2020-Muslim-Voter-Guide.Pdf

Table of Contents

About the Guide �� 3

THE ISSUES

Civil Rights and Civil Liberties ��4 Climate Change/Environment �� 7 Criminal Justice Reform �� 9 Economy/Jobs ��11 Education ��13 Foreign Policy ��15 Gun Reform ��18 Healthcare �� 20 Immigration ��22 Engagement with American Muslims ��24

About MPAC ��26 ABOUT THE GUIDE We created this voter guide to give you the information and insight you need to make an informed vote in the presidential primaries.

We surveyed American Muslims to As Muslims, we are called to identify the top issues that influence work for the betterment of all. your voting decision. This guide includes Participating in this election as insights on where each candidate educated and empowered voters is stands on those issues. Issues and an important step in that direction. candidates are in alphabetical order. NOTE: MPAC is non-partisan and does We offer the following not endorse candidates. As the election recommendations for all cycle progresses, we will continue to American Muslims to amplify our make edits to this guide and release collective civic participation: additional resources to assist you in casting an informed and principled vote. 1. Every eligible person should register to vote. A person who is not registered to vote is politically non-existent and has no voice.

2. Cast your vote based on your conscience, shaped by the principles of Islam, to support what is best for all people.

3. Expose and speak out against prejudice and hate. Such attitudes are increasing during this election season. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

In the post-war era, civil rights and civil privacy, as was the case during the Bush liberties protections were codified under administration’s disastrous War on Terror. inter- and supranational institutional frameworks, such as that embodied in the In our current moment, the potential threats United Nations Universal Declaration of to privacy are exacerbated by technology Human Rights, passed in 19481. Since then, companies who make billions of dollars civil rights and civil liberties considerations off of surveillance data collection, and a have been anchored to individual citizenship, government system which has not taken as well as to the legitimacy of nation-states the threat to privacy, voter protection, and established humanitarian institutions. or authoritarianism seriously enough. However, this status quo has come under This political situation is a direct threat threat in our contemporary political to the establishment of civil rights and moment, one characterized by emergent civil liberties protections. Each candidate right-wing nationalism, isolationism, is running a campaign which, in some and the spectre of threats to national way or another, addresses this political security. In the past, such conditions have situation. The following will be a report streamlined government infringements on on how each proposes to do so.

4 Former Vice President Joe Biden Americans who have had their vote taken away by a felony conviction.” He has also committed to allowing Biden has proposed to bring previously disempowered “every post office to offer basic and affordable banking communities into the fold of civil and human rights services,” a proposal aimed at “[ending] lending through targeted plans to address the needs of women2 discrimination once and for all.” Regarding the rights of and the elderly3. Highlights from his plans to address women, Sen. Sanders has committed to the Paycheck violence against women include Biden’s promise to build Fairness Act, which stipulates equal pay for equal work, on the Violence Against Women Act, expand access protecting Roe v. Wade, and to enforcing and funding to housing assistance, which would make life safer for Title IX and Title X in order to guard against harassment, assault victims, and reparative cash payments to assault discrimination, and violence in education institutions as survivors. Highlights from his plans to care for America’s well as to provide for women’s health needs. For Native elderly population include repealing an existing law Americans, Sen. Sanders has committed to “moving which bars Medicare from negotiating lower drug prices [the U.S.] away from a relationship of paternalism and with drug manufacturers and distributors, limits on drug control toward one of deference and support.” For price increases, protecting and expanding on both the the disabled community, Sen. Sanders has proposed Affordable Care Act and Social Security, and providing guaranteeing to all the right to home- and community- financial assistance for older workers who want to based healthcare services “without waitlists, asset keep working. Regarding civil liberties questions, VP or income restrictions,” expanding Social Security Biden wants to pass a constitutional amendment to Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security repeal Citizens United and require political candidates Income programs (SSI), providing at least 50% of the for public office to fund their campaigns strictly with funding for disabled students mandated under the public dollars, in addition to other moves to democratize Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and the American electoral and political process. He rejecting proposals to cede control of disability and does not mention protections against unlawful or aging healthcare services to for-profit managed care overreaching surveillance on his campaign website. organizations, among other things. For Sen. Sanders’ In fact, VP Biden has a spotty record on exactly that, campaign commitments to Medicare For All, College having passed several4 bills5 which streamlined law For All, a federal jobs guarantee, universal broadband enforcement’s ability to surveil private citizens. access11, and ‘Equal Pay for Equal Work’12, are effectively premised on what he calls a “21st Century Economic Bill Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Rights,” which guarantees to all “the basic necessities Gabbard has taken a stance on increasing equal rights of life … regardless of Americans’ income, race, religion, for the LGBTQ community6, stating that it’s “long gender, country of origin or sexual orientation.” overdue that we extend civil rights protections to On the question of civil liberties, Sen. Sanders was the LGBTQ community and ensure equal treatment the was the first 2020 candidate in the Democratic for all Americans under the law” and has supported primary field13 to call for a ban on controversial facial pro-LGBTQ legislation during her time in Congress. recognition technology14, which advocates warn may be the latest surveillance instrument, and has criticized current surveillance and data collection practices as Senator Bernie Sanders constituting an “Orwellian surveillance system.” Sanders proposed to bring previously disempowered communities into the fold of civil and human rights through targeted plans for Racial Justice7, Women’s Rights8, Rights for Tribal Nations9, and Disability Rights10. On the question of racial justice, Sen. Sanders is the only presidential candidate to commit to ensuring the right to vote for all those currently incarcerated, which directly gives a voice “to the 1 in 13 African-

5 ISSUE FOOTNOTES

1. Universal Declaration of Human Rights un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights 2. The Biden plan to end violence against women joebiden.com/vawa 3. The Biden plan for older Americans joebiden.com/older-americans 4. Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_ Assistance_for_Law_Enforcement_Act 5. Omnibus Counterterrorism Act of 1995 wikipedia.org/wiki/Omnibus_ Counterterrorism_Act_of_1995 6. Human Rights & Equality for all tulsi2020.com/issues/human-rights-equality-all 7. Racial Justice berniesanders.com/issues/racial-justice 8. Fight for Women’s Rights berniesanders.com/issues/womens-rights 9. Empowering Tribal Nations berniesanders.com/issues/empowering-tribal-nations 10. Fighting for Disability Rights berniesanders.com/issues/fighting-for-disability-rights 11. High-Speed Internet for All berniesanders.com/issues/high-speed-internet-all 12. Fight for Women’s Rights berniesanders.com/issues/womens-rights 13. Bernie Sanders wants to ban police use of facial recognition tech vox.com/recode/2019/8/19/20812594/berniesanders-ban-facial-recognition-tech-police 14. Justice and Safety for All berniesanders.com/issues/criminal-justice-reform

6 Climate Change / Environment

Global temperatures are on the rise, but to re-joining the Paris Climate Agreement countries are not on track to meet their and “not knowingly [accepting]”2 current emissions targets. With the US being presidential campaign contributions the second largest contributor1 to global from oil, gas and coal corporations or emissions, the next president must enact executives. The following will be a report legislation to hold companies and economic of each candidate’s plan to further sectors accountable. Every candidate except address the burgeoning climate crisis. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) has committed

7 Former Vice President Joe Biden ISSUE FOOTNOTES Biden3 has not committed to the Green New 1. bbc.com/news/science-environment-46384067 Deal legislation as it was sketched out in the 2. nofossilfuelmoney.org/presidential-signers aforementioned resolution introduced by Sen. Markey 3. joebiden.com/climate and Rep. Ocasio-Cortez. Instead, he proposes to 4. tulsi2020.com/issues/environment-green-economy pass a series of executive orders which improve 5. twitter.com/tulsigabbard/status/1146404976555515904 upon the environmental policy platform of the 6. tulsigabbard.org/tulsi-gabbard-on-climate-change Obama-Biden presidential administration, including plans to invest in clean energy infrastructure 7. berniesanders.com/issues/green-new-deal and innovation, as well as climate research. 8. berniesanders.com/issues/green-new-deal

Representative Tulsi Gabbard Gabbard4 does not have a fleshed-out platform to confront climate change. She has vocalized support for popular policies such as ending subsidies to corporations in the fossil fuel and agribusiness industries5, creating jobs in renewable energy, banning fracking, and investing in 100% safe and renewable energy6.

Senator Bernie Sanders Sanders’ plan7 to address climate change includes passage of Green New Deal legislation8, a comprehensive, ten-year project to reach 100 percent renewable energy by 2030 and completely decarbonize the economy by 2050, while in the process creating 20 million union jobs in auto manufacturing, construction, and sustainable agriculture, among other industries. Sen. Sanders aims to counter the greed of large corporations, whose practices he understands as a direct cause of the current climate crisis, through a series of regulatory fixes and executive actions, as well as a $1.3 trillion plan to empower workers in the fossil fuel and other carbon intensive industries. Sen. Sanders’ environmental policy platform also includes plans to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement, reinvest in the Green Climate Fund, and create a Climate Justice Resiliency Fund, in order that doing so will help countries of the Global South and particularly vulnerable populations adapt to climate change.

8 Criminal Justice Reform

In 2019, there were approximately 2.3 drug offenses, private prisons, and racial million1 individuals held by the US criminal discrimination are some topics that must be justice system. That is higher than the addressed with regard to criminal justice populations of 90 countries and is by far reform. The following will be a report on how the highest per capita rate of incarceration each candidate platform proposes to do so. in the world. Issues such as nonviolent

9 Former Vice President Joe Biden public defenders to meet the needs of all, abolishing both the death penalty and three strikes laws, ending Biden has proposed a “Plan for Strengthening America’s mandatory minimum sentences, and expanding Commitment to Justice.”2 The Biden campaign proposes alternatives to detention. For the latter, he has to shift from incarceration to prevention by offering proposed guaranteeing a “Prisoners Bill of Rights” crime prevention research and investment grants — which would include access to healthcare, ending to those states, counties, and cities which eliminate solitary confinement, and the right to vote — legalizing mandatory minimums for nonviolent crimes and reduce marijuana and expunging past convictions, ending the incarceration rates. They propose to root out systemic reliance on police forces to manage low-level violations inequalities through programs which the Obama- and situations like mental health crises, banning the Biden Justice Department used3, as well as through use of facial recognition software, and ensuring robust convening a “Task Force on Prosecutorial Discretion,” oversight of law enforcement at federal and state levels. reforming juvenile justice, providing safe conditions for those incarcerated, investing in better pay for public defense attorneys, as well as by eliminating mandatory minimums, decriminalizing marijuana, ISSUE FOOTNOTES and collapsing the sentencing disparity between 1. prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie2019.html crack and powder cocaine. Biden also proposes 2. joebiden.com/justice reducing recidivism by guaranteeing housing to those 3. justice.gov/crt/file/922421/download formerly incarcerated and increasing access to public 4. tulsigabbard.org/tulsi-gabbard-on-criminal-justice-reform assistance and job training programs. He also has 5. berniesanders.com/issues/criminal-justice-reform committed to eliminate the death penalty, invest in alternatives to incarceration, stop criminalizing poverty and transition away from carceral profiteering.

Representative Tulsi Gabbard Gabbard4 denounced the failed War on Drugs, noting that decades of policy that focuses on incarceration over rehabilitation has left generations of people ill-equipped to move on with their lives when they have done their time. She states there’s an urgent need for criminal justice legislation to reduce recidivism, address the lack of transition for people have served their time, reduce the economic impact of billions spent every year on incarceration, and reduce the human impact of families broken up through incarceration. Gabbard has fought against the privatization of prisons; corporations profiting off incarceration is costly, dangerous and inhumane.

Senator Bernie Sanders Sanders’ set of criminal justice reform proposals5 include efforts to end the for-profit greed of the criminal justice system and empower communities who they tend to interact with. For the former, Sen. Sanders has proposed “banning for-profit prisons and detention centers”, ensuring a minimum number of

10 Economy and Jobs

Income inequality in the United States proposed solutions ranging from a federal was the highest it has ever been1 in 2019, minimum wage to wealth taxes and will particularly with regard to geographical, need to address the concerns of perhaps racial, and gender distribution. Economic the most diverse demographic of voters reform is a crucial issue in the 2020 election invested in a single issue. The following as the gap between the rich and poor has will be a report on how each candidate only been expanding. Candidates have platform proposes to address the issue.

11 Former Vice President Joe Biden ISSUE FOOTNOTES Biden has proposed to empower workers2 through 1. washingtonpost.com/business/2019/09/26/ legislation similar to that of the “PRO Act,”3 in income-inequality-america-highest-its-been- since-census-started-tracking-it-data-show addition to other4 legislation5 and a rebuilt National 2. joebiden.com/empowerworkers Labor Relations Board, as well as through efforts 3. congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/2474/text with extant federal agencies to counter wage suppression and pursue investigations of anti-worker 4. congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1154/all-info and anti-union practices. VP Biden also supports 5. edlabor.house.gov/imo/media/doc/Public%20 Service%20Freedom%20to%20Negotiate%20 a $15 minimum wage, as well as efforts to amend Act%20(August%202018).pdf tax laws so that they stop benefitting “the super- 6. tulsigabbard.org/tulsi-gabbard-on-raise-wage wealthy and corporations,” make trade laws work for 7. berniesanders.com/issues/jobs-for-all “our workers and communities here at home,” and 8. berniesanders.com/issues/revitalizing-rural-america protect precarious workers from misclassification. 9. berniesanders.com/issues/income-inequality-tax-plan 10. berniesanders.com/issues/tax-extreme-wealth Rep. Tulsi Gabbard 11. berniesanders.com/issues/real-wall-street-reform Gabbard has committed to raising the federal minimum 12. berniesanders.com/issues/workplace-democracy wage to $15 an hour6, breaking up the banks by bringing 13. berniesanders.com/issues/corporate- back Glass-Steagall. She has also pledged support for accountability-and-democracy providing means-tested family and medical leave plans. 14. berniesanders.com/issues/fair-trade

Senator Bernie Sanders Sanders has proposed a litany of bills to deal with jobs and the economy, all of which constitute two broad buckets central to his platform: a guarantee of empowered federal jobs, and a substantial redistribution of wealth toward the lower rungs of the socioeconomic spectrum. These two core tenets lead into one another, as Senator Sanders proposes to ensure public investment in a federal jobs programs7 and in rural areas8 in part through an aggressive taxation system9 directed at those individuals and corporations who currently hold most of the country’s wealth10, as well as Wall Street reform legislation11. Sanders also proposes to strengthen working-class constituencies by passing legislation to break up big agribusinesses, prevent future agriculture conglomerates from forming, and make commerce easier on small farmers and farm workers; repeal anti-union legislation12 and give workers a stake in corporate ownership13; and rewrite trade deals to “prevent outsourcing” and “ensure .. strong and binding labor, environmental, and human rights standards.”14

12 Education

The current administration introduced educational systems as a result. Increasing the Every Student Succeeds Act1, which accessibility for students and decreasing the devolved much of the accountability for gap in educational quality is a priority for all schools to states as opposed to the federal candidates, who have proposed solutions government. While the plan did have at all levels of education. The following some benefits, it does not account for the will be a report on how each candidate exacerbating inequality between state platform proposes to address the issue.

13 Former Vice President Joe Biden debt, effectively freeing 45 million people from the weight of exorbitant debt obligations, and place a Biden has proposed a ‘Plan for Educators, Students, cap on student loan interest rates moving forward. and our Future’2 that will invest in educators through increased Title I funding and student loan forgiveness programs; improve the diversity of teaching staff and the infrastructure of schools in “low-income ISSUE FOOTNOTES communities and communities of color”; increase 1. tcf.org/content/commentary/essa-achieving- investment in students’ and families’ well-being equity-education-still-challenging through expanding current in-school mental health 2. joebiden.com/education and after-school childcare service programs; and 3. joebiden.com/beyondhs create opportunities for high-school students to 4. joebiden.com/beyondhs complete job training and credentialing programs. 5. tulsi2020.com/issues/education-teachers Biden has also proposed a ‘Plan For Education 6. berniesanders.com/issues/free-college-cancel-debt Beyond High School’3 that will aim to provide two 7. politico.com/news/2019/11/22/bernie-sanders- years of debt-free community college to students historically-black-colleges-universities-072758 through a federal-state partnership in which the federal government covers 75% of the cost burden; invest in workforce training, as well as community college facilities, technology, business partnerships, and apprenticeships; and increase Title III funding by $70 billion4 for HBCUs and MSIs, as well as expand Pell Grant and income-based repayment programs.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Gabbard does not5 have a fully fleshed out plan to tackle K-12 or post-secondary education.

Senator Bernie Sanders Sanders has proposed the ‘College for All’ and ‘Cancel All Student Debt’ plans6 to address student debt and the rising costs of higher education. The ‘College for All’ plan will eliminate tuition and fees at four-year public colleges and universities, tribal colleges, trade schools, and apprenticeship programs, and provide grants and funding opportunities to cover the other costs; cap student loan interest rates going forward; match dollar-for-dollar the resources allotted by states and tribes to lower the cost of attending school; increase Title III funding by $50 billion7 to nonprofit Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs); increase funding for students with disabilities and other unique disadvantages in order to close the gap in educational attainment. The ‘Cancel All Student Debt’ plan will cancel all $1.6 trillion in outstanding student

14 Foreign Policy

The following will be a breakdown of where the field stands on foreign policy issue areas with greater expansion of where candidates distinguish themselves from one another.

15 Middle-East and North Africa (MENA) UN-backed peaceful resolution that respects the will of the Kashmiri people.”6 Former Vice President Joe SYRIA Biden has not commented on the Indian government's Only Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Sen. Bernie Sanders actions, but his campaign has hired Amit Jani, a “strong said they would remain open to reopening diplomatic backer of … Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi,”7 relations with the Syria government were Bashar whose mother worked on Modi’s campaign and whose al-Assad to remain in power. They both said that father founded the Overseas Friends of the BJP, who doing so does not constitute a sign of approval, try to raise money and build support for “Modi’s but rather an effort to end the humanitarian ultranationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).”8 Rep. crisis in Syria. Former Vice President Biden gave Tulsi Gabbard also has longstanding ties9 to the BJP. either unclear answers or failed to respond. AFGHANISTAN IRAN Now almost two decades out of the twin failures All candidates support re-entering the Iran nuclear deal of U.S. military action in Iraq and Afghanistan, all signed by the Obama administration. Immediately after candidates commit rhetorically to ending the U.S. the Trump administration’s targeted assassination of involvement in ‘endless’ or ‘forever’ wars. This Iranian Major General Qassim Suleimani, Sen. Sanders includes withdrawing the remaining U.S. troops from introduced a joint bill1 with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA-17) Afghanistan10 as well as ending military and intelligence to block funding for any military action in Iran2. Sen. assistance for Saudi Arabia in their war in Yemen11. Sanders was also the first primary candidate3 to refer to However, there are some important caveats. Senator the killing as an assassination, whereas other candidates Bernie Sanders said that any remaining troops in criticized the timing, plan, and other strategic matters. Afghanistan would provide assistance toward the building of civil society, responsive government, PALESTINE, ISRAEL and greater economic development. On the other hand, former Vice President Joe Biden said that the All candidates support a two-state solution to the Israeli remaining troops would carry out special operations, occupation of Palestine. Sen. Bernie Sanders is the only intelligence, and counterterrorism functions. candidate who has said he would withhold military aid to the Israeli regime as part of peace negotiations. Religious Freedom YEMEN ROHINGYA The entire primary campaign field has committed to withdrawing U.S. military, financial, and intelligence Senator Bernie Sanders was a co-sponsor of bipartisan 12 support for the Saudi government’s war in Yemen. legislation calling for the immediate release of Reuters journalists imprisoned for their reporting of the Burmese atrocities against the Rohingya South Asia minority, as well as for the Burmese to be held accountable and to safely repatriate the Rohingya. KASHMIR, INDIA, PAKISTAN After Rep. Pramila Jayapal received criticism from Indian UYGHUR External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for introducing The candidates articulated their positions on China’s a bill urging India to lift all restrictions in Jammu and inhumane treatment of its Uyghur population in a Kashmir imposed after the abrogation of Article 3704, series of responses to questions from the Council on an article allowing autonomy to the state of Jammu Foreign Relations13. Former Vice President Joe Biden and Kashmir, Senator Bernie Sanders came out in framed the Uyghur issue as a symptom of China’s support5 of the Congresswoman. Sen. Sanders called authoritarianism and an impetus for the United States on the U.S. government to “speak out boldly in support to impose its interests and values on the world. Sen. of international humanitarian law and in support of a

16 Bernie Sanders referred to China’s treatment of the ISSUE FOOTNOTES Uyghurs as “a program of mass internment and 1. congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/5543 cultural genocide," and an impetus to “work with 2. congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bi allies to strengthen global human rights standards.” ll/3159?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22s anders+yemen%22%5D%7D&s=4&r=4 RELIGIOUS STRIFE/FREEDOM 3. theweek.com/speedreads/887323/how-bernie- VIOLATIONS IN AFRICAN NATIONS sanders-response-soleimani-strike-stands 4. economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/Article-370 All candidates understood social problems in African 5. economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics- nations, such as religious freedom violations, as and-nation/us-presidential-candidates-bernie- resulting from economic instability and, among sanders-elizabeth-warren-come-out-in-support- other things, rapid population growth. All candidates of-pramila-jayapal/articleshow/72912789.cms pledged to address this issue, however only Senator 6. indiatoday.in/world/story/deeply-concerned- about-situation-in-kashmir-says-us-senator- Bernie Sanders framed his potential administration's bernie-sanders-1594126-2019-09-01 intention to prevent “resources wars” — wars over 7. theintercept.com/2019/09/16/joe-biden- natural resources, especially oil, water, timber, and campaign-narendra-modi/ minerals such as diamonds — in order to avoid a repeat 8. jacobinmag.com/2019/11/joe-bidens-fascist- of “the colonialist/imperialist history of the 19th and friends-should-worry-us-more-than-tulsis 20th century that suppressed African opinions and 9. mpac.org/blog/policy-analysis/presidential- impoverished Africa.” All other candidates understood candidate-spotlight-tulsi-gabbard.php the issue as an opportunity to develop lasting economic 10. washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/ policy-2020/foreign-policy/ relationships with African countries in order to mitigate 11. washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/policy-2020/ the potential damage from rapid population growth. foreign-policy/saudi-arabia-yemen/ 12. young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ senators-introduce-bipartisan-resolution- calling-for-release-of-imprisoned-reuters- journalists-and-safe-repatriation-of-rohingya 13. cfr.org/article/presidential-candidates- china-and-human-rights

17 Gun Reform

2017 saw the highest number of gun- including through banning assault weapons related deaths in over 40 years, with almost and high-capacity magazines, regulating 40,000 individuals reporting causes of the various loopholes through which unfit deaths related to gun violence and misuse. individuals to purchase guns such as the The country has also seen an increase boyfriend, Charleston, and gun show in mass shootings against civilians, in loopholes. The following will be a report public places ranging from marathons to on how each candidate platform proposes elementary schools. All candidates agree to address other aspects of the issue. that addressing gun violence is imperative,

18 Former Vice President Joe Biden Biden has proposed a “plan to end our gun violence epidemic”1 which includes repealing “the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act” (PLCAA), a bill protecting gun manufacturers from being held civilly liable for their products, buy back, pass legislation preventing guns from ending up in the hands of those “unable to manage their affairs for mental reasons,” and incentivize states to pass gun violence prevention legislation. Biden aims to provide trauma prevention programs to those communities impacted by gun violence. He also proposes to decrease gun violence in urban communities through “proven strategies” bringing together community leaders and “individuals most likely to commit acts of gun violence.”

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Gabbard supports2 universal background checks.

Senator Bernie Sanders Sanders’ plan to reform gun safety legislation3 starts with taking on the “corrupting effect” and “influence” of the National Rifle Association (NRA). His plan also includes expanding background checks, ensuring that all gun purchases are subject to the same background check standards, and banning the 3-D printing of firearms and bump stocks. It also proposes regulating assault weapons in the same way that fully automatic weapons are regulated and implementing a gun buyback program for assault weapons.

ISSUE FOOTNOTES

1. joebiden.com/gunsafety 2. politico.com/2020-election/candidates- views-on-the-issues/tulsi-gabbard 3. berniesanders.com/issues/gun-safety

19 Healthcare

The question of whether and to what The following will be a rundown of extent those in the Democratic primary how each candidate proposes to field support Medicare for All has been deal with this existential issue. a wedge issue this election cycle. Amid diminishing levels of well-being, rising levels of healthcare costs and the prevalence of “deaths of despair,”1 healthcare is of primary interest to voters come November.

20 Former Vice President Joe Biden ISSUE FOOTNOTES Biden proposes to protect the Affordable Care Act from 1. jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/republicans/2019/9/ efforts to repeal or universalize it. The “Biden Plan”2 long-term-trends-in-deaths-of-despair would offer a public option “to purchase a public health 2. joebiden.com/healthcare insurance option like Medicare,” tax credits to improve 3. congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/ house-bill/1384/cosponsors access to better healthcare coverage, whether public or private, and additional proposals to lower healthcare 4. khn.org/news/medicare-for-all-emerges-as- early-divide-in-first-democratic-debate costs at the regulatory or administrative level. 5. berniesanders.com/issues/medicare-for-all

Representative Tulsi Gabbard Gabbard co-sponsored the “Medicare for All Act of 2019,”3 introduced in February of 2019 by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), as a Congresswoman. However, she has not proposed a Medicare for All policy and has granted that she will allow private insurance to continue to play a role in providing healthcare4.

Senator Bernie Sanders Sanders has been the lone candidate in the Democratic field to be a consistent proponent of a single-payer, ‘Medicare For All’ national healthcare system5. If passed in his first year of office, it would gradually transition the extant Medicare program, which covers all those over the age of 65 years old, toward universal coverage by the end of a Sanders first term.

21 Immigration

With Trump’s Muslim Ban and an such as the detainment of children at accompanying anti-immigrant sentiment the country’s southern border and the over the course of the last 4 years, DREAM Act, the immigration issue is one immigration is arguably one of the most that the Democratic candidates have pressing issues in this year’s election for considered as both a platform but reform the American Muslim community. On a but also a realignment of the country’s broader scale, 76% of Americans1 consider priorities toward inclusivity. The following immigration to be a good thing for the will be a report on how each candidate United States. With other hot topic issues platform proposes to address the issue.

22 Former Vice President Joe Biden Senator Bernie Sanders Biden’s plan “to restore our values as a nation of Sanders’ immigration platform4 includes plans to immigrants,”2 includes plans to reverse the Trump enact comprehensive immigration reform through administration’s immigration policies, including the executive action. Through the executive authority, Sen. attempt to intimidate immigrant parents and families Sanders intends to overturn all of President Trump’s through prosecution, the public charge rule, the actions, including the Muslim Ban, public charge rule, Muslim Ban, and family separation policies. Biden and Trump’s “zero-tolerance” policy, reunite children also proposes to retrain and increase oversight of separated from their families, and place a moratorium ICE and CBP, end for-profit detention, increase the on deportations and litigation relating to sanctuary refugee admissions cap, and reduce the immigrant cities. His plan would also reinstate and expand upon admissions backlog by increasing staff capacity. It also the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and includes plans to restore the naturalization process for Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful green card holders, create a roadmap to citizenship Permanent Residents (DAPA) bills. At the border, Sen for the 11 million unauthorized immigrants living in Sanders’ plan includes legislation to decriminalize the the U.S., and reform the visa program for temporary border, including through the complete overhaul of workers in certain industries, among other attempts to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and modernize the immigration system. Biden also intends Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), and to streamline to repeal laws that chill the ability of immigrants to immigration and naturalization. Beyond the border, seek redress for domestic violence and other forms his plan includes legislation to guarantee a pathway to of assault and empower immigrant worker rights. citizenship for the 11 million unauthorized immigrants and youth living in America, provide greater labor rights for immigrants, raise the refugee admissions Representative Tulsi Gabbard cap, and fund programs which “welcome [at least 3 Gabbard is an advocate of criminal justice reform . 50,000] migrants displaced by climate change.” She states that through reforming the criminal justice system, that can help achieve lower crime rates, greater productivity, reduced cost, improved mental health, ISSUE FOOTNOTES and other positive outcomes. Gabbard denounces the failed War on Drugs, noting that decades of policy 1. cfr.org/backgrounder/us-immigration-debate-0 that focuses on incarceration over rehabilitation 2. joebiden.com/immigration has left generations of people ill-equipped to move 3. tulsigabbard.org/tulsi-gabbard-on- on with their lives when they have done their time. the-issues/immigration Gabbard proposes an urgent need for criminal justice 4. berniesanders.com/issues/welcoming- and-safe-america-all legislation to reduce recidivism, address the lack of transition for people have served their time, reduce the economic impact of billions spent every year on incarceration, and reduce the human impact of families broken up through incarceration. Gabbard opposes the privatization of prisons as corporations profiting off incarceration is costly, dangerous and inhumane.

23 Engagement with American Muslims

We reached out to each campaign to learn how candidates are reflecting the inclusion of the American Muslim community, and how they are talking and listening to your concerns. The following results also include our manual research. What follows is a summary of each campaign’s engagement with Muslims.

24 Former Vice President Joe Biden Senator Bernie Sanders NOTE: The campaign did not respond to our STAFF request to engage on the completion of this • 8 full-time Muslim staffers report. The following information was manually compiled via publicly available information. • Faiz Shakir, Campaign Manager (the first and only campaign manager for a major party U.S. presidential campaign) ADVISOR • Nusaiba Mubarak Harmoush, National 3 Muslim advisors Muslim & Arab American Organizer • Sarah Badawi, Deputy National Political Director ENDORSEMENTS Khizr Khan, Gold Star Father ENDORSEMENTS • U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) ENGAGEMENT • U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) • Launched ‘Muslims for Biden’, a • Attorney General of Minnesota, Keith Ellison volunteer-led affinity group • Former Health Director of Detroit Abdul El-Sayed • Conducted two conference calls with national • Political Activist Linda Sarsour Muslim organizations, leaders, and activists, • Muslim Caucus of America one led by the Biden campaign’s policy team and the other with Khizr Khan • Iowa State Representative Ako Abdul-Samad

ENGAGEMENT Representative Tulsi Gabbard • Led a community conversation with MPAC at the Islamic Center of Southern California NOTE: The campaign did not respond to our after the Christchurch massacre and spoke request to engage on the completion of this with local religious and community leaders report. The following information was manually • Personally met with community compiled via publicly available information. leaders in San Diego, California • Sent prerecorded messages to the ENGAGEMENTS Muslim Caucus’s Muslim Collective for • Visited the Es-Salam Bosnian Mosque Equitable Democracy conference in Des Moines, Iowa, and met with the • As a result of organizing between MPAC and mosque’s leaders and members Emgage, Sen. Sanders attended and spoke • Engaged the Muslim community in Iowa on a at the MPAC and Emgage Presidential forum number of issues after the Des Moines Town Hall at the Islamic Society of North America Convention (ISNACON) in Houston, Texas • Faiz Shakir, campaign manager, met with American Muslim supporters and volunteers and led organizing trainings at ISNACON • Discussed healthcare with American Muslim doctors in Houston • Launched the ‘Muslims for Bernie’ program to mobilize Muslim supporters • Attended #iftarwithbernie with Bay Area Muslims on the night of Laylat al-Qadr

25 ABOUT MPAC Founded in 1988, the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) is a national public affairs nonprofit organization working to promote and strengthen American pluralism by increasing understanding and improving policies that impact American Muslims. Over the past 30 years, MPAC has built a reputation of being a dynamic and trusted American Muslim voice for policymakers, opinion shapers, and community organizers across the country.

VISION America is enriched by the vital contributions of American Muslims.

MISSION MPAC improves public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Offices in Los Angeles + Washington, D.C.

202-547-7701 // [email protected] // mpac.org