part in countless demonstrations, rallies, and protests in support of civil rights, against far-right extremists, and to Resist Trump. In fact, I was arrested outside of Trump Tower, alongside two of my Congressional colleagues, protesting Trump’s decision to end DACA. Every year since getting to Congress I have also organized a “Dominicans on the Hill” day of lobbying my fellow members. The issues I rally for range from anti-police brutality to equal rights to pro-choice causes.
4. Do you support reparations to compensate African Americans for the history of slavery, Jim Crow, and systemic racism in this country?
I support reparations and co sponsored HR40 to study and develop reparation proposals.
5. What are your concrete proposals to address current systemic racism in terms of employment, housing, voting rights, and the criminal justice system in the U.S.?
As a Member of Congress, I have supported a variety of legislation to combat systemic racism such as the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, introduced the Excessive Force Prevention and Accountability Act, cosponsored the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, voted in favor of Equal Pay for Equal Work, and have brought tens of millions of dollars back to my district to invest in healthcare, housing, and educational programs.
6. Will you advocate for elder parole where incarcerated individuals aged 55 and older who have serviced in excess of 15 years obtain parole hearings?
Yes.
7. Will you advocate for legislation that ensures that individuals get considered for release from prison based upon who they are currently not exclusively based on the nature of their crime?
Yes.
8. Have you participated, and will you participate in demonstrations and protests in relation to the issues of clemency and parole?
Yes.
9. Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
I adhere to the rules and guidelines of the House and believe in second chances for incarcerated individuals.
10. Have you and will you visit incarcerated constituents to learn of their conditions?
Yes.
11. What are your proposals to have prisons focus more on rehabilitation and less on punishment?
We must decarcerate America and focus on rehabilitation and comprehensive criminal justice reform. I have introduced legislation to abolish the federal death penalty, one of the most heinous and primitive tools of punishment our justice system currently wields. I have called on New York City to end its practice of solitary confinement alongside the rest of the NYC Congressional delegation. I have introduced and cosponsored numerous pieces of legislation to demilitarize police departments, remove profit-incentives for policing and incarceration, end private prisons, and transition away from a policing-first model.
12. Do you support ending the cruel punishment of solitary confinement?
Yes. I have also spoken out publicly against solitary confinement.
13. What are your proposals to facilitate individuals who have recently entered the
U.S. to be able to live decently with employment and housing?
I have been an outspoken leader in support of supplemental funding to assist asylum seekers, providing work permits, and against the 60-day shelter limit due to its unrealistic nature and the homelessness that will result from its enforcement. I am formerly an undocumented immigrant, the first to reach Congress, and I am in a unique position to truly advocate for the needs of our immigrant community. As a state Senator, I was a leader to secure Drivers Licenses for immigrants.
14. What proposals do you advocate to combat the cruel and inhumane immigration policies that the Trump Administration commenced and which, to some degree, are still in effect?
I constantly protested Donald Trump’s immigration policies both on the streets and in the halls of Congress. My first bill I introduced would prevent a border wall from being built on federal lands. Some bills I have sponsored and co-sponsored:
· ICE and CBP Body Camera Accountability Act
· Protecting Sensitive Locations Act
· The BRIDGE Act
· Safeguarding Sanctuary Cities Act
· Statute of Liberty Values Act
· Protect Sanctuary Cities Act
15. Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work?
Yes.
16. Do you oppose legislation that promotes the Nordic model?
Yes, I oppose the Nordic model and legislation that promotes its implementation.
17. What concrete proposals do you support to lift up women after four years of Trump being President?
We must codify Roe v Wade as the law of the land. While individuals states such as ours have protections, we must ensure there are national laws protecting reproductive freedoms. We also need to create a strategy to address our courts that have been stacked by the GOP and confirmation of qualified judges held back for far too long.
18. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Please elaborate.
Yes. I am a founding member of the Medicare for All Caucus and proud to remain in the caucus to date alongside nearly 60 of my colleagues. I have also cosponsored the Medicare for All Act.
19. What have you done to facilitate reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services?
I am a member of the Pro Choice Caucus. Alongside Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, I introduced HR 28, a resolution condemning attacks by Republicans against reproductive justice in the wake of Dobbs v Jackson. Every bill, such as HR 3755, the Women’s Health Protection Act, that has come before the Congress I have taken action to cosponsor and support in order to protect the reproductive rights of women in this country.
20. Will you refuse contributions from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate industry, from police and correction communities?
I will ensure that any contributions I receive from those in the real estate industry are not connected with slumlords or any individuals who discriminate in housing or disobey tenant protections. I will also not take any money from police or correction communities.
21. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives or corporations complicit in the Trump anti-American agenda?
Yes.
22. How do you propose that we address the current surge of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism?
I just introduced new legislation, the Combating Hate Across Campus Act, to report and track acts of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, and more across our college campuses. This legislation would provide a more detailed and nuanced account of hate crimes on school campuses to foster safer and more inclusive environments.
Hatred does not start and end on college campuses, though. We have seen an unfortunate rise in hate-motivated attacks and speech in recent times. Tolerance must start with leadership, for without a guide on how to accept others many will turn to intolerance.
Intolerance is just one of many ugly legacies of Donald Trump and his followers.
Education and community must be cornerstones of an agenda to root out hatred in all of its forms. Only by understanding and loving our neighbors, our fellow Americans, can we move forward from this ugly chapter in our collective history.
23. Did you or would you have voted for the censure of U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib?
No.
24. Do you support an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East?
25. Should we condition further aid to Israel? What conditions should we stress that Israel abides by?
26. Will you refuse funds from Trump-supporting AIPAC?
27. If you are in Congress, are you a member of the “Squad”? If not, why not? If you are running to be a new member of Congress, will you apply to join the “Squad”? If not, why not?
I am not a member of the “Squad”, but I have strong working relationships with its various members, including my fellow New Yorker Rep. Ocasio-Cortez. The “Squad” is not a formal organization, but I have joined the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Medicare for All Caucus, and other caucuses. According to Progressive Punch, I have a
career progressive rating score of 98.65 which compares to Rep. Ocasio-Cortez at 97.23 and Rep. Pressley at 98.
28. What are your concrete proposals to prevent Trump and his cult from taking over this country and ending democracy?
I supported and voted for the impeachment of Donald Trump, both times, as he is a direct threat to our democracy. I have also introduced legislation such as the Make Our Government Safe Act to bar someone who has threatened our government and democracy from attending National Security Council meetings. Every step of the way during his term, I fought against Donald Trump and his cult and will continue to do so against his cult in Congress.
29. How can we combat the movement in this country to ban books, prevent colleges from discussing issues and demonizing intelligence as “woke”?
I have supported legislation such as the “Banned Books Week” and advocated the Department of Education against the practice of book banning and investigate their power to override these nonsensical local laws as a civil rights protection. Book banning and policing ideas has no place in the American education system.
30. As Christopher Columbus caused the death/slavery of thousands, should we replace the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle, and if so, what should replace it? Do you authorize the use of your name for such a purpose?
I am a cosponsor of legislation to rename Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the federal level. I think replacing the statue is worthy of consideration and have been on the record about that for many years.
31. As Edward I Koch caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people with AIDS and was blatantly racist, do you support removing his name from the former Queensboro Bridge? Do you authorize the use of your name for such a purpose?
Yes.
32. What is your opinion of Eric Adams as New York City Mayor? Are you involved in finding someone else to run for Mayor of New York City?
33. How can we mandate that every community do its share to have affordable housing and care for the recently arrived people?
I have called on Congress to authorize $3 billion to afford housing and care to recently arrived peoples and for work permits so that immigrants can afford to make their own American Dream. We also must continue to assess the stock of housing here in New York City and beyond to ensure we are taking opportunities for new construction projects such as the 570-unit residential project for Inwood in my district and opportunities to redevelop commercial spaces as residential.
34. Do you support allowing legal Immigrants to vote in local elections?
Yes.