Vote for Kamala Harris to Support Science, Health and the Environment.

Vote for Kamala Harris to Support Science, Health and the Environment.

Two contrasting visions for the U.S. in the upcoming presidential election, comparing Kamala Harris's policy stances with those of Donald Trump. It highlights critical issues like health care, climate change, and governance, arguing that Harris's approach is based on science, evidence, and inclusivity, while Trump's past record is depicted as one that undermines public health and safety, neglects the climate crisis, and sows division. It points out Harris's commitment to expanding healthcare access, improving public health through policies like the Affordable Care Act, and addressing climate change through clean energy. In contrast, Trump's policies are described as focusing on deregulation, cutting key programs, and fostering a more divided society. Health care policy differences between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, focusing on their actions and plans regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medicare, Medicaid, and responses to public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s a breakdown: Kamala Harris's Health Care Policy: Support for ACA: The Biden-Harris administration expanded access to health insurance under the ACA by increasing subsidies. Harris aims to further expand the program, which is linked to better health outcomes through preventive care and coverage for acute medical needs. Medicaid Expansion: Harris backs Medicaid expansion, citing evidence that states that adopted the expansion saw health improvements, while those that restricted eligibility did not. Medicaid expansion is crucial for low-income populations. Medicare Funding: Harris supports increasing taxes on individuals earning $400,000 or more to ensure the sustainability of Medicare, the health insurance program for older Americans. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA): This act, passed during the Biden-Harris administration, caps the cost of essential medications, including insulin, for Medicare recipients. Harris's vice presidential pick, Tim Walz, was also proactive in reducing drug costs, particularly against excessive price hikes on generic drugs in Minnesota. Pandemic Preparedness: As vice president, Harris contributed to the administration's efforts in vaccine distribution, free COVID test programs, and virus surveillance. The newly established Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy addresses emerging health threats like bird flu. Donald Trump’s Health Care Policy: Attempts to Repeal ACA: Trump consistently sought to repeal the ACA, a signature healthcare reform of the Obama-Biden administration, without offering a clear alternative. This approach risked eliminating health coverage for millions. Medicare and Medicaid Cuts: While in office, Trump proposed cuts to both Medicare and Medicaid, though Congress did not enact these proposals. Additionally, Trump introduced a work requirement for Medicaid eligibility, which would have made it harder for some to access the program. Drug Price Concerns: Like Harris, Trump has expressed concern about drug prices. In 2020, he signed an executive order aimed at lowering the cost of drugs covered by Medicare. COVID-19 Response: During his presidency, Trump faced significant criticism for his administration’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. His approach to vaccine distribution and public health strategies lacked coordination, leading to mixed results compared to the efforts during the Biden-Harris administration. Overall, Harris’s health care platform emphasizes expanding coverage and access, particularly for low-income and elderly populations, while addressing the rising costs of medications. Trump’s record shows efforts to dismantle existing programs like the ACA without clear alternatives, along with policy initiatives that could reduce access to care for vulnerable populations.

During his first debate with Kamala Harris, Trump promoted his pandemic response. However, in 2020, he fueled resistance to basic public health guidelines, spread misinformation about treatments, and infamously suggested that injecting disinfectants might cure COVID. By the end of 2020, around 350,000 Americans had died from the virus, with the total now exceeding a million. Despite the success of Operation Warp Speed, which accelerated vaccine development, Trump intends to make significant budget cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the agencies that initiated the COVID vaccine research. He’s also expressed interest in dismantling the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy, dismissing it as unnecessary spending. These positions align with Project 2025, a conservative roadmap created by several of Trump's former staffers for his next term. Reproductive Rights Harris has consistently championed reproductive rights, stating in the September debate her intention to restore "the protections of Roe v. Wade." She believes that personal freedoms, particularly decisions about one’s own body, should not be controlled by the government. Harris has also committed to increasing access to abortion and defending the right to obtain abortion pills like mifepristone through the mail, even as MAGA Republicans attempt to block these rights. As a senator, she co-sponsored legislation to address the rising maternal mortality rate. Trump, on the other hand, supports restrictive abortion laws like Florida’s “heartbeat” bill, which bans most abortions after six weeks. He was instrumental in appointing the Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade and has continued to spread misleading information about abortion, even suggesting that some states permit "execution after birth," which is categorically false. Gun Safety The Biden-Harris administration has taken steps to improve gun safety, such as closing the gun-show loophole that allowed unlicensed firearm purchases. Harris supports the use of court orders to temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed dangerous. Trump, in contrast, vowed to eliminate all of the Biden-Harris administration’s gun safety regulations, continuing to prioritize the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) agenda. Even after being personally injured in an assassination attempt, Trump has remained silent on the need for gun reform. His running mate, J.D. Vance, has downplayed the rise in school shootings, attributing it to an unfortunate "fact of life" and suggesting stronger school security rather than addressing gun access.

Environment and Climate Harris, during the debate, reaffirmed her belief in the reality of climate change and pledged to continue the Biden administration’s aggressive climate policies. The Biden-Harris administration re-entered the U.S. into the Paris Agreement and passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which includes major investments in renewable energy and clean technology. Harris has committed to maintaining these efforts, which aim to reduce U.S. carbon emissions by half by 2030. Conversely, Trump has consistently downplayed climate change, favoring policies that encourage pollution and rolling back regulations designed to protect the environment.