Joe Biden: 2020 Democratic presidential candidate shares his views on current issues

We asked presidential candidates questions about a variety of issues facing the country. This is what Democratic candidate Joe Biden had to say about climate change, gun control, health care and other issues.

Do you believe the earth’s climate is changing? If yes, do you believe it is caused by humans?

This shouldn’t be a question. The science is clear that our climate is changing, and humans’ contributions to it are indisputable. Climate change poses an existential threat to our environment, our health, and our communities. That’s why I have introduced a bold plan — a Clean Energy Revolution — to address this grave threat and lead the world in addressing the climate emergency.

If you could unilaterally make one change, or enact one policy, that would affect the climate, what would that be? And why?

On Day 1, I will kickstart a Clean Energy Revolution that ensures the U.S. achieves a 100% clean energy economy and reaches net-zero emissions no later than 2050. That includes demanding that Congress enacts legislation that establishes an enforcement mechanism, makes a historic investment in climate research and innovation, and incentivizes the rapid deployment of clean energy innovations and technology across the economy. I will also sign a series of new executive orders with unprecedented reach that go well beyond the Obama-Biden Administration platform and put us on the right track to tackle the climate emergency head on.

How would you engage foreign leaders to work with the United States on issues related to climate?

The United States represents just 15% of global carbon emissions, so we will not be able to address climate change without bold action from every country. That’s why I will rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement on Day 1 as president, and one of my first priorities will be calling a global summit to rally the world to step up our efforts — to get countries to ramp up the ambition of their own domestic climate targets — and to push us to move faster.

Read what all the candidates have to say about climate change here.

Should the U.S. explore additional use of nuclear power as an alternative energy source? Why or why not?

To address the climate emergency threatening our communities, economy, and national security, we must look at all low- and zero-carbon technologies. That includes identifying the future of nuclear energy. I will support a research agenda by establishing ARPA-C, a new, cross-agency Advanced Research Projects Agency focused on climate, to look at issues, ranging from cost to safety to waste disposal systems, that remain an ongoing challenge with nuclear power today.

Should the U.S. government offer subsidies for renewable energy, such as wind energy or ethanol? Why or why not?

I will make significant investments in clean energy technology and ensure we are curbing carbon emissions. I will allocate tax credits and subsidies to help businesses upgrade equipment, invest in expanded or new factories, and deploy low-carbon technologies — making sure there is bottom-line win for jobs, workers, clean energy, and long-term community investment. In addition, I’ll invest $400 billion in clean energy research, innovation, and deployment — more than twice what America spent to put a man on the moon. As part of this effort, developing the next generation of biofuels will be a top priority.

Read what all the candidates have to say about alternative energy and technology here.

How would you address gun violence in America?

Every day, there are shootings in America that don’t make the national headlines. This nation faces a gun violence epidemic and we have to take action I have taken on the NRA and won — twice — and I will do it again. As president, I will ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, require background checks on all gun sales, close other loopholes in the background check system like the “boyfriend loophole,” accelerate smart gun technology, and more.

Read what all the candidates have to say about gun violence here.

How do you propose making schools safer from acts of violence?

No kid should fear violence in the classrooms they learn and no parent should have to worry about whether their kids will come from school. We cannot let the gun violence epidemic become an acceptable part of American life. I will ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and I will require background checks for all gun sales and close other loopholes in the federal background check system, including the “boyfriend loophole” and the “Charleston loophole.” I will hold gun manufacturers accountable by repealing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. I’ve defeated the NRA before and will do it again.

What role, if any, should the government have in regulating large technology companies?

We haven’t spent enough time focusing on antitrust measures, and it’s no secret that we need to take a hard look at how we can rein in some of the abuses of power from big tech companies. These companies’ actions have significant consequences on our society — from our economic prosperity to the integrity of our elections to the privacy of our citizens to the wellbeing of our children — and I will take forceful action to hold them accountable.

If you are elected, how would you interact with North Korea? What relationship would the U.S. and North Korea have?

Trump’s approach to North Korea has failed at every turn because it lacks strategy, process, and competent leadership. He has prioritized creating made-for-TV summits but not delivered any real commitments from North Korea to curb their nuclear program. I will pursue smart diplomacy and work with our allies towards denuclearization in North Korea, using the historic Iran Nuclear Deal that blocked Iran from getting a nuclear weapon as a blueprint for an effective negotiation. I will empower our negotiators and jumpstart a sustained, coordinated campaign with our allies and others — including China — to advance our shared objective of a denuclearized North Korea.

Would you re-enter the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran? Why or why not?

The Iran Nuclear Deal was working — it blocked every one of Iran’s paths to nuclear weapons, as repeatedly verified by international inspectors — but Trump abandoned it, isolating the U.S. on the world stage, with no plan for anything better. Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon; if Iran moves back into compliance with its nuclear obligations, I would re-enter the JCPOA as a starting point to work alongside our allies and other partners to extend the deal’s nuclear constraints. I would leverage renewed international consensus around America’s Iran policy — and a redoubled commitment to diplomacy — to push back against Tehran’s other malign behavior in the region.

How do you plan to address the threat of extremism in the U.S.?

We as a nation have to make the same commitment to rooting out domestic terrorism that we have to stopping international terrorism. We must condemn this hate in all its forms, including white supremacy, and not embolden it like Trump. I will ensure federal, state and local law enforcement have the resources needed to counter white supremacist terrorists. I will build on the progress of the Obama-Biden Administration to support our communities in this fight, restoring funding for initiatives to counter violent extremism at home. I will close the “hate crime loophole” and enact a federal domestic terrorism law without infringing on people’s free speech or trampling civil liberties.

Do you believe there is equal access to voting in the U.S.? If not, how would you go about expanding access to voting?

I do not believe that there is equal access to voting. We’ve got to make it easier — not harder — for Americans to exercise their right to vote, regardless of their zip code or the color of their skin. I’ll restore the Voting Rights Act and ensure the Justice Department challenges state laws suppressing the right to vote. We need automatic voter registration, same-day voter registration, and so many more steps to make exercising one’s right to vote easier.

Do you believe voter fraud is a problem in the U.S.? If yes, how do you plan to you address it?

We don’t have a widespread voter fraud problem. There is a widespread voter suppression problem. Donald Trump grows more scared everyday that he is going to lose this election — which is why he undermines the integrity of our elections by creating and perpetuating false and baseless claims about wide scale voter fraud. The real fraud is Donald Trump. He is attacking the fundamental rights of all Americans to vote — making it harder for communities of color, working families, and more to make their voices heard.

Should it be a crime to enter the U.S. illegally?

I don’t believe crossing the border should be decriminalized, but unlike the Trump Administration, I will make sure that U.S. immigration law is enforced humanely. I will not separate children from families and I will use alternatives to detention and family management systems that are cheaper and more effective. If people do not have credible asylum claims or qualify for other relief under the law, then I will work with regional foreign governments to ensure migrants are repatriated humanely.

Read what all the candidates have to say about immigration here.

Should the U.S. expand or limit legal immigration?

The U.S. needs comprehensive immigration reform. Period. That includes changes that would expand access to legal immigration. As president, I will legalize DREAMers, create a roadmap to citizenship for undocumented immigrants already strengthening our communities, and reform our asylum system.

In many areas of the country, there is a critical shortage of affordable housing. What would your administration do to address it?

We need to provide more federal funding for housing and require that housing be inclusive. My housing infrastructure initiatives include grants for remediation of homes in lower-income neighborhoods to make them more energy efficient. I will also set a national goal of ensuring 100% of formerly incarcerated individuals have housing upon reentry into society, and use housing policy as a tool to battle climate change and expand the middle class.

Read what all the candidates have to say about education, housing and jobs here.

What is your plan to address the growing national debt?

Staying vigilant on controlling our growing national debt is not only critical to our nation's economic health, but is also critical to ensuring that future generations won't be saddled with massive interest payments that will crowd-out other critical needs — like spending on health care and education. I will work with Congress to ensure we are addressing our national debt in a fair and effective way, reverse Trump’s tax cuts for the super-wealthy and corporations, eliminate special tax breaks that reward special interests, close the capital gains loophole for multi-millionaires, and pare back on ineffective tax expenditures for the wealthiest Americans.

Do you think our national debt is a national security issue? Why or why not?

Economic security is national security. That is why, as president, I will pursue a foreign policy for the middle class. That includes significant investments in workers, families, communities, and the core sources of our national strength, including innovation, education, and infrastructure. It also includes putting our nation on a sustainable fiscal path to make our country less vulnerable to economic threats from foreign powers and to strengthen our ability to respond to future crises.

Read what all the candidates have to say about the economy here.

Is capitalism the best economic structure for the United States? If yes, why? If no, what is better and how do you believe it will benefit Americans?

Yes, a well-regulated capitalism is the best economic structure for the United States. The American middle class built this country. Yet today, CEOs and Wall Street are putting profits over workers, plain and simple. It’s wrong. There used to be a basic bargain in this country that when you work hard, you were able to share in the prosperity your work helped create. It’s time to restore the dignity of work and give workers back the power to earn what they’re worth. I will increase the federal minimum wage to $15, reverse Trump’s tax cuts for the super-wealthy and corporations, and encourage collective bargaining and unions.

In many parts of the country, there is a skilled worker gap. How would you close that gap to get more people employed in the industries that need them?

In today’s increasingly globalized and technology-driven economy, 12 years of education is no longer enough for American workers to remain competitive and earn a middle class income. I will make significant investments in workforce training, including $50 billion for community college business partnerships and apprenticeships. These funds will create and support partnerships between schools, governments, unions, and businesses, to identify in-demand knowledge and skills in a community and develop or modernize training programs that lead to a relevant, high-demand industry-recognized credential.

Related: 2020 candidates on the issues

Should the government forgive student loans? If yes, why and for whom? If no, why not?

Our country faces a student debt crisis. Even years after graduating, Americans are drowning in debt, and people of color are disproportionately affected. My plan will halve the payments on undergraduate federal student loans by simplifying and increasing the generosity of today’s income-based repayment program, and not require payments or accrual of interest on undergraduate federal loans for those making less than $25,000 a year. I will also create a new, simple loan forgiveness program that offers $10,000 of student debt relief for every year of national or community service for up to five years.

Should community college be free to anyone who wants to attend? Should other colleges and universities be free to attend?

As my wife Dr. Jill Biden, a community college professor, says, community colleges are America’s best kept secret. As president, I will provide two years of community college or other high-quality training program without debt to every hard-working individual,. I will create a new grant program to assist community colleges in improving their students’ success by implementing evidence-based practices and innovative solutions to increase their students’ retention and completion of credentials. And I will tackle barriers, such as child care, transportation costs, or unexpected financial challenges, that prevent students from completing their community college degree or training credential.

Is more funding needed for mental health care in America? If yes, what amount and how should it be allocated? Where should that money come from?

Yes. Mental health care is health care. As president, I will ensure enforcement of mental health parity laws and expand funding for mental health services. I will also double the number of psychologists, guidance counselors, nurses, social workers, and other health professionals in our schools so our kids get the mental health care they need. I will pay for my health care plan, which includes mental health care, by getting rid of capital gains tax loopholes for the super wealthy. The Biden plan will assure those making over $1 million will pay the top rate on capital gains, doubling the capital gains tax rate on the super wealthy.

Read what all the candidates have to say about health care here.

How would you address rising prescription drug costs, specifically for medications that are necessary for people to live, such as insulin and mental health medications?

Too many Americans cannot afford their prescription drugs, and drug corporations profiteer off sick individuals. It has to stop. I will repeal the law allowing drug companies to avoid negotiating with Medicare, limit the launch prices of their drugs with no competition, allow consumers to buy prescription drugs from other countries, and terminate big pharmas’ tax breaks for egregious advertising spending. As a condition of participation in the Medicare program and the public option, I will prohibit all brand, biotech, and abusively priced generic drugs from increasing their prices more than the general inflation rate.

What do you believe is the biggest health care issue facing Americans? How would you solve it?

Making health care more affordable and accessible for every American, which is why I will protect and build on Obamacare. Every American has a right to the peace of mind that comes with knowing they have access to affordable, quality health care. Whether you’re covered through your employer, buying your insurance on your own, or going without coverage altogether, my plan will give you the choice to purchase a public health insurance option like Medicare. It will reduce costs for patients by negotiating lower prices from hospitals and other health care providers, and won’t force approximately 157 million people out of their existing coverage.

How would you address the opioid crisis?

So many lives, families, and communities throughout the United States have been destroyed by opioid addiction. The best way to tackle the opioid crisis is make sure people have access to affordable, quality health care, including insurance that covers addiction and mental health services. Obamacare provided coverage and lower premiums to millions of people with pre-existing conditions, including mental health issues, which is why I will protect and build on it to redouble efforts to ensure enforcement of mental health parity laws and expand funding for mental health services to support those with mental health issues and addiction so people can get the care they need.

Should marijuana be legalized federally for medicinal use? Should it be legalized for recreational use?

I support the legalization of cannabis for medical purposes. I will leave decisions regarding legalization for recreational use up to the states, and reschedule cannabis as a schedule II drug so researchers can study its positive and negative impacts. No one should be in jail because of cannabis use. As president, I will decriminalize recreational cannabis use at the federal level and automatically expunge all prior convictions.

Do you support a public health insurance option for all Americans? If yes, do you support the elimination of private health care in favor of a government-run plan, or do you support an option where Americans can choose a public or private plan? If no, why?

Yes, I support a public health insurance option for all Americans. Instead of eliminating private health insurance, my plan will protect and build on the Affordable Care Act. Whether you’re covered through your employer, buying insurance on your own, or going without coverage altogether, my plan will make sure that everybody can purchase a public health insurance option like Medicare. My plan is the fastest way to achieve universal coverage at 1/30th the cost. Health care is personal to me. If I am elected president, I guarantee you I will protect your family’s health care as if it were my own.

Should the federal government re-institute the death penalty? If yes, for what crimes?

No. We must eliminate the death penalty because we cannot ensure we get death penalty cases right every time. I will work to pass legislation to eliminate the death penalty at the federal level, and incentivize states to follow the federal government’s example. These individuals should instead serve life sentences without probation or parole.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joe Biden shares views on gun control, immigration and more