Allen Ellison

Criminal Justice Reform

Allen believes that the American criminal justice system needs a complete overhaul starting with the death penalty. He believes that the death penalty needs to be abolished.

Too many innocent people have lost their lives because of the death penalty and one life is one to many. The death penalty, which has proven to be a cruel and unusual form of punishment that has no place in the United States of America. The application of the death penalty is arbitrary and unjust, and disproportionately affects the poor and underserved. The cost to taxpayers far exceeds those of life imprisonment and it does not deter crime. And, exonerations and new technology show there is a dangerous lack of reliability for what is an irreversible punishment.

Allen believes that the current laws around marijuana are too harsh and need reformed. We should be working to reduce the constraints on medical marijuana licensing so that it’s more accessible and affordable for providers to obtain licenses which would create more clinics that are available to the public. Allen also stands for the decriminalization of marijuana use. Too many people, particularly African Americans, are stuck in prison for lengthy sentences for these non-violent offenses emphasizing the racial inequality in marijuana prosecutions.

Gun Safety

No child should be afraid to go to school or walk through neighborhoods. No American should be afraid to go to work or their place of worship and no human being should be afraid to go to a shopping mall or baseball field, nightclub or movie theater, concert or college campus.

A tragedy shouldn’t be followed by mere thoughts and prayers, it should be followed with comprehensive action toward ending gun violence.

We are not powerless in the fight. Allen believes that we can reduce gun violence while respecting the rights of responsible gun owners. Allen believes we should expand and strengthen background checks for those who want to purchase a firearm – because it shouldn’t be easier to get a gun than a driver’s license. Allen believes we should ensure that guns don’t fall into the hands of terrorists (whether they be domestic or foreign), domestic abusers, other violent criminals, or those who have shown signs of danger toward themselves or others.

Allen stands with the students, families, and organizers who are fighting to enact these commonsense policies to keep our communities safe.

Climate Change

Allen is committed to curbing the effects of climate change, protecting America’s natural resources, and ensuring the quality of our air, water, and land for current and future generations. From investing in clean energy to protecting our ecosystems, Allen will continue the work of house democrats by addressing our biggest environmental challenges while paving the way to a more sustainable future.

Allen will continue to the fight to combat climate change, clean our water, protect our environment and save our public lands.

The Department of Transportation and the EPA issued new fuel-economy standards, the first meaningful increases in fuel economy for cars and light trucks in decades.

We need to take steps to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, which are the largest concentrated source of emissions in the United States.

Allen understands that climate change is one of our world’s greatest challenges, and that addressing this urgent threat could make America the world’s clean energy superpower and create millions of good-paying jobs.

Allen will fight to protect our planet for future generations.

Americans with Disabilities

There are 61 million Americans who are disabled and 4.5 million in Florida. In Florida’s 23rd Congressional District, which covers parts of Broward and Palm Beach Counties, the percentage of people living with disabilities are above the national average.

Often, administrators deny or delay benefits, sometimes for years to those who are deemed disabled, adding mental and emotional anguish to people’s physical pain as they try to make ends meet. This is not right and I pledge to get this fixed in Congress.

Leaders in Washington are threatening to take away funding that aid in the care of people that were born disabled and for those who have and or will become disabled. This isn’t a partisan issue. It’s an American issue. A disability can affect anyone at any time and we can no longer afford to have this issue continue to go unnoticed and unchallenged.

The disabilities issue needs our attention and disabled Americans need a champion. I am that champion. We have made this issue a priority in our campaign. I am the only candidate in my race with a plan to improve the quality of life for disabled Americans by raising disability benefits and ending the denial process. I am running for Congress so that together, we can find solutions for a new path forward.

Veteran’s Affairs

Taking care of our veterans is paramount! When someone goes to bat for you, it’s only right that you return the favor.

The VA is overwhelmed by claims from our patriotic men and women of past military conflicts and wars, in addition to our veterans of the 21st century wars. The statistics show that veterans have to wait an average of over 200 days to receive decisions on initial claims.

Roughly 18 to 22 military veterans a day commit suicide. The causes for this tragedy are typically depression fueled by the reaction to PTSD, survivor’s guilt, or low self-esteem due to unpreparedness for civilian life.

It is our mission to push for a bill that will put in place changes to the existing military discharge process that would eliminate or at the minimum reduce these events. The changes require two additions to the existing discharge process. One, to put in place a PTSD/survivor’s guilt, suitability for civilian life screening step in the discharge process. Two, if the result of the screening is that there is or may be a problem, to require a treatment step of at least 12 weeks before discharge.

In addition to the normal physical examination that occurs during the military discharge process, we urge that an additional step be added that screens for the possibility of PTSD, survivor’s guilt, and unpreparedness for civilian life afflictions. I think that we can do better than this. I will fight for those who fight and have fought for us.

Jobs and the Economy

Small businesses are the primary source of jobs in our economy. Allen understands that a good small business climate is key to strengthening our communities.

Small business owners with proven track records, good credit histories, and innovative ideas should have access to loans. It is important that they be able to get credit so that they can expand and hire new workers. That’s why Allen has supported legislation like the Small Business Lending Fund Act. This bill creates a fund to make capital investments in community banks to increase the availability of credit for small businesses. Allen strongly believes that the federal government should encourage lending that can support economic growth in our neighborhoods.

Allen believes that a viable economy has roots tied into a strong and growing middle class and the development of small businesses—that’s why he has a plan to create jobs and increase economic security to working families. He’s been driven by the basic values that make our country great: America flourishes when small businesses prosper.

Healthcare

It has been the goal of Democrats since Franklin D. Roosevelt to create a universal health care system guaranteeing health care to all people. Every other major industrialized nation has done so. It is time for America to join them and fulfill the legacy of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Lyndon B. Johnson and other great Democrats.

The Affordable Care Act was a critically important step towards the goal of universal health care. Thanks to the ACA, more than 23 million Americans have gained health insurance. Millions of low-income Americans have coverage through expanded eligibility for Medicaid that now exists in 31 states. Young adults can stay on their parents’ health plans until they’re 26. All Americans can benefit from increased protections against lifetime coverage limits and exclusion from coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

A we embark on a new path forward, we must build upon the success of the ACA to achieve the goal of universal health care. Twenty-nine million Americans today still do not have health insurance and millions more are underinsured and cannot afford the high copayments and deductibles charged by private health insurance companies that put profits before people.

Thanks to ACA, Florida leads the nation in Florida for healthcare plans. But nearly 120,000 people in the 17th district live without health insurance. Our future depends on our ability to help one another. We must see to it that those without health insurance get the insurance they need. Allen will also fight against efforts to end Medicare and he will work to ensure cost burdens on Medicare recipients is brought to a screeching halt.

The American health care system costs way too much and insurance companies are running the show. Allen believes that health care should be a universal right, not a privilege only for those who can afford it. We must increase healthcare access to give Americas the peace of mind that comes with knowing they have access to quality health care. Americans should not have to make decisions between putting food on the table and going to the doctor or filling a prescription.

Allen stands with progressive for a Medicare for All system that will guarantee coverage for every American, lower health care costs, allow a choice between private and public Medicare plans and force insurance companies to adhere to the rules that we set. This is not socialism this is the government doing its part to serve it’s citizens like our founding fathers intended.

Civil Rights

Allen is committed to protecting voting rights, freedom of religion, women’s right to make their own health care decisions, and equal federal rights for LGBTQ couples.

Allen is for criminal justice reform, as well as common sense approaches to reduce and prevent gun violence.

Agriculture

Farmers are faced with new challenges and opportunities every day — from feeding an expanding global population while meeting strict new emissions requirements, to producing more food on fewer acres while minimizing their environmental footprint.

Agriculture is a comprehensive and dynamic industry and Allen will work closely with farmers to address their concerns and help them to chart a new path forward for a strong and vibrant agricultural economy.

Senior Care

When a person reaches retirement age, it is a point in time to be honored and embraced. It is a time when one should be traveling, golfing and enjoying the fruits of one’s labor, a time when seniors are ready to live out the rest of their days in peace and in happiness, the last thing that retirees need is a bunch of bureaucrats playing around with their Medicare and retirement benefits.

Many families are struggling with the exasperating and vexing bureaucracy involved in making sure that seniors get the benefits they deserve. I will fight against efforts to end Medicare and I will work to ensure cost burdens on Medicare recipients is stopped.

Immigration

Allen will not stand by and watch families be torn apart — Allen will stand up with members in Congress and in states and cities across the country are already standing up personal bias, hatred and bigotry to defend their immigrant neighbors.

Allen believes that hundreds of thousands of DREAMERs should receive a permanent status that allows them to continue studying, working, paying taxes, and contributing to the communities that they call home.

Allen will continue to work toward comprehensive immigration reform that fixes our nation’s broken immigration system, improves border security, prioritizes enforcement so we are targeting criminals – not families, keeps families together, and strengthens our economy.

Allen knows the importance of our country’s history as a nation of immigrants. We honor our fundamental values by treating all people who come to the United States with dignity and respect, and we always seek to embrace — not to attack — immigrants.

Allen believes in the idea that we would do better as a nation building bridges instead of walls.^[4]