Smackdown Your Vote! 18-30 Voter Issues Paper …

                      Smackdown Your Vote! 18-30 Voter Issues Paper

                         Candidate's name: Hillary Rodham Clinton

The Economy & Jobs
Young people rank the economy as one of their top issues. For young people, that means the
creation of jobs that pay well or allow them to make a difference and the opportunity to get out
of debt while making ends meet. With all of these financial hurdles, saving for emergencies,
making a down payment on a home, or saving for retirement become difficult, if not impossible.
In the current job market, young people perceive that desirable jobs are scarcer than in years
past.

Questions:

What specific legislative proposal will you support to ensure that jobs that pay a living
wage are available domestically for America's younger generation?

I have met so many young people who are worried that they won't have the same opportunities
their parents did. And that is why I am committed to creating millions of good, high-paying jobs
for all Americans, and I have a clear plan to jumpstart the economy. I will make investments in
alternative energy, infrastructure, and innovation that will create millions of new, high-wage jobs
for young Americans.

I will also spur job growth for Americans by rewarding companies that create jobs in our
country, and I have proposed three specific ways to do so. I would increase the R&D credit by 50
percent to give companies a strong incentive to invest in research jobs in the United States. I
would create a 40 percent basic research credit that will reward collaborative research ­ between
universities, federal research institutions, and private firms ­ and drive job growth. And I would
create a new tax credit to give start-up companies access to tax incentives because, today, firms
that have no prior research expenses and no baseline investment are not eligible for the existing
R&D tax credit. Two decades ago, the United States offered the most generous R&D tax benefits
in the world; today we have fallen to 17th. The R&D tax credit has proved to be a successful
cost-effective tool to increase investment in research jobs in the United States and to make our
country a more attractive venue for global R&D. In addition to providing incentives for
companies to create jobs in the United States, I will close loopholes in our tax code that
encourage American companies to ship jobs overseas. I will reform the practice known as
"deferral," which allows companies to defer paying U.S. taxes on income earned by their foreign
subsidiaries until or unless that income is brought back to the United States, and I will stop
companies from receiving tax benefits for locating abroad.

As President, I will work to strengthen our economy and respond to the needs of Americans.
Earlier this year, I called for the need of an economic stimulus plan to help families impacted by
the downturn in our economy. I was heartened that Congress and President Bush passed a
stimulus package, though it did not include investment in green-collar job growth or address the
growing housing crisis, as I had proposed. I recently called for Congress and President Bush to
pass a second stimulus package, focusing on the housing crisis. As President, I will take action to
address challenges that working people face during hard economic times ­ from job losses to
skyrocketing gas prices to foreclosures in our communities.

What sectors do you perceive as being "high growth" areas for job creation for young
adults?

I believe that alternative energy, innovation, and infrastructure have the potential to create
millions of new, high-paying jobs for young adults. That is why I have committed to making
investments in each of these sectors. First, I have proposed to transform our economy into an
efficient green economy, creating at least five million new "green-collar" jobs in America,
including jobs in the manufacturing, construction, research and development sectors. I will create
a $50 billion Strategic Energy Fund, paid in part by oil companies, that will jumpstart the
research, development, and deployment of renewable energy technologies, creating a foundation
for green-collar job growth. Second, I will make investments in innovation that will create new
jobs of the future. I will double the budget for basic and applied research at major federal
agencies, like the National Institutes of Health, and encourage more high-risk, high-reward
projects. These investments will ensure that new labs are built and more grants are available for
researchers, who ultimately produce new tools, new products, and new jobs that benefit our
country. As a part of investing in innovation, I have proposed to launch a new program of tax
exempt bonds for states and local governments to build research parks, and I will catalyze the
creation of at least 15 major research clusters during my first term. Third, I will make
investments to rebuild, repair, and modernize our infrastructure ­ our bridges, our tunnels, our
roads, our waterways ­ that will help generate at least three million new jobs. My agenda
includes establishing a $10 billion fund to tackle the backlog of critical repairs and providing
grants to states and cities to determine their risks and needs.

In addition, I believe that there is a tremendous need for young talent in the public sector, and I
plan to make these opportunities available and support those young people who want to pursue
public-service work. That's why I have proposed creating a U.S. Public Service Academy, which
would provide a four-year subsidized college education in exchange for a five-year commitment
to public service upon graduation. I have also proposed to provide a $10,000 scholarship for each
year of full-time service through AmeriCorps and to expand AmeriCorps by 100,000 by 2012.

With many young adults believing Social Security will not be available once they retire,
what is being done now so that members of the next generation will be able to meet their
financial obligations when they retire?

Social Security is a solemn promise to our seniors, and I am committed to ensuring it is there for
our young people when they face retirement. I am proud to have fought President Bush's attempt
to privatize Social Security, and in my administration, privatization will not be an option. I have
a clear, straightforward plan to keep Social Security strong for future generations. First, I will
restore fiscal responsibility in Washington. That will give us the kinds of options we had in the
late 1990s, when we had a plan to keep Social Security solvent until 2055. Second, I will address
the long-term challenges facing Social Security through a bipartisan process. As part of that
process, we should consider a range of modest fixes to strengthen the program without hurting
seniors or middle-class families. Finally, I believe we need to look beyond fixing Social Security
to tackle the crisis of poor retirement savings in this country. That is why I proposed an
American Retirement Accounts Plan that would give tens of millions of families a matching tax
cut of up to $1,000 to help them save for retirement outside Social Security.

Because young adults have expressed concern that federal, state and local taxes are too
high, what tax reforms would you offer to address this concern?

I am committed to restoring fairness to our tax system. When I am President, I will extend
existing middle-class tax cuts and provide new tax cuts to help hard-working Americans who
need them most. Under my health care plan, people who can't afford health care will receive a
generous refundable tax credit so that their premiums never exceed a small percentage of their
income. As part of my plan to make college more affordable and accessible to students and their
families, I will offer a new $3,500 partially refundable college tax credit. It will cover the full
average cost of tuition at community colleges and half the average cost of tuition at the average
public college or university. To help Americans build wealth and prepare for retirement, I have a
plan to provide matching tax cuts up to $1,000 to help middle-class families save. And to help
older Americans and their families access the critical care they need, I will provide a new $3,000
caregiving tax credit to ease the financial burden on anyone with substantial long-term care
needs or their caregivers, and a new long-term care insurance tax credit that will cover 75
percent of insurance premiums up to $1,500 annually for qualified long-term care insurance
policies. I will not continue President Bush's income tax cuts for people who make more than
$250,000. I will allow those tax cuts to expire and use the resources to help middle-class
Americans.

What policies and legislation will you promote to help 18-30 year olds achieve greater
financial planning and security, and to help those who are living paycheck to paycheck get
out of that cycle?

As I mentioned earlier, I will work to make investments in our economy to create millions of
new, high-wage jobs in the United States. In addition, I have specific plans to help young people
pay off their student loans, manage their finances and avoid being exploited by creditors, save
for a secure retirement, and afford quality health care.

I will enact a Student Borrower's Bill of Rights to protect students and their families from
predatory lending practices that have been increasingly prevalent in the private student loan
market. The Bill of Rights would provide a right to timely, accurate and transparent information
that is written in easy-to-understand language; a right to affordable loan payments calculated as a
percentage of income, which will allow students who want to go into public service to pursue
their dreams; and a right to shop in a free marketplace for lenders and to borrow without
exploitation.

In my plan to end credit card lending abuses, I included a proposal to improve financial literacy
among young adults. In a 2004 survey on personal financial literacy, high school seniors
answered only half the questions correctly; two-thirds of them failed the exam. As President, I
will provide federal grants to encourage states to design model curricula and develop public-
private partnerships that incorporate financial literacy courses into basic high school curricula. I
will also expand funding to promote adult financial literacy and debt counseling programs for
middle-class and low-income families. People who participate in financial education classes
often report an increase in personal savings and a decrease in debt.

I have proposed an ambitious American Retirement Accounts Plan to help people save for their
future. It will help tens of millions of Americans who are currently falling through the cracks
while reducing wealth inequality, increasing national savings, and encouraging economic
growth. Under the plan, working and middle-class families who currently have the hardest time
saving will receive matching tax cuts of up to $1,000 as an incentive to save. And all Americans
will get to open new American Retirement Accounts that will be designed to provide no-hassle,
portable savings throughout their careers.

I will also work to provide every single young American with quality health care, to ensure that
their financial security is not at risk because of their health care costs. Below I discuss my plan
for universal health care in detail.

Health Care
Health care is an important issue for young adults, ranking among the top four issues for 18-30
year olds. Thirty percent of young adults are uninsured, the largest percentage of uninsured
across any age group. A majority of these young adults want health insurance, but cite issues,
such as prohibitive costs and access to care, as barriers. An overwhelming majority of young
adults ­ 70 percent ­ say that health insurance is a key factor in taking a job, and 73 percent of
employed 18-30 year olds accept insurance when offered by their employer.

Questions:

How would you describe the current status of health care in America? How will you tackle
the challenge of providing all young adults with access to affordable health care?

Too many young people face the prospects of a dire economic circumstance if they get sick
because they don't have health insurance. That is why universal health care is so important and
why I have a plan to cover all Americans. It is unconscionable that in the richest country in the
world, in this day and age, some people die because they do not have health insurance. It is
unacceptable that insurance companies spend $50 billion a year on elaborate calculations and
schemes to figure out how to avoid covering people and deny claims. As President, I will provide
high-quality, affordable health care to all Americans ­ no one will be left out. Under my plan,
people who like their plans can keep them. Those who do not have coverage or don't like their
current plan will be able to choose from the same options available to Members of Congress or
opt into a public plan option like Medicare, in a new national insurance pool.

I will work to cut costs in our health care system and to make health care coverage affordable to
all Americans. Today, premium increases consistently triple wage growth and medical bills
contribute to 50 percent of all personal bankruptcies. I have proposed a seven-point plan to
reduce costs that includes emphasizing preventive care, coordinating care for the chronically ill,
and modernizing our health care system through the use of electronic medical records. Instituting
a paperless health information technology system could save $165 billion per year ­ or $2,200
for a typical family ­ according to an estimate by the Business Roundtable, AARP, and SEIU.
And to ensure that health care is affordable, under my plan, people who can't afford health care
will receive a generous refundable tax credit so that their premiums never exceed a small
percentage of their income.

I will also work to improve the quality of care. Today, close to one-third of the $2 trillion spent
in the United States goes to care that is duplicative and fails to improve patient health. I will
work to improve the quality of care in our health care system by providing funding for research
to encourage the development and adoption of consensus-based quality measures, so health care
providers will have the best information possible to treat their patients. I will also establish an
independent public-private Best Practices Institute that would finance comparative effectiveness
research, so that health care professionals and consumers know which drugs, devices, and
treatments work best. I will offer higher reimbursement rates to health providers who provide
high-quality health care consistent with that research.

What responsibility do employers have to assist in addressing the current health care
dilemma for 18-30 year olds, particularly for young adults who are hired as short or long-
term temp workers as they start their careers?

Under my plan, large employers will be required to provide health insurance coverage to their
employees or contribute to the cost of the system, and small businesses will receive tax credits to
help them afford coverage for their employees. I know that many young people do not have
access to employer-based coverage because they are part-time employees, temporary workers, or
freelancers. These young people must either pay for health insurance on their own, which can be
very expensive, or go without coverage altogether. According to a 2007 report released by the
Commonwealth Fund, young adults between the ages of 19 to 29 are one of the largest segments
of the national population without health insurance. As I mentioned earlier, those do not have
coverage or don't like their coverage will have access to the same options available to Members
of Congress or opt into a public plan option like Medicare, in a new national insurance pool.
Also, under my plan, coverage will be portable ­ people will not lose their insurance it they
move or lose jobs ­ and insurance companies will be prohibited from discriminating based on
age, gender, or pre-existing conditions. Finally, as I mentioned earlier, I will provide people with
a generous refundable tax credit designed to prevent premiums from exceeding a small
percentage of their income.

What should the government do, if anything, to ensure that every American has health
coverage?

I believe in universal health care coverage, and I have a plan to deliver it. In order to cover all of
the uninsured people in our country, we must bring every stakeholder to the table. That is why
my health care plan is based on the idea of shared responsibility. The federal government will
play an important role and will take steps to ensure that all Americans have access to quality
health care. First, the federal government will be responsible for making sure coverage is
affordable by providing generous tax credits that will ensure that premiums never exceed a small
percentage of a family's income. Second, the federal government will be responsible for making
sure that insurers play by the rules. Insurance companies will be prohibited from discriminating
against people on the basis of age, race, gender or pre-existing companies. Also, as a condition of
doing business with the federal government, insurers will be required to cover high-priority
preventive services that experts agree are proven and effective. Third, the federal government
will establish a public plan option like Medicare, in a new national pool. It would be a more
affordable option, compared to private plans, but would cover the same benefits guaranteed in
private plan options available. Finally, the federal government will take steps to modernize our
health care system based on electronic medical records, which will improve the quality and
efficiency of care as well as drive down costs. As I mentioned earlier, my plan is based on the
idea of shared responsibility. So, in addition to the federal government and employers, others
will have to take part. Insurance companies will have to follow the new rules set by the
government, health care professionals will be responsible for providing high-quality care, and
individuals will be responsible for signing up for coverage. I believe that by working together,
we can create and maintain a health care system that covers all Americans. I am proud to be the
only candidate in this presidential race to have put forth a universal health care plan.

Education
Another issue that young people remain concerned about is access to affordable higher
education. College costs continue to increase, resulting in a greater reliance on student loans (and
even credit cards) and an accumulation of unmanageable debt. The debt burden becomes
substantially greater for those continuing on to graduate school.

Questions:

What role do you believe the government should play in making higher education more
accessible and affordable?

We are all better off when every one who is eligible to go to college can go. That is why I
believe there is more the federal government can and should do to make higher education more
affordable and accessible. Today, a post-secondary education is the most important doorway into
the middle class. But for students from middle-class and low-income families, college still
remains out of reach. Only seven percent of students from low-income communities get a
bachelor's degree by age 26. I have proposed a comprehensive plan to make college more
affordable and accessible. At the heart of my plan is a proposal to create a new $3,500 partially
refundable college tax credit that would cover the full average cost of tuition at a community
college and half the average cost of tuition at a public college or university. Second, I will
increase the maximum Pell Grant and maintain its value by adjusting it annually to take into
account the rising costs of college tuition. Third, I will provide $500 million to community
colleges and $250 million to four-year colleges to strengthen programs, rein in tuition and fees,
and increase graduation rates. Fourth, I will launch a new initiative, called the College
Opportunity and Diversity Fund, that will provide a financial incentive to colleges and
universities to recruit Pell-eligible students and to help them graduate. Fifth, I will provide
stronger support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions,
and other Minority-Serving Institutions. I will, over my first term, increase funding for the
Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities fund by $50 million annually, to
$438 million annually ­ a total investment of $1.4 billion. Sixth, I will simplify the financial aid
process by allowing students to apply for aid by checking a box on their income tax return,
instead of filling out the long and complicated FAFSA form. Seventh, I will require that, as a
condition of federal financial aid eligibility, state and local institutions of higher education set
multi-year tuition and fee levels for each cohort of students at the beginning of freshman year so
that students and their families can anticipate the full cost of college. These policies, called
Truth-in-Tuition, eliminate surprise tuition increases. Lastly, I want to ensure that people who
want to go into public service ­ like teaching or social work ­ are able to pursue their dreams,
without worrying about how they will pay off their student loans. That is why I have proposed to
provide a $10,000 scholarship for each year of full-time service through AmeriCorps and to
create a U.S. Public Service Academy that will provide a subsidized four-year education for a
five-year commitment to public service upon graduation.

In light of the struggle to pay for college, what will you do to make it easier for young
adults to attend college or graduate school without accumulating unmanageable debt?

All of my policies are aimed at making college more affordable for all those who want to pursue
a post-secondary education. I believe that students should not be crushed with unmanageable
debt upon graduation. As President, I would eliminate the federal private loan program and shift
the student loans to the Direct Loan program, which is significantly more cost effective for tax
payers and provides a better deal for students. I would also raise the Pell Grant so that qualifying
students would have less need to take out loans in the first place.

In addition, I have proposed to enact a Student Borrower's Bill of Rights to protect students and
their families from the predatory lending practices of the private loan companies. The Student
Borrower's Bill of Rights that I have proposed would ensure that students have access to timely,
accurate, and transparent information. Schools would be required to state clearly whether a loan
is private or federal when providing students with financial aid packages, as private student loans
do not have the same protections of federal student loans. And schools and leaders would also be
required to state in plain language the terms of the loan, including the annual interest rate,
monthly payment, length of the loan, and the consequences of not making payments on time. In
addition, lenders will be prohibited from co-branding their loans with the school's insignia. This
marketing technique can lead students to believe that loans are safer than they actually are.

It would also require private lenders to offer an affordable repayment option with payments
calculated as a percentage of income and to explain in easy-to-understand language the impact
the payment plan will have on the borrower's monthly payment, interest rate, and the length of
the loan. Income-based repayment options make it possible for students who want to go into
public service to pursue their dreams while repaying their student loans. And to ensure that
students are not exploited by college and financial aid administrators who receive gifts and other
valuable items from lenders in exchange from steering students toward these lenders, I will
prohibit college and financial aid officers from taking such gifts. In addition, private student
loans will be treated the same as all other consumer debt in bankruptcy.

What policies will you promote to help better prepare high school students for college or
for entering the workforce?
I believe that in order to better prepare our high school students for college and the workforce,
we must graduate more of our children from high school. Today, half of our African-American
and Hispanic students never finish high school. As President, I will make it my mission to cut in
half the high-school drop-out rate among minority students. I will invest $1 billion for intensive,
targeted interventions to reach this goal. I will provide universal pre-K to all four-year-olds, to
ensure that all children start school ready to learn. To ensure that at-risk youth stay on track and
in school, I will double over five years federal support for early-intervention mentoring
programs; invest $100 million in a new public/private summer internship program; and support
community-based education and training programs designed to re-engage disconnected youth. I
will also make investments to recruit and retain outstanding teachers and principals to the
schools in our nation's low-income communities and call on the best and brightest to dedicate
themselves to teaching. And I will make college affordable and accessible to students of all
backgrounds.

What skills and training can help U.S. workers stay competitive in a global economy?

I have a comprehensive agenda to invest $2.5 billion annually to ensure all Americans have
access to the training they need to compete in the global economy, including on-the-job
education and training to workers to increase their wages and employment prospects. I have
proposed to invest $200 million annually in a program to offer preemptive training assistance to
workers and communities threatened by global competition. I have also proposed to create a new
Pell Grant benefit to displaced workers who enroll in training and education programs to upgrade
their kills and to make employer tuition benefit programs more flexible, so that funds could be
used not only for college courses but also for literacy and ESL or other pre-undergraduate
education. My American Retirement Accounts will give workers a new, easy, and automatic way
to save for education and training opportunities. These accounts will allow individuals to invest
up to $5,000 per year on a tax-deferred basis and offer up to $1,000 in matching tax cuts to help
workers save. I have proposed to allow workers to withdrawn penalty-free from these funds for
higher education and training while on-the-job. In addition, I will make investments in
community colleges, which are on the cutting edge of most major workforce training initiatives
around the country. They provide students with the skills they need to attain well-paying jobs in
various industries. Finally, I will support measures, like the Non-Traditional Student Success
Act, which I introduced as Senator, to support students who pursue education later in life. The
Non-Traditional Student Success Act would increase the percentage of education expenses
eligible for the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit from 20 percent to 50 percent.

Iraq War & War on Terrorism

The war in Iraq is one of the most important issues resonating with young people in deciding
which candidate to support in 2008. With 66 percent of enlisted personnel under the age of 30,
and a majority of them leaving spouses behind, U.S. military decisions have a significant impact
on young adults.

Questions:

What steps would you support for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq and why?
As we continue to police Iraq's civil war, the threats to our national security, our economy, and
our standing in the world continue to mount.

The lives of our brave men and women are at stake. More than 4,000 of them have made that
ultimate sacrifice. Tens of thousands more have suffered wounds both visible and invisible to
their bodies, their minds, and their hearts. Their families have sacrificed, too, in empty places at
the dinner table, in the struggle to raise children alone, in the wrenching reversal of parents
burying children. The strength of our military is at stake. Only one of our army brigades is
certified by the army to be ready. Our armed forces are stretched to near the breaking point with
many of our troops on their second, third, or fourth tours of duty.

Our ability to win the war in Afghanistan is at stake. When I first visited Afghanistan in 2003, I
was greeted by a soldier who said, "Welcome to the forgotten front line in the war on terror."
Since then, the Taliban and al Qaeda have continued to gain new footholds throughout the
country, and as a result, the overall terrorist threat, as our own intelligence community has noted,
is growing.

Finally, our leadership in the world and our ability to front global challenges, present and future,
is at stake. From extremism in Pakistan, to nuclear ambitions in Iran and North Korea, to
troubling antidemocratic trends in Russia and Latin America, to the threat of global epidemics
and global warming and to the rise of China. The more the world regards us with suspicion rather
than admiration, the more difficult it is to confront these challenges.

To strengthen national security and begin to relieve the strain on our armed forces, we need to
end the war in Iraq, begin bringing our troops home safely and responsibly, and stabilize Iraq.

As President, I will convene my senior military leadership and will direct them to draw up a
clear, comprehensive plan for bringing our troops home, beginning in 60 days. I will pursue a
new diplomatic initiative in the region, including convening a regional stabilization meeting
early in my Presidency to develop and implement a strategy to stabilize Iraq. I will lead an
international effort under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to address the
major refugee crisis created by this war. My plan will also ensure that the United States
maintains a small and effective counterterrorism force in Iraq and the region to ensure al Qaeda
never gains a capability to attack the United States or its allies from Iraq.

Before U.S. troops leave Iraq, what structure needs to be in place to ensure stability in
Iraq?

As we bring our troops home, we cannot lose sight of our strategic interests in this region. The
reality is that this war has made the terrorists stronger. They may not have been in Iraq before the
war, they are there now, and we cannot allow Iraq to become a breeding ground and safe haven
for terrorists who seek to attack us and our friends and allies. I will order small, elite strike forces
to engage in targeted operations against al Qaeda in Iraq. This will protect Iraqi citizens, our
allies, and our families right here at home.
My plan also involves working to secure stability within Iraq as we bring our troops home,
stability that will be key to a successful withdrawal of our troops. I believe it's really quite
simple: greater political and economic stability means safer conditions for our departing troops
and a smoother disengagement from our military's actions across Iraq. Right now no one doubts
that the Iraqi government is failing its citizens. Government officials refuse to take the steps
needed to advance a solution, improve the economy, quell sectarian violence and better the lives
of ordinary Iraqis. These failings are, in part, the fault of the Iraqis and in part due to the Bush
administration's failure to match military efforts with political ones.

When I'm president, we will pursue a more integrated strategy. We will empower local leaders
and use U.S. and international influence to press the Iraqis to reach political reconciliation, and I
will call on the United Nations to strengthen its role in promoting this reconciliation. Not having
been a party to the mistakes of the path five years, the United Nations, which has already
provided valuable technical assistance in Iraq, is far more likely to be viewed as a neutral, honest
broker than the United States, especially when it acts on behalf of a broad coalition of concerned
states and the international community. The new United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-
moon, has indicated he is willing to play a key role in assisting the Iraqis. I will also work with
China and Russia to ensure that the U.N. envoy in Iraq has the necessary authority by obtaining
the Security Council's explicit endorsement of a strengthened U.N. mandate to promote
reconciliation. I will also call upon the United Nations to help oversee the resettlement of the
millions of refugees who have fled Iraq or have been displaced internally. Many are living in
desperate conditions creating not just a humanitarian crisis but one affecting regional stability
that poses direct threats to our security here at home which we must address immediately.

While we focus our efforts on improving conditions so Iraqis don't have to flee in the first place,
we have to recognize our moral obligation to help those we have put at risk in Iraq, the
interpreters, soldiers who have assisted our troops. We will work with governments in both the
Middle East and the west, including of course the United States, to find places for asylum
seekers, and we will work with the United Nations to develop a plan to help them return, if
possible, to Iraq once the country has stabilized.

How will you balance the continuing costs of the war in Iraq with the costs of domestic
policy needs?

We need to end the war in Iraq, which is placing our economic security at stake. Taking into
consideration the long-term costs of replacing equipment and providing medical care for troops
and survivors' benefits for their families, the war in Iraq could ultimately cost well over $1
trillion. That is enough to provide health care for all 47 million uninsured Americans and quality
pre-kindergarten for every American child, solve the housing crisis once and for all, make
college affordable for every American student, and provide tax relief to tens of millions of
middle class families.

What recruitment and retention measures do you support to ensure our military maintains
adequate personnel levels?
We must ensure that we treat the forces we send into battle with honor and respect. As we stretch
our armed forces thin, we are deterring people from signing up and staying in. As President, I
will ensure that our troops receive sufficient time at home between deployments to rest,
reconnect with their families, and receive appropriate training for their next mission.

We must reduce the strains on our troops. The Iraq war is placing tremendous strain on our
armed forces, courting strategic risks posed by a force that is stretched to the breaking point. As
President, I will also adopt the proposal of Rep. John Murtha that, for every month they spend in
the field, soldiers will be guaranteed one month here at home. Our Marines will have a similar
standard appropriate for their service. The Army's policy goals and practice until the Iraq war
were to have at least twice as much time at home for active duty soldiers as in the field and at
least four times as much time at home as in the field for National Guard and Reserve. As
President, I will reestablish these as long-term goals for our armed forces.

More than 70,000 enlisted soldiers have been affected by the policy of stop loss, which forces
soldiers to remain in the military beyond their contractual time, sometimes by as much as two
years. On top of multiple tours of duty and little time at home between deployments, this policy
increases the chances for physical and psychological problems, and deters people from joining
the military. As President, I will stop this policy and ensure that the Department of Defense
abides by its contracts with all soldiers.

I support the present effort to increase the size of our armed forces. As President, I will continue
to grow our military. But as we grow the Army and the Marine Corps, we must ensure the pace
of expansion does not outstrip our ability to recruit and retain the highest quality personnel. This
will require careful tracking of how new recruits perform in their first years of service.

And we must make sure that we take care of our soldiers when they come home. I will summon
the resources and will of this nation to give our veterans the gold standard health care, earned
benefits, and support they deserve. Our veterans have served America ­ and it is time that
America served our veterans.

What actions do you support to stabilize U.S. relations with Iran?

I believe the United States must have the courage to meet with its adversaries, and the wisdom to
do so wisely. That is why I support vigorous diplomacy with Iran. I believe the Bush
administration's policy of refusing to talk to our adversaries has been very damaging to our
security. We should pursue the kind of carrot-and-stick diplomacy with Iran that the National
Intelligence Estimate reported has the potential to be effective. When I am President, I will use
all the tools of our diplomacy to stop Iran's support for terrorism and sponsorship of militias in
Iraq and end its nuclear ambitions once and for all.

I believe we must engage in vigorous diplomacy to ensure that Iran does not get nuclear
weapons. I have said that if Iran is, in fact, willing to end its nuclear weapons program, renounce
sponsorship of terrorism, and play a constructive role in stabilizing Iraq, and end its opposition to
peace in the Middle East, the United States should be prepared to offer Iran a carefully calibrated
set of incentives. This will let the Iranian people know that our quarrel is not with them but with
their government and show the world that the United States is prepared to pursue every
diplomatic option.

The Environment & Energy Policy
The environment has been discussed in great depth recently, with the implications of global
warming at the forefront of the debate. Young people, in particular, have voiced their concerns
over decisions made by elected officials that impact the environment.

Questions:

What steps will you take in order to ensure that our environment will be protected for
future generations?

I have a long-standing commitment to the environment, and I fundamentally believe that we
need good stewards of the Earth. These are the passions that drive my interest in reducing
pollution, fighting global warming, and taking care of our planet. The climate crisis portends
drastic changes to our way of life, and our dependence on foreign oil threatens our economy. I
believe it is time for all Americans to take these problems. As President, I will continue my work
to better protect our environment for our children and our children's children. I have a
comprehensive plan to address global warming and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and
specific steps to reach those goals. I will also combat pollution in our air and water, protect our
national forests, and preserve our precious wildlife. Protecting our environment has been an
important issue for me as Senator. I am proud to have worked to pass the Brownfields Reduction
and Revitalization Act, which helps towns and cities to clean up and redevelop contaminated
sits; the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, which helps to reduce pollution from school buses and
other diesel engines; the Disaster Area Health and Environmental Monitoring Act, to monitor
exposure to hazardous substances in disaster areas; and the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act
to better protect this nationally important estuary. And I am proud to have hosted the first-ever
Congressional hearing on environmental justice and to have introduced the Environmental
Justice Renewal Act, which would require the EPA to monitor and control pollution caused by
power plants, waste treatment facilities, refineries and other industries which affect low-income
communities.

What are your thoughts on global warming and its growing impact? How do you plan to
address this issue?

Global warming is one of the biggest challenges we have faced in generations. It is not only a
challenge to our economy, to our security, to our health, and to our planet ­ it threatens our very
way of life. I have three big goals to confront global warming and a specific plan to meet them.
First, I will reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, the level
necessary to avoid the worst impacts of global warming. This goal is the cornerstone of my
energy plan. I will achieve this aggressive reduction by maximizing our energy efficiency,
creating market mechanisms to efficiently reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capping and
auctioning off 100 percent of allowances, and promoting renewable, carbon-free energy sources.
Second, I will cut foreign oil imports by two-thirds from projected levels by 2030. I will set
tough new efficiency standards for cars and trucks and provide retooling assistance to
automakers to help them meet these standards. I also plan to reduce oil demand by increasing
biofuels production and improving the efficiency of industry oil use. Third, I will transform our
carbon-based economy into an efficient green economy, creating at least five million jobs from
clean energy over the next decade. I will weatherize 20 million low-income homes over eight
years, which will lower energy bills for families and create good jobs for workers, and provide
funding to improve energy efficiency in public buildings.

I will also make sure that the federal government takes the lead in confronting global warming,
both in the United States and around the world. I will create a National Energy Council, modeled
on the National Economic Council and the National Security Council, that will bring together
disparate agencies in the federal government in order to drive toward achieving the goal of
reducing global warming pollution 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. I will also restore U.S.
leadership in the global warming arena by playing an active role in developing a new deal to
replace the Kyoto treaty, which expires in 2012. I want to have a new pact in 2009. I will also
invite the G8 nations and key developing countries to join the United States in establishing an
"E8." This group would be comprised of the world's major carbon-emitting nations and would
hold an annual summit devoted to international ecological and resource issues ­ global warming
foremost among them.

What will you do to address factors that are detrimental to the environment, such as
pollution and a potential energy crisis?

The most important step that we can take to reduce harmful air pollution is to slash emissions of
sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury from power plants. As a Senator, I have consistently
supported legislation, such as Senator Jeffords' Clean Power Act, to achieve this goal. As
President, I will press to achieve reductions in power plant pollution that meets these aggressive
targets. I will also work to reverse the many steps that the Bush administration took to weaken
Clean Air Act regulations. In addition, my energy plan will help address pollution and energy
issues by aggressively combating emissions, by encouraging Americans to make changes in their
everyday lives and by developing and encouraging the use of clean and renewable forms of
energy. I have a goal to reduce electricity consumption by 20 percent from projected levels by
2020 by changing the way utilities do business, catalyzing a green building industry, enacting
strict appliance efficiency standards, and phasing out incandescent light bulbs. The federal
government will be a leader in addressing the energy crisis. For example, new federal buildings
built when I am President will be carbon neutral and I will create a $1 billion Green Building
Fund that would allocate funds to states to make grants or low-interest loans to improve
efficiency in public buildings.

What measures do you support to address our country's dependence on foreign oil? What
should be done, if anything, by the government to reduce our use of and dependence on
fossil fuels?

I will make major investments in alternative energy to end our dependence on foreign oil and
reduce the cost of energy for American families. I am committed to reducing our foreign oil
imports by two-thirds from projected levels by 2030. I will inject $150 billion into the research,
development, and deployment of clean energy technologies. A third of that will come from a
Strategic Energy Fund, into which oil companies would have to contribute if they do not invest
in renewable energy technology themselves. I will also increase fuel economy standards to 40
miles per gallon in 2020 and to 55 miles per gallon in 2030. By 2030, these tough standards will
save consumers more than $180 billion per year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more
than 730 million metric tons. I will make investments to put 2,000 "plug in" hybrid electric
school buses on the road and to accelerate the production of "plug in" hybrid electric cars. These
vehicles can get more than 100 miles per gallon, and a recent study showed that a vehicle
powered by electricity releases one-third less global warming pollution into the environment than
a gasoline-powered vehicle, even if the electricity comes mostly from coal-fired power plants.
And I will set a national target of producing 25 percent of our electricity from renewable sources
by 2025. To spur increased production of ethanol and other renewable fuels, I will raise the
national renewable fuels goal from the current level of 7.5 billion gallon by 2012 to 36 billion
gallons annually by 2022 and to 60 billion gallons by 2030.