The Kerry-Edwards Metropolitan Agenda
http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/communities/metro.htmlMetropolitan areas, where most Americans live and work, are rich in the diversity that makes our nation strong, drives our economy, and nurtures our culture. Many cities are rebounding after years of economic decline. A Kerry-Edwards administration will make our metropolitan areas stronger by standing up for our values of opportunity, responsibility, and fairness; by growing the middle class; and by expanding opportunity for all Americans.
The Kerry-Edwards Metropolitan Agenda will:
Bring Capital, Entrepreneurial Opportunity, And Good Jobs To Communities.
Revive the New Markets Venture Capital Initiative. One of the most significant obstacles to the development of an innovative and productive business sector in many low-income areas is the lack of access to equity capital. In 2000, John Kerry was a leader in the passage of the New Markets Venture Capital (NMVC) program, which addressed the unmet equity needs of lowincome communities by helping new venture firms provide financing and technical assistance in these areas. Yet despite the initial success of NMVC, President Bush has refused to provide funding for this program in any of his four budgets. As president, John Kerry will support the NMVC program and will also support Empowerment Zones.
Spur Growth and Provide Relief With a New 'State and Local Tax Relief and Education Fund.' President Bush's economic policies have left states with the worst fiscal crisis in more than fifty years, forcing layoffs, education cuts, and tax increases. John Kerry will establish a new fund with a total of $25 billion to stop the education cuts, tuition increases, and tax and fee raising that are inhibiting our economic growth and causing layoffs while helping States and localities make critical investments in homeland security infrastructure.
Raise the Minimum Wage and Support and Strengthen the Earned Income Tax Credit. John Kerry will raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.00 by 2007. More than 7 million Americans would receive a raise, and annual earnings of a full-time worker would increase by about $3,800 a year. This will ensure that no one working full-time at the minimum wage will have to raise his or her children in poverty. In addition, John Kerry will support and expand the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), including expanding relief for the EITC marriage penalty and accelerating the partial refundability of the child tax credit.
Encourage Small Businesses. John Kerry will support the expansion of small businesses, which create new and high-quality jobs in metropolitan areas. He will create a "Small Business Opportunity Fund" to expand loans to micro-enterprises, increase the federal government's venture capital investments, and expand loan programs for small businesses. John Kerry will also increase federal contracting opportunities for minority and women-owned small businesses and use the power of the Federal government to help small business. The Kerry-Edwards health care plan contains a refundable tax credit for up to 50 percent of the cost of coverage to small businesses and their low and moderate-income employees.
Strengthen Communities. Protect Our Communities by Funding the Community Oriented Policing (COPS) Program and Extending the Assault Weapons Ban. John Kerry offered the amendment to expand the program to place 100,000 police officers in community policing assignments. As president, he will fully fund the COPS program and ensure that metropolitan areas have the necessary resources to prevent terrorist attacks and keep our streets safe. In addition, John Kerry stands with police officers in support of extending the current assault weapons ban.
Use Proven Approaches to Reduce Gang Violence. While some crime has declined, the murder rate is rising under George Bush, and gang violence is a big part of the problem. Building on successes in several cities, John Kerry will reduce gang violence with a two-pronged approach: first, sending a message of zero tolerance for violence, and taking strong enforcement action against gangs that continue to engage in violence; second, offering young people on the wrong track alternatives of job training, drug treatment, and education so they can become productive citizens.
Support Community-Based Efforts to Fight Crime. As a former prosecutor, John Kerry is committed to vigorous prosecution and punishment of violent criminals. But he also believes we must do more to support and supervise ex-offenders so that they will be reintegrated into their communities as productive citizens. He also supports the use of "drug courts" to require offenders to obtain needed treatment and assistance under close supervision.
Empower Faith Based Organizations. Honoring the central place of faith in the lives of our people, John Kerry will strengthen the role of faith-based organizations in meeting challenges like homelessness, youth violence, and other social problems. At the same time, he will honor First Amendment protections and not allow public funds to be used to proselytize or discriminate.
Support Homeownership and Key Rental Housing Programs. Without safe and stable housing, no family can achieve its full potential. John Kerry has championed measures to extend homeownership opportunities to more families.
He understands the vital role that Section 8 housing, HOPE VI, and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit have played in our communities. And he has been a strong voice against the Bush administration's attempt to roll back key housing initiatives that protect low-income families. Maintain Support for the Community Reinvestment Act and Fight Predatory Lending. Banks and other financial institutions play a critical role in fostering growth and entrepreneurship in our cities. The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) has long helped ensure access to banking services. While the Bush administration recently undercut CRA, John Kerry will support the law's sound and effective implementation. He also will support strong measures to fight predatory lending, which deprives many families of hard-earned savings, and will work to ensure all Americans have access to the mainstream services that far too many now go without.
Keep Our Environment Clean to Promote Urban Growth. Too many low-income and minority communities have borne a disproportionate burden of air pollution, water pollution and other environmental hazards. John Kerry will create Environmental Empowerment Zones to ensure that the federal government considers environmental justice in decisions that affect communities. John Kerry also supports the Brownfields Program that empowers states, communities and other stakeholders in economic redevelopment to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up and reuse Brownfields.
Invest in Transportation While Strengthening Homeland Security Infrastructure. Within John Kerry's State and Local Tax Relief and Education Fund, billions will be available to states and localities to improve infrastructure without forcing them to raise taxes. Having transportation choices means having the flexibility to use transportation dollars to best fit local needs, such as funding light rail and streetcar systems, expanding bus service or redesigning neighborhood streets and sidewalks to be more pedestrian-friendly. Mass transit projects trigger capital investment, sound planning, environmental awareness, energy efficiency, and decent union wages to thousands of workers. John Kerry will also invest in homeland security and port security, freeing up more money for states and localities to invest in upgrading infrastructure - while enhancing our security.
Invest In Education And Health Care For Our People Make Reform Work for Our Schools. George Bush has underfunded No Child Left Behind by almost $27 billion, shortchanging America's children and making it impossible for schools to meet the demands of the new law. John Kerry will fully fund No Child Left Behind, including Title I, and will dedicate the revenue needed to stay on the path to full funding for special education. He will also continue the work of education reform with his plan to put a great teacher in every classroom, offering teachers more and asking more in return.
Expand After-School and Make Child Care More Affordable. While Bush proposed cuts that would deny after-school opportunities to more than 500,000 children, John Kerry would give opportunities to 3.5 million children. John Kerry will also raise the child care tax credit to cover the first $5,000 of expenses per child (up from $3,000), ensure the credit benefits moderate-income families by making it partially refundable and allow stay-at-home parents of infants receive support from the tax credit.
Support At-Risk Youth and Serve 2 Million Children Through GEAR UP. The GEAR UP program asks universities to adopt entire grade levels of students in high-poverty schools and funds partnerships of colleges, schools, businesses and community groups to improve academics, provide mentoring and counseling, and offer college scholarships. John Kerry will expand GEAR UP by two-thirds so that it will serve 2 million children each year.
Expand and Improve Job Training to Promote Productivity and Opportunity. John Kerry has a strong record of support for expanding workforce investment programs including Job Corps, YouthBuild and Youth Opportunity Grants. President Bush has consistently recommended slashing funding to programs such as Youth Opportunity grants. As president, John Kerry will support these programs and work to expand opportunities for successful joint ventures between private sector companies and federal training programs for both low-income youth and adults. John Kerry will also provide support to YouthBuild, a program he championed that gives young adults the chance to contribute to their community through housing construction while working toward a diploma, learning skills training, and finding adult mentors in a supportive community.
Make College More Affordable and Help More Students Graduate. Over the last three years, tuition at a public university has increased by a record 35 percent - over $1200. The Kerry-Edwards plan will help all Americans afford college by providing a tax credit on up to $4,000 of college tuition for all four years. John Kerry will also help pay for college for those who serve. To make it easier for students and families to learn how student aid will help them pay for college, John Kerry will create faster and simple applications. And John Kerry will address lagging college completion rates by strengthening high school curriculum and rewarding colleges for increasing the number of Pell grant students they graduate. John Kerry will also make targeted efforts to increase the number of women and minorities going into math and science.
Reduce Health Disparities. Our nation still struggles with significant disparities in health care access, care, and outcomes because of the color of people's skin. The tremendous gains that we have witnessed in science and medicine have benefited millions of our citizens, but too often they are out of reach for minorities. A Kerry-Edwards administration will work to eliminate minority health disparities. From expanding health insurance to 95 percent of Americans to improving language access programs in medical facilities, the need is great and the time is now to improve the health of those Americans who have been left behind because of the color of their skin.
Tear Down Barriers To Growth And Opportunity
Strongly Enforce the Nation's Civil Rights Laws. As a former prosecutor, John Kerry has the strength and skills to enforce civil rights laws, reduce discrimination and expand opportunity. He is also a strong supporter of affirmative action. John Kerry supports the Fairness Act which will reverse damage done to civil rights laws by right-wing judges. He wants to ensure that all Americans can get their day in court and have access to fair and meaningful remedies for injustice. John Kerry supports strong enforcement and equal justice for all victims of hate violence. Finally, John Kerry will nominate judges, and especially Supreme Court justices, whose records demonstrate respect for civil and constitutional rights.
Protect Voting Rights and Improve Election Reform. Even before he is elected president, John Kerry will protect voting rights by providing teams of election observers and lawyers to monitor elections and enforce the law. He supports continued, vigorous efforts to reform our national election system and to correct the problems revealed by the 2000 Presidential election. He also supports reauthorization of the expiring provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He will also seek new ways to improve election fairness and agrees with the bipartisan recommendations that once people have served their time in prison they should be allowed to participate fully in our democracy.
End Racial Profiling. As a former prosecutor, John Kerry knows that racial profiling is nothing more than ineffective law enforcement and must be prohibited. He also supports strong and effective remedies for victims of racial profiling. Reform Immigration. John Kerry will offer an immigration reform bill in his first 100 days that allows immigrants to earn legalization, encourages family reunification, and strengthens our border protections. The legislation will also authorize a limited number of temporary workers while ensuring fair labor protections for all workers. John Kerry supports passage of the DREAM Act which will enable America's youth, who are not citizens but who consider the United States their home, the opportunity to pursue higher education and the American Dream. John Kerry also supports efforts to restore benefits to legal immigrants and will work to ensure that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reduces the backlog of applications and operates more efficiently.
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