Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Carolyn Maloney for US Congress NY-12
Candidate Name: Carolyn Maloney
Office Seeking Election for: US Congress, Congressional District 12 (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Roosevelt Island)
Campaign Address: 24 E. 93rd Street, Ste. 4B, New York, NY, 11209
Campaign Website: www.carolynmaloney.com
Campaign Telephone: 212-987-5516
Campaign Social Media Handles (Facebook/Twitter):
F: @CarolynMaloney,
T/IG: @CarolynBMaloney
Campaign Contact (name/phone/email): Matthew Koos, ( 516-581-7116 ), matt@carolynmaloney.com
Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best
qualified to represent your district
I began my career as a teacher working in ESL and continuing education in East Harlem, then
worked for the Department of Education and as a legislative staffer in Albany before running for
City Council and becoming the first woman elected to represent my district. I fought to be
appointed to the committee that oversaw NYCHA contracts, and was able to end organized
crime’s hold on the NYCHA contracting system. I also introduced the first LGBT equality bill in
NYC history.
When the Supreme Court decided Planned Parenthood vs Casey , which paved the way to
today’s restrictive abortion laws, I filed to run for National office the same day. I was outspent
5-to-1 by an entrenched Republican - and still won, as the first woman ever elected to my
Congressional district. I was part of the largest class of women ever elected to the House up to
that date and championed defunding NRA ammunition grants, the Violence Against Women Act,
and efforts to pass universal healthcare.
Over my time in office, I’ve worked to pass progressive LGBT legislation and create new
opportunities for the LGBT community. At the Federal level, I have championed LGBT equality
and inclusion my entire career (see specific bills in relevant question).
Do you now support or have you ever supported openly LGBTQ candidates for public
office?
Yes.
Past endorsements
• Christine Quinn
• Brad Hoylman
• Corey Johnson
• Rosie Mendez
(Among others).
If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBT community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly).
City Council:
As a city councilwoman in 1986, I introduced New York City’s first domestic partnership legislation ever, and worked to expand access to paid family leave to include LGBT employees.
Congress:
I am a member of the LGBT Equality Caucus. Here are some of the highlights of my legislative work on LGBT issues:
• Employment Non-Discrimination Act
• Student Non-Discrimination Act
• Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010
• Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act
• Equality Act of 2019
LGBT issues are intersectional, and I’m also a supporter of solutions that would significantly improve life for many marginalized communities, including the LGBT community. This includes supporting gestational surrogacy and repealing the “gay or trans panic defense” in New York State, being a co-sponsor on single payer Medicare for All, promoting the availability of PEP and PrEP medications, holding big pharma to account on price gouging and consumer abuse, co-sponsoring H.R. 40 to set up a commission to study reparations, and the Green New Deal.
What LGBT organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
• LGBTQ Equality Caucus
• Jim Owles Democratic Club
• Stonewall Democratic Club
• Lamda Democratic Club
• Human Rights Campaign
I have worked with numerous advocacy groups to push for, introduce, and pass legislation for LGBT rights.
If applicable, what LGBT organizations have you allocated funds to?
N/A
Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBT community?
No, but I strive to do the work of an ally on an ongoing basis, both through my legislation and by speaking out in support of the LGBT community.
Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
I have marched in the NYC Pride march for many, many years, and been honored to be able to take part. Empowering the community through raising visibility and helping create safe spaces is crucial to making progress on LGBT rights.
Have you employed openly LGBT individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
Yes and yes. Effective and inclusive government requires the voices of all communities.
If you receive our endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements?
Proudly.
What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBT issues, pro choice legislation, criminal justice issues and the Resist Trump Movement have you attended?
My history of advocacy on these issues is long-standing, particularly in the areas of LGBT and the right to safe, legal abortion. Much of my legislation is launched by press conference, including that relating directly to LGBT issues. In 2018, during the MDC scandal, I was one of the members of Congress who went to the facility to bear witness and work to improve conditions for those held there; this year we also passed Ban-The-Box legislation for federal job applicants as part of the NDAA. I have been very, very vocal on the need to resist Trump, saying so on television and in particular at an Impeachment Rally held in Foley Square in June 2019. I am also the chair of the Oversight committee and helped lead the impeachment inquiry, and voted to impeach him.
If elected or re-elected will you become a member of the “Squad?"
These women worked hard to get where they are and have brought their own energy and passion to Congress. I am glad they ran and glad they won. I have supported their legislation, including as an original co-sponsor of the Green New Deal and a co-sponsor on the Green New Deal for Public Housing, have sought opportunities to collaborate and help elevate their work, and I look forward to continuing to work with them in the next Congress.
Have you ever been arrested? If so please explain why and outcome of arrest.
Yes; in 1984 I was arrested outside the South African embassy protesting against apartheid, alongside my City Council colleagues. I was taken to a police station and given a summons. NYT article here:
https://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/15/us/3-held-in-protest-at-embassy.html?searchResultPosition
=2
Will you advocate for legislation to mandate the review of sentences of incarcerated individuals over the age of 55 who have served in excess of 15 years to determine if they warrant release?
Yes.
Do you commit to visit constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons such as Bedford Correctional Facility?
Yes.
Do you believe sincere remorse, risk of reoffending and actions taken while incarcerated should be considered over the original crime in determinations of parole?
Yes.
Have you participated in any demonstrations or protests in relation to the issues of clemency and parole?
Yes.
Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
Yes.
Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work?
I believe we should not criminalize adults who are freely engaged in consensual transactional sex work on their own behalf. I believe the best way to achieve this is through what is commonly known as the “Nordic Model,” although I am open to considering other options.
If an incumbent, did you vote for HR 1865 in 2018? Will you introduce and or support legislation to amend HR 1865 so that sex between consenting adults, with monetary exchange, is legalized? This would include the use of ads and on-line contact.
Yes, I did vote for it. The goal of HR 1865 is to help end coerced sexual slavery, human trafficking, and the exploitation of minors. I support exploring separate legislative solutions for the regulation, safety and protection of those who offer their services in adult consensual transactional sex work.
Do you support a national law legalizing gestational surrogacy? Will you introduce such legislation?
No one should have to leave their home to start a family because of antiquated surrogacy laws. That is long overdue to fix. At the State level, I supported New York’s work to legalize gestational surrogacy, and am happy to do the same at the Federal level.
What proposals will you advocate for the protection of immigrants and to further New York
as a Sanctuary City?
As the Chairwoman of the Oversight Committee, I have worked to expose abuses by the Department of Homeland Security, ICE, and CBP. This has included visiting detention facilities on the border and calling administration officials on the carpet (under oath), to answer for their treatment of migrants and asylum seekers at the border. I have also fought back against Ben Carson’s work to remove mixed-status families from public housing and the administration’s push to implement a public charge rule to keep immigrants out. I have spoken out and fought against the administration’s efforts to obtain data on undocumented members of our community who have not committed violent crimes, and worked to help those living within my district with issues involving their immigration status. I will oppose any Federal-level efforts to base city funding levels on a sanctuary city policies.
Will you advocate, including introducing legislation, to remove public funding from religious schools?
Yes.
Do you support the establishment of supervised drug consumption spaces?
Yes.
Have you ever endorsed any member of the IDC or any candidates who challenged IDC members? Please identify all candidates
Challengers: Alessandra Biaggi, Jessica Ramos, Robert Jackson
Will you commit to hiring a member of the LGBT community to serve as a liaison to the community?
I have a committed staff that includes members of the LGBT community. Everyone in my office is committed to connecting with and addressing the needs of every community in my district.
Will you commit to ensuring diverse LGBT representation among your staff?
Yes.
Who did you support for office in the following races A) mayor and Public Advocate in 2014 B) President in 2016 C) Governor and Attorney General 2018?
a) Christine Quinn
b) Hillary Clinton
c) Andrew Cuomo and Tish James
Describe any federal legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination
I am a co-sponsor on H.R. 40, the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act. I was also a co-sponsor of the FIRST STEP Act, as well as H.R. 1, which would expand voting rights and li mit partisan gerrymandering (much of which intentionally disadvantages marginalized communities).
In 2019, I also led the charge to protect the census from Trump’s illegal citizenship question, which a GOP gerrymandering expert said would allow our representation to be skewed to advantage “Republicans and non-Hispanic whites.” I have called out domestic terrorism carried out against people of color by white nationalists and domestic terrorists, and was a co-sponsor on Rep. Raul Grijalva’s 2015 Justice Is Not For Sale Act bill to end Federal financing of private prisons.
I am a co-sponsor on bills to promote STEM and STEAM education, particularly for women and minorities, and recently introduced a bill to offer educational funding for those groups.
What legislation or other policy changes do you support in order to make college and graduate school affordable for poor, working-class, and middle-class Americans and to alleviate the crushing loan debt that many students and alumni are facing?
I am a co-sponsor on Sen. Bernie Sanders’ plan to eliminate student debt, support free 4-year college at state schools, and giving tax credits to businesses that offer training and apprenticeships. I oppose Betsy DeVos’ efforts to continue charging victims of for-profit non-accredited universities in defiance of a court order.
Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Please elaborate.
Yes; I am a co-sponsor on Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s Single Payer Medicare for All. Healthcare is a human right. I am also fighting to keep Republicans from sabotaging the Affordable Care Act, without which 130 million people with pre-existing conditions would lose coverage, because we must continue to protect their right to healthcare as we worked towards single payer Medicare for All.
Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services.
I am a fierce advocate for reproductive rights. When the GOP tried to hold a hearing on birth control with an all-male panel, I was the one who asked, “Where are the women?” The Affordable Care Act made birth control available to all, enabling millions of women to exercise reproductive choice - a basic building block of economic equality. As Chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, I was able to hold a hearing on the draconian, abusive measures states are taking to end abortion access - the first hearing to feature a doctor from Planned Parenthood in ten years.
Contraceptives and abortion services are healthcare, and healthcare is a human right. I have already been endorsed in 2020 by Planned Parenthood, NARAL (confidential until announcement) and NOW.
Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate?
No. Many of my constituents work in the real estate industry as brokers and small business owners, and I am glad they support my reform-minded progressive agenda, advocacy for affordable housing, and desire to keep private developers from profiting off of public housing.
Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations complicit in the Trump agenda?
I do not take money from the fossil fuel, tobacco, big pharma or gun industries, and I am not in the practice of refunding donations made to past campaigns. That said, I have a strong record of opposing - and winning against - Donald Trump, including blocking the citizenship question from the 2020 census, pushing to obtain his taxes, leading the Oversight Committee investigations into his finances and impeachment, and calling for and voting for his impeachment.
What additional information would you like Jim Owles to consider when we are making our endorsements decisions?
I’ve served to represent our community my entire career and have detailed knowledge and understanding of this district and our many communities. I’ve also learned the best ways to navigate Congress and get things done - advancing progressive priorities and passing laws to benefit my constituents, NYC, and the country. The seniority I have attained is incredibly helpful when it comes to setting priorities, holding hearings, and getting things done.
I have also been known for my support of LGBT issues, and have been honored to have the partnership of the LGBT community in fighting to protect the values of inclusion, acceptance, and equality regardless of who someone loves or their gender identification.