Joseph Biden Jr. (D)

Platform: Clean Energy Revolution to address the climate emergency. Biden agrees that climate change and the recent warming is driven by human activity. Supports the ending of fracking (but can keep happening on federal land).

Need to address the emergency ASAP.

Goals:

• Wants the federal gov. to reduce greenhouse gases 
• 2 trillion plan to fight climate change to eliminate carbon emission by 2035 (Green New Deal)
• 100% clean economy and net-zero emissions by 2050
• Partner the rest of the word to tackle climate change

Platform: Clean Energy Revolution, Green New Deal

• ensure the U.S. achieves a 100% clean energy economy and net-zero emissions no later than 2050
• Infrastructure that prevents and reduces a changing climate
• Recommit to the Paris Agreement 
• Take action against fossil fuel companies which knowingly harm the environment and conceal information regarding potential environmental and health risks
•  make a federal investment of $1.7 trillion over the next ten years to create jobs for Americans
• Protecting biodiversity, slowing extinction rates and helping leverage natural climate solutions by conserving 30% of America’s lands and waters by 2030

Background: 

• When in Congress in 1986, Joe Biden introduced on of the first-ever climate bills 
• Called a “climate change pioneer” by Politifact
• In 1998 he was a champion for the Tropical Forest Conservation Act
• As VP he oversaw the Recovery Act , the largest single investment in clean energy in US history

Students: Alba, Kenya, Debora, Josh, Herby, Tamia 

Platform: 

Joe Biden believes that housing is a right not a privilege. Everyone should have affordable housing that is a reasonable commute from their jobs and is safe and healthy. Joe Biden wants to protect homeowners and renters by implementing a new Bill of Rights that will keep them from becoming homeless or financially distressed from eviction. He plans to invest in America’s housing by raising taxes on corporations. Although he does not directly mention gentrification, he does oppose these discriminatory lending practices that contribute to gentrification.

• Ending redlining and other discriminatory and unfair practices in the housing market.
• Providing financial assistance to help hard-working Americans buy or rent safe, quality housing, including down payment assistance through a refundable and advanceable tax credit and fully funding federal rental assistance.
• Increasing the supply, lowering the cost, and improving the quality of housing, including through investments in resilience, energy efficiency, and accessibility of homes.
• Pursuing a comprehensive approach to ending homelessness.
• Roll back Trump Administration policies gutting fair lending and fair housing protections for homeowners.
• Hold financial institutions accountable for discriminatory practices in the housing market. 
• Protect tenants from eviction.

Students: Tamba, Karen, Shantoni, Jasmine, Sajeda, Marlen

Platform: Joe Biden is promising that he will only increase taxes to the wealthy people. He will not ask people who make less than $400,000 a year to pay for more. Biden is also expanding the child tax credit. This allows the middle class for extra support throughout their life. People will be able to have support with health insurance and their first house. He also mentions how he will be giving more to the people who are a part of the long-term  elderly care. 

Students: Amina and Ariadna Diouf

Platform: 

Very pro-choice and pro-women’s reproductive rights. Helped author the Violence Against Women act in 1994. Emphasizes intersectional feminism and acknowledges that women of color face unique challenges; this is reflected in his legislation. Believes that women should have the same opportunities as men. He supported Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

Students: Jayleen, Muzamil, Kwame, Teniah

Platform: Biden calls for the immediate passage of Congressman Bobby Scott’s SAFE Justice Act, an evidence-based, comprehensive bill to reform our criminal justice system “from front-end sentencing reform to back-end release policies.” The Biden Plan will also go further. Biden will take bold action to reduce our prison population, create a more just society, and make our communities safer, by:Preventing crime and providing opportunities for all.Eliminating racial disparities and ensuring fair sentences.Offering second chances.Reducing violence in our communities and supporting survivors of violence.

From Biden’s website: “Today, too many people are incarcerated in the United States – and too many of them are black and brown. To build safe and healthy communities, we need to rethink who we’re sending to jail, how we treat those in jail, and how we help them get the health care, education, jobs, and housing they need to successfully rejoin society after they serve their time.”

History: 1994 Crime Bill according to various sources, TheIntercept, The Washington Post, NYT, Biden sponsored the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. The result was mass incarceration, mostly in minority communities like the African American community. 

Students: Bragye, Eric, Mario, Isaidy

Platform: 

• Expand and use the power of the U.S. Justice Department to address systemic misconduct in police departments and prosecutors’ offices.
• Establish an independent Task Force on Prosecutorial Discretion. 
• Decriminalize the use of cannabis and automatically expunge all prior cannabis use convictions.
• End all incarceration for drug use alone and instead divert individuals to drug courts and treatment.
• End the school to prison pipeline by focusing on prevention.
• Expand funding for after-school programs, community centers, and summer jobs to keep young people active, busy, learning, and having fun.
• Active in the community dealing with victims of police brutality
• Spreading awareness of the issue throughout  different platforms.

Students: Teniah, Ishmal, Amad