Eric Swalwell
Historical Details
Position on Issues
Against| Read My Position
Candidate's Facebook Page, 2019
"The GOP knows its tax plan is a tax scam for most Americans. But they won't change. Why?
"'Because it's still doing a great job of accomplishing the actual goal that they really cared about: letting people who own businesses have more money.'"
Against| Read My Position
Candidate's Facebook Page, 2017
Swalwell opposed Republican bills to repeal and replace the ACA/"Obamacare." Those bills - which Swalwell called "Trumpcare" - would have eliminated some essential health benefit requirements and would have used a block grant system for Medicaid.
"Senate Republicans are desperate to jam through their latest TrumpCare bill to repeal/replace the Affordable Care Act. Like previous iterations of the bill, it will cover less, cost more, and leave millions of Americans without insurance. Outside the Senate, there's bipartisan consensus that this bill is a disaster."
For| Read My Position
Candidate's Website, 2019
"I'm a cosponsor of H.R. 3440, the Dream Act of 2017, a bipartisan bill which would provide Dreamers - young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children and have lived in the U.S. at least four years - protection from deportation and an opportunity to obtain legal status if they meet certain requirements. Since President Trump announced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program's termination, I have voted more than 20 times to bring the DREAM Act to the House Floor for consideration."
Against| Read My Position
Candidate's Facebook Page, 2017
Swalwell opposed Republican bills to repeal and replace the ACA/"Obamacare." Those bills - which Swalwell called "Trumpcare" - would have eliminated some essential health benefit requirements and would have used a block grant system for Medicaid.
"Senate Republicans are desperate to jam through their latest TrumpCare bill to repeal/replace the Affordable Care Act. Like previous iterations of the bill, it will cover less, cost more, and leave millions of Americans without insurance. Outside the Senate, there's bipartisan consensus that this bill is a disaster."
For| Read My Position
Candidate's Website, 2019
"No more turning a blind eye to American lives stolen by gun violence. We must enact truly universal background checks for all gun and ammunition purchases, do more to take guns away from domestic abusers, push states to adopt gun violence restraining order laws, and remove weapons of war from our communities once and for all. I'm the only candidate calling for a mandatory national ban and buyback of military-style semiautomatic assault weapons."
Against| Read My Position
Candidate's Website, 2013
"Swalwell was protesting a bill called the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. It would ban abortions after a fetus is 20 weeks old, and is based on the idea that fetuses can feel pain earlier than previously thought.
"On Twitter, Swalwell posted that the bill was part of a 'war on women.'"
For| Read My Position
Candidate's Website, 2014
"U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-15), lead Democrat on the Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Energy, today requested a bill reading during consideration of the Department of Energy Research and Development Act of 2014, a Republican bill that drastically cuts DOE research programs, deemphasizes climate change research, and was only provided to Committee Democrats on Friday, June 6, at 5:30 PM. Rather than read the bill, the Republican majority abruptly ended the meeting without allowing debate or a vote on the bill.
"'Defying the historical bipartisanship of this committee, my Republican colleagues wrote this bill under the cover of darkness, and when we shined a light on its climate change denial and drastic cuts to important energy programs, they ran rather than have a substantive debate,' said Swalwell. 'I am disappointed that the Republicans excluded Democrats from a meaningful conversation on how we can work together to secure our energy future, instead choosing to side with the few 'flat-earth scientists' that still deny climate change with this disastrous bill.'
"The Republican bill would reduce funding for certain DOE research programs to Bush-era levels. Funding for R&D programs in Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) would be slashed by 29 percent. Programs within the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) would be decreased by $40 million from FY 2014 levels."
For| Read My Position
Candidate's Twitter Feed, 2015
"On #PinkOut day, I #StandWithPP & voted against another GOP attempt to strip funding from Planned Parenthood."
Against| Read My Position
Candidate's Website, 2013
"'I believe that citizens in states across the county should be empowered to make their own decisions as to how to treat marijuana,' said Swalwell. 'The people of California voted to allow patients access to medical marijuana, and the federal government should not stand in their way. Likewise as a prosecutor, I saw firsthand the needs of local law enforcement, and we should be directing the hundreds of millions of dollars currently spent on marijuana enforcement to more serious priorities. These bills are good for the economy, patients and states' rights.'"
For| Read My Position
Candidate's Twitter Feed, 2019
"t's time to raise minimum wage to a livable standard. No one should have to work without being able to aim for a better life. My parents struggled with long hours and side hustles, but they were able to give us a chance. Let's give back the #freedomtodream and #RaiseTheWage"
For| Read My Position
Candidate's Website, 2018
"'Being narrow-minded and short-sighted about renewable energy and energy efficiency would deny America the thriving economy it deserves, and would leave the world more vulnerable to climate change's harmful effects,' Swalwell said. 'We must lead the way by investing in smarter policies, lest our bright future grow dimmer.'"
For| Read My Position
Candidate's Website, 2018
"'Being narrow-minded and short-sighted about renewable energy and energy efficiency would deny America the thriving economy it deserves, and would leave the world more vulnerable to climate change's harmful effects,' Swalwell said. 'We must lead the way by investing in smarter policies, lest our bright future grow dimmer.'"
Against| Read My Position
Candidate's Twitter Feed, 2018
"If Trump actually cared about farmers, he would've considered them before getting into a trade war with China that requires borrowing from China to help farmers."
Other| Read My Position
Candidate's Facebook Page, 2019
"'Donald Trump is either going to be impeached by the Congress or impeached at the ballot box. It's really a race to which one will happen first.' I'd prefer that voters wield the power in 2020, but Congress won't turn a blind eye, either."
For| Read My Position
Candidate's Twitter Feed, 2018
"You deserve a real infrastructure plan that truly creates jobs & rebuilds America, not this sad joke from @realDonaldTrump that goes cheap and privatizes our assets."
For| Read My Position
Candidate's Website, 2019
"No more turning a blind eye to American lives stolen by gun violence. We must enact truly universal background checks for all gun and ammunition purchases, do more to take guns away from domestic abusers, push states to adopt gun violence restraining order laws, and remove weapons of war from our communities once and for all. I'm the only candidate calling for a mandatory national ban and buyback of military-style semiautomatic assault weapons."
Against| Read My Position
Candidate's Facebook Page, 2019
"Trump is not the first president to declare an emergency. But he's the only president to do so in order to circumvent Congress and fund a costly, unnecessary border wall for political reasons.
"We will not let this power grab stand."
For| Read My Position
Candidate's Website, 2019
"I'm a cosponsor of H.R. 676, the Expanded & Improved Medicare For All Act, to establish a privately-delivered, publicly-financed single-payer universal health care system, in which physicians and non-profit health care providers would be in charge of medical decisions - not insurance companies."
Against| Read My Position
Candidate's Facebook Page, 2016
"Medicare and Social Security have kept generations of Americans healthy and out of poverty, but Social Security's trust funds are ebbing and some in Congress want to turn Medicare upside down.
"Rep. Eric Swalwell is working to:
- Raise the cap on earning subject to Social Security's payroll tax.
- Oppose using the Chained Consumer Price Index to calculate Social Security's cost-of-living adjustments.
- Repeal the Medicare cap on therapy services for seniors.
- Prevent Medicare from being converted to a voucher system."
For| Read My Position
Candidate's Website, 2012
"Social Security is one of our most successful government programs, lifting seniors out of poverty and offering most seniors the only means of retirement income. To ensure the long-term viability of the program, I support lifting the cap on wages above $110,000 and also support raising the retirement age gradually and tying it to life expectancy rates."
For| Read My Position
Candidate's Website, 2017
"Russia attacked our democracy. It should be punished. Instead, President Trump is easing sanctions against its team of hackers, the FSB. Easing these sanctions allows Russia to sharpen its knives and import tools from the United States to hack us again. Congress must act swiftly to re-impose these sanctions so that those who attack America know there's a price to pay."
Other| Read My Position
Candidate's Website, 2019
"We need no-interest federal student loans, tax-free employer contributions, and debt-free college for public university students who do work-study and commit to bettering their communities after graduation."
Against| Read My Position
"Next month, Congress will vote on the Iran nuclear agreement, an effort to prevent one of the world's most evil regimes from having the world's most dangerous weapon. After participating in classified briefings, asking tough questions of the Obama administration, meeting with proponents and opponents, and listening to my constituents, I have concluded this agreement is the best available opportunity for a nuclear-weapon-free Iran."
Against| Read My Position
Candidate's Website, 2019
"I'm an original cosponsor of H.Res.390, expressing strong disapproval of the President's announcement to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement on climate change."
Voting Record
H R 268 (2019)
Democratic bill to end the government shutdown and fund the government through September 2019. The bill does not include $5.6 billion for a border wall, but includes $14 billion in disaster relief funding.H J Res 31 (2019)
Final 2019 federal budget bill, including $1.4 billion for 55 miles of physical barrier on the border with Mexico, $415 million for humanitarian relief at the border, $12 billion for disaster relief, and $3.3 billion for highway and bridge infrastructure.H J Res 46 (2019)
Ends the national emergency on the U.S.-Mexico border declared by President Trump.
H R 8 (2019)
Requires a background check for all firearm sales, including private sales that do not take place through a licensed dealer.H R 1112 (2019)
Extends the time period for authorities to complete a federal firearms background check. At the time of this bill's submission, if a background check is not completed within three days, the seller may go ahead and sell the firearm.
H R 1585 (2019)
Reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which contains victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. For example, VAWA authorizes federal grants for rape prevention programs. The 2019 version of VAWA passed by the House includes a provision to block stalkers, former boyfriends, and dating partners - no just marriage partners - from possessing firearms.H R 1644 (2019)
Restores the Open Internet Order of the Federal Communications Commission, which would reinstate net neutrality rules that prohibit internet service providers from slowing internet content.S J Res 7 (2019)
Prevents the U.S. from fighting in or assisting in Yemen's civil war.S 756 (2018)
Makes various reforms to the criminal justice system, such as mandating de-escalation training for correctional officers, improving feminine hygiene for prisoners, and adding more leniency to sentences for non-violent offenders.
H J Res 2 (2018)
Constitutional amendment requiring the federal government to balance the budget each year.
HR 2851 (2018)
Outlaws some synthetic drugs and gives the Attorney General power to more quickly add synthetic drugs to the lists of banned substances
HR 695 (2018)
Defense budget bill for 2018, which increases defense spending.
S 2155 (2018)
Eases some of the financial regulations of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
HR 6311 (2018)
Expands access and use of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and allows all individuals to buy catastrophic plans (renamed “copper” plans) on the health insurance market.
HR 6760 (2018)
Makes permanent various tax cuts passed as part of the "Trump tax plan"
HR 620 (2018)
Amends the Americans with Disabilities Act so that the anyone filing a lawsuit must first give the business or person an opportunity to fix the alleged discrimination.
HR 6136 (2018)
Immigration reform bill backed by Speaker Paul Ryan, which provides for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), provides $25 billion for border security, and establishes a merit-based visa program.
HR 6756 (2018)
Increases tax deductions for new businesses.
HR 195 (2018)
Stopped a federal government shutdown by funding the government through February 8, 2018. This bill also extends the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for six years. This bill does not include an extension of the immigration program Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or any other immigration-related policy.
HR 2 (2018)
"Farm bill" that authorizes a variety of agriculutral programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The final version of this bill did not include stricter work requirements for SNAP, as originally proposed. The bill also legalizes industrial hemp.
HR 4909 (2018)
Sets aside $50 million for various school safety improvements, such as threat assessment systems and anonymous reporting systems.
HR 5698 (2018)
Categorize crimes against law enforcement as hate crimes
S 139 (2018)
Extends so-called "section 702" surveillance by the NSA under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
HR 184 (2018)
Permanently repeals the medical device tax.HR 115 (2017)
Adds the killing or attempted killing of a state or local law enforcement officer or first responder - not just a federal law enforcement officer - to the list of aggravating factors justifying the death penalty in a federal case.
HR 36 (2017)
Bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.HR 1628 (2017)
"American Health Care Act" that repeals parts of the Affordable Care Act (also known as "Obamacare") and revises many health care laws. For example, this bill would cap Medicaid funding, repeal various insurance coverage requirements, and replace the requirement to buy health insurance with a penalty the next time you get insurance if you allow your coverage to lapse.
HR 3697 (2017)
Allows the federal government to deport an immigrant suspected of gang involvement, even if the immigrant came to the U.S. legally and has not been convicted of a crime.
HR 1101 (2017)
Allows small businesses to join association health plans across state lines, outside state insurance regulations.
HR 7 (2017)
Permanently bans federal funding for abortion and prevents federal subsidies for any health care plans that include abortion coverage.
HR 1215 (2017)
Caps damages for "emotional distress, suffering, and mental anguish" in medical malpractice lawsuits.HR 806 (2017)
Slows down implementation of ozone standards and the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
HR 1430 (2017)
Requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to only use data from studies that are publicly available and can be reproduced.
HR 1259 (2017)
Makes it easier to fire, demote, or suspend an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
HR 1431 (2017)
Changes the makeup of the Scientific Advisory Board for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), opening the board to more public input and industry stakeholders and limiting scientists who might use their own research to advise the EPA.
HR 998 (2017)
Establishes a commission to review and recommend the repeal of rules to lower the cost of regulation.
HR 3922 (2017)
Extends funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), cuts funding for the Prevention and Public Health Fund, and makes some other changes to CHIP and Medicare (such as increasing Medicare premiums for higher income beneficiaries).HR 78 (2017)
Increases economic analysis requirements for any proposed regulation from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
HR 26 (2017)
Greatly increases congressional oversight of rules and regulations adopted by federal agencies.
HR 3003 (2017)
Strengthens laws against "sanctuary cities," for example withholding federal grants from any city that does not cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
HR 10 (2017)
Rolls back many of the financial regulations 2010 Dodd-Frank Act.
HR 1 (2017)
Reduces the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, reduces the individual income tax rate for high earners from 39.6% to 37%, increases the income threshold to qualify for the alternative minimum tax, and repeals the mandate to purchase health insurance.HR 1370 (2017)
Stopped a federal government shutdown by funding the government through January 19, 2018.S Con Res 3 (2017)
Sets the federal budget. This bill also establishes rules that pave the way for a repeal of the Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare."
HR 1181 (2017)
Prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from sending the name of an individual to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System unless a judge determines that the individual is a danger to themselves or others.
H J Res 43 (2017)
Allows states to withhold federal funding for Planned Parenthood.
S 114 (2017)
Continues the Veterans Choice Program, which pays for veterans to use private health care providers instead of the VA.
H Amdt 261 (2017)
Increases funding for the Navy to address contamination from PFCs.
H J Res 42 (2017)
Effectively allows states to drug test anybody claiming unemployment benefits or food stamps.
S J Res 34 (2017)
Overtuns a rule from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that requires all internet browsing and app usage data be subject to the same privacy requirements as private personal information. The FCC rule is stricter than previous regulations, which had various privacy requirements depending on the sensitivity of the online information.
