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Historical Details

Position on Issues

Candidate's Website, 2019

"Create a clear definition of 'assault weapon', and prevent their manufacture and sale"

Other, 2019

"Putting border crossers into our criminal justice system costs us billions of dollars and swamps a system that is not designed for it,' Yang told The Post. 'I would be for criminalizing those who make a business of trafficking people in, or repeat offenders or those who enter after deportation proceedings or conviction of a crime. But individuals or families who cross the border should be treated as civil offenders."

Candidate's Website, 2019

"As President, I will... Support the DREAM Act as a part of comprehensive immigration and border security reforms"

Candidate's Website, 2019

"Just as we require people to pass a test to drive a car, we should require people to pass a test to own a gun. Responsible gun owners should enjoy the right to bear arms, subject to licensing and education requirements. Those who are flagged as dangerously mentally ill, have been convicted of violent crimes, or have a history of spousal abuse should not be able to own weapons."

Candidate's Website, 2019

"As President, I will.. Support a woman's right to choose in every circumstance and provide resources for planning and contraception."

Candidate's Website, 2019

"Invest in any idea that has the potential to reverse the damage done to the environment, for example cloud-seeding technology to increase the atmosphere's reflectivity."

Candidate's Website, 2019

"Access to birth control should be provided to all Americans. It should be the decision of each individual whether she wants to use it, not a decision made for her by her doctor, family, or where she lives.

"Access to safe and affordable abortion services should also be provided to all Americans. Requirements placed by individual states on access should be subject to oversight by a board of doctors, not the whims of legislators who have no background on the procedure or even the basics of medicine."

Candidate's Website, 2019

"Andrew would implement a Universal Basic Income, 'The Freedom Dividend,' of $1,000/month, $12,000 a year for every American adult over the age of 18. This is independent of one's work status or any other factor. This would enable all Americans to pay their bills, educate themselves, start businesses, be more creative, stay healthy, relocate for work, spend time with their children, take care of loved ones, and have a real stake in the future."

Candidate's Website, 2019

In a 2019 New York Times survey, Yang answered "Yes" to the question, "Codify Roe v. Wade?"

He also states the following on his website:

"Access to safe and affordable abortion services should also be provided to all Americans. Requirements placed by individual states on access should be subject to oversight by a board of doctors, not the whims of legislators who have no background on the procedure or even the basics of medicine.

"The two most effective ways to decrease the number of abortions are to provide every woman with access to contraceptives and to provide financial, emotional, and structural support to individuals who are financially struggling and become pregnant-Universal Basic Income would accomplish this for many prospective parents."

Candidate's Twitter Feed, 2019

"Apparently the incentives for energy efficiency vary greatly across state lines based on differing costs. If the Federal government were to elevate the incentives in low-cost states it would help spur a reduction in both consumption and pollution."

Candidate's Website, 2019

"Renewable energy must be invested in, not only as a means of moderating climate change but also to drive economic growth."

Candidate's Website, 2019

"All community colleges should be funded at a level to make tuition free or nearly-free for anyone, especially those who are taking vocational classes. The government can be involved, but businesses should also be encouraged to invest in their area's community colleges, both to create stronger ties to their communities and better access to this potential workforce."

Candidate's Website, 2019

"A VAT is currently used by 160 out of 193 countries, including every developed nation except the US, because it is a more efficient way of generating revenue with no loopholes. Big companies and rich people are excellent at moving things around to avoid taxes - Amazon, Google, and other companies funnel hundreds of billions in earnings overseas. A VAT makes it impossible for them to benefit from the American people and infrastructure without paying their fair share."

Candidate's Facebook Page, 2018

"These tariffs scare the heck out of me. This guy truly knows nothing about commerce. We need to vote Trump out before he turns America into another one of his failed attempts at business."

Candidate's Website, 2019

"As President, I will... Propose a $1 trillion infrastructure investment initiative 'Rebuild America' over 5 years that will support over 13 million jobs and generate $1.5 trillion-plus in increased efficiency and productivity."

Candidate's Website, 2019

"We should raise the legal age of gun ownership to 21."

Candidate's Website, 2019

"We need to resolve the ambiguity and legalize marijuana at the federal level. This would improve safety, social equity, and generate tens of billions of dollars in new revenue based on legal cannabis businesses."

Other, 2019

Yang supports Medicare for All, but he would not eliminate private insurance. He writes, "Our current system is dysfunctional and we need to move towards a Medicare for All system that provides coverage for all Americans from birth. I wouldn't eliminate private health insurance, but I don't imagine it being an economically viable business outside of supplemental plans since it's competing against a no-cost alternative."

Other, 2019

"We pay more than any other major industrialized country for our health care to worse results. When Americans get sick, they're focused more on how to pay for their care than how to get well. Our current system is dysfunctional and we need to move towards a Medicare for All system that provides coverage for all Americans from birth. I wouldn't eliminate private health insurance, but I don't imagine it being an economically viable business outside of supplemental plans since it's competing against a no-cost alternative."

Other, 2019

"'Walls generally aren't an effective way of stopping illegal border crossings,' Yang told The Post. 'I don't think it's worth it to tear down existing barriers, but I wouldn't support adding more unless their utility could be demonstrated in a particular part of the border.'"

Candidate's Website, 2019

"As President, I will... Quintuple Federal funding, from $4.5 to $20 billion per year directed toward addiction treatment and rehabilitation for addictive opiates at the local levels."

Other, 2019

Question: "Would you sign an agreement with North Korea that entailed partial sanctions relief in exchange for some dismantling of its nuclear weapons program but not full denuclearization?"

Yang: "Yes. You can't find solutions to problems if you're not willing to talk. I would engage with North Korea without preconditions in order to find a path towards complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization. We can't leave any options off the table, and we need to accept incremental gains in order to reach our eventual goal."

Candidate's Website, 2019

"As President, I will... Create a tax-free investment vehicle into which people can opt to automatically have a portion of their income directed, and allow them to define automatic increases to their contribution (either based on increases to their reported income, or at regular intervals)"

Candidate's Website, 2019

"By removing the Social Security cap, implementing a financial transactions tax, and ending the favorable tax treatment for capital gains/carried interest, we can decrease financial speculation while also funding the Freedom Dividend. We can add to that a carbon fee that will be partially dedicated to funding the Freedom Dividend, making up the remaining balance required to cover the cost of this program."

Candidate's Twitter Feed, 2018

Yang supports universal basic income for adults age 18 through 64, at $1,000 a month. When asked how he would address people age 65 and older, he answered on Twitter, "Need to strengthen social security- different plan."

Other, 2019

"Russian aggression in Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law, and we have the obligation to work with our allies to act. We need to echo the chorus of our allies in stating that Russia must return to its borders, and we won't recognize any expansion they have into neighboring territories. Russian aggression is a destabilizing force, and we must work with our allies to project a strong and unified face against Russian expansionism.

"Even though Ukraine is not a NATO member, that relationship is an important one, and I'd work with our NATO allies to reaffirm and expand our security coordination with Ukraine. It was encouraging to hear Pres. Zelensky's words during his visit to NATO headquarters.

"Helping Ukraine will also help us prepare for Russian aggression. The Russian interference in Ukrainian elections was a precursor to their interference in US elections. By helping neighboring states to Russia defend themselves, we're also learning how to defend ourselves.

"Finally, we need to expand sanctions against Russia, and Putin and members of his government specifically through the Global Magnitsky Act, in order to pressure the country to play by international rules."

Candidate's Website, 2019

"As President, I will... Propose the 10x10 Student Loan Emancipation Act, a plan by which the federal government would buy student loan debt (negotiated rate with the private lenders) and allow students to opt into a plan to repay it through pledging 10% of their salary per year for ten years, after which the balance would be forgiven."

Candidate's Website, 2019

"As President, I will...

  • Propose a carbon fee and dividend systems that:
    • Sets an initial carbon tax of $40/ton, which would increase in regular intervals
    • Use that tax to fund, after administrative fees:
      • (50%) The Universal Basic Income
      • (50%) Projects that are enhancing efficiency of fossil fuels or increasing availability of renewable resources
  • Create a border carbon adjustment to protect American goods that would:
    • charge a fee to imports from countries that don't impose a similar carbon fee, or some type of carbon tax
    • provide a rebate to exports to countries that don't impose a similar carbon fee, or some type of carbon tax"

Other, 2019

"Iran is a destabilizing force in the region, and the JCPOA gave us both short-term victories in stabilizing the region through minimizing their influence, and inroads to further discussion to find a solution that would work over a longer period. Leaving the JCPOA was a massive strategic mistake, and one that only served to increase the likelihood of armed conflict in the country. The American people have no desire for armed conflict with Iran, which would lead to another multi-decade engagement that would spread throughout the region and have no clear benefit for the American people.

"We need to work with our allies that are still party to the agreement to negotiate a new JCPOA, with longer terms and delayed deadlines to reflect the time wasted with Trump and Bolton's posturing. We need to get Iran back in compliance with the limitations placed on them under the agreement on nuclear materials and enrichment capabilities.

"Then, we need to build on the agreement to get Iran to stop destabilizing the region, attacking our allies, funding terrorist organizations, and causing conflict in the Strait of Hormuz."

Other, 2019

"Yang has said that he would recommit to the Paris Climate Agreement while Trump has said he is pulling the U.S out of the landmark 2015 international accord on climate change.

"'It's not going to be easy. It's not going to be quick. It's going to be a generational challenge, and there will be a constant need to find ways to make our impact on Earth more sustainable.'"

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