Issues

Congressman André Carson represents a new generation of bold leadership in Congress, working every day on the issues that matter most for the people of the 7th Congressional District.

The Economy and Jobs
Congressman Carson is continually a strong voice in Congress for programs that are putting Hoosiers back to work and pulling our nation out of its worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. This summer he successfully fought to bring more of your tax dollars back for transportation projects, ensuring the creation of thousands of new jobs across the state.

Carson was a strong proponent of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which made critical investments across the country that helped to reverse our economic downturn. He worked tirelessly with the Obama Administration to ensure that billions of dollars came to Indiana to keep teachers in the classroom, police officers on the street, and manufacturing business doors open.

As a member of the Financial Services Committee, Congressman Carson played an important role in the investigation and reform of the financial industry following its collapse in 2008. He helped author Wall Street reform legislation, known as Dodd-Frank, which is protecting consumers and holding Wall Street accountable for the dishonest and destructive practices that caused millions to lose their homes and our economy to suffer. He will continue to fight against Republican efforts to dismantle financial regulatory reform, a move that would create new avenues for Wall Street to take advantage of middle-class families.

Healthcare
Congressman Carson believes that all Hoosiers deserve quality, affordable, and accessible health care, which is why he proudly voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

This historic bill is already revolutionizing our health care system. It is eliminating discrimination against those who were previously sick, allowing young adults to stay on their parent’s plans until age 26, providing free basic care under all insurance plans, and ensuring our premiums go towards care, not lining executives’ pockets. Over the next few years the Affordable Care Act will improve care quality and make it available for all Americans.

Following the decision of the Supreme Court to uphold the Affordable Care Act, Congressman Carson believes it is time to focus on implementation, not repeal. He is adamantly opposed to any Republican attempts to eliminate these critical protections for the American people.

Congressman Carson continues to defend against repeated Republican attempts to end Medicare. Republican efforts would raise costs for seniors and eliminate the certainty they need later in life. Seniors have worked hard for their benefits and deserve reliable health coverage.

Housing
Congressman Carson sits on the powerful Financial Services Committee where he fights everyday to protect the American Dream for Hoosiers. In buying a house or renting an apartment, he believes that all families deserve a stable and affordable place to call home.

He was instrumental in the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which protects middle-class families from predatory lending practices that led to millions of bankruptcies and foreclosures. He continues to voice his support for this critical watchdog agency and opposes any Republican effort to cripple it.

Over the last several years, Congressman Carson has consistently promoted legislation that helps homeowners adjust their mortgages to avoid foreclosure, expand access to low-interest loans for new homebuyers, and increase the availability of affordable housing, including low-cost rental properties. He supports full funding of critical programs like Section 8 and Homeless Assistance Grants that help struggling families get back on their feet.

Congressman Carson understands foreclosure also has a devastating impact on neighborhoods, often leaving homes abandoned and subject to vandalism and crime. He strongly supports the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, which has directed millions of dollars to Indianapolis to demolish abandoned homes or redevelop them so they can be rented or sold to families who need housing.

The Deficit and Debt Reduction
Congressman Carson believes that our rising deficit is a problem that, if left unchecked, could impact our long-term stability and jeopardize our position as the top economic power in the world. He knows that the single best way to decrease the deficit is putting Americans back to work, which is why he continues to press Republican leadership to bring job creating legislation to a vote in the House of Representatives.

While he supports cutting spending, he does not believe we should place the burden on low- and middle-income families, children or seniors. Instead, he believes we should look to one of the most significant causes of our debt—the Bush tax cuts. Congressman Carson supports extending these cuts, which expire later this year, for middle-class families who are having trouble making ends meet and allowing them to expire for the wealthiest Americans. In addition, Congressman Carson believes that we must be more efficient about how we spend tax dollars, which is why he advocates for the elimination of tax breaks and subsidies for oil companies. The wealthiest individuals and companies in our country have continued to prosper in these difficult times and should be asked contribute a small amount more for the good our country.

Military and Veterans
Congressman Carson believes we must honor the heroism and sacrifices of our service men and women and their families. First and foremost, this means using our military only when critically needed. That is why he strongly supports President Obama’s decision to withdraw the majority of our troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

Congressman Carson is one of the strongest voices in Congress for the protection and care of our service members and veterans. Working with local veterans and military families, he authored legislation that passed the House of Representatives and was signed into law. As a result of his hard work and dedication, our men and women in uniform will receive additional mental health treatment, the equipment they need to stay safe, and financial preparation for civilian life when they leave the service.

Education
Congressman Carson knows that education is the key to the continued growth and economic success of our nation. His wife, Mariama, who is a local educator and principal in Pike Township, teachers, parents and students across the city speak regularly with him about how funding shortfalls and misguided national policies are leaving too many of our children behind. Congressman Carson is especially alarmed by the high school dropout rate, which is why he authored legislation to provide mentors to at-risk students, helping them through the difficult transition into high school. He strongly advocates for Congress to immediately consider education reform to establish policies that better use talented teachers, involve parents, and provide students with the strongest possible educational foundation for their futures.

Congressman Carson believes that higher education or technical training should be available to any student who wants it—regardless of income. This summer, he successfully fought to prevent a doubling of student loan interest rates that would raised costs for millions of students and kept many from pursuing higher education. He has also voted to increase funding for Pell Grants, which allow many low-income students to afford higher education.

Energy and Environment
Congressman Carson believes that we have sent too many of our hard earned dollars to hostile and authoritarian regimes in oil producing countries. He is committed to ending our country’s dependence on foreign oil, which only leads to higher gas prices at home and violence abroad. He believes in an “all in” approach, which means using the abundant resources we have at home, like Indiana coal, while pursuing clean energy technologies like wind, solar, and biofuels. He wants to put our state at the forefront of this energy revolution, with projects like the wind turbine fields along I-65 and increased use of ethanol and biodiesel made by Hoosiers, from Hoosier crops.

In the pursuit of domestic energy, Congressman Carson knows it is critical to protect the air we breathe and the water we drink. He has continually opposed Republican efforts to dismantle the Environmental Protection Agency, believing instead that we should improve and streamline regulations that restrain our energy production while strengthening those that protect the health of our families.