Sam Liccardo

Drug Policy

I reject both extremes of the pendulum. We must recognize the important and necessary role that jail—with the threat of modest but swift and certain terms—can play in enabling accountability and in changing criminal behavior. “Tough love parole” represents a moment to stop the swinging of the political pendulum—hopefully long enough to allow us to focus on evidence-based reductions in criminogenic drug and alcohol use. By doing so, Congress can save resources, reduce crime, and help offenders rebuild their lives. Learn more

Economy

Revitalize Empty Downtown Commercial Buildings. Learn more

Education

Congress can more directly support the incomes of teachers through the federal tax code. The Center for American Progress and education experts such as California Board of Education President Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond have suggested a refundable tax credit for teachers willing to teach in high-need communities, and where costs of living make them the hardest to attract. Learn more

Environment / Energy

I will also champion federal funding for wetlands restoration, coastal protection, and natural adaptation to sea level rise, including the South Bay Salt Ponds and the entire Shoreline Plan. Learn more

To drive transformation over the longer haul, we’ll need to push to put a price on carbon. I support implementing a “carbon dividend,” which incentivizes consumers to shift to renewables by directly providing revenue generated from carbon-based fees on major fossil fuel companies to taxpayers. This amounts to the most powerful market-based approach to holding the fossil fuel industry accountable, without imposing new aggregate costs on consumers or taxpayers.[8]. Learn more

I will support legislation like the BIG WIRES Act, which would require grids in different regions of the country to share power so that we can more efficiently get the energy from where it’s made to where it’s needed. Learn more

Housing

Empower Homeowners to Become Housing Providers We can expand housing supply in other ways that don’t require destroying hillsides or steamrolling single-family neighborhoods. For cities and towns that choose to participate, we can launch a federal program to help modest-income homeowners—those who struggle most to get financing for home improvements—to install accessory dwelling units (ADUs), also known as backyard homes or granny units. Learn more

Social Services

I urge the restoration of the enhanced Child Tax Credit, increasing limits on dependent care spending accounts, and investing in expanding spaces and training for child care providers. Learn more