Congresswoman Joyce Beatty is a native Ohioan with a strong history of connecting people, policy and politics to make a difference. Since 2013, Beatty has proudly represented Ohio’s Third Congressional District. In the 117th Congress, Beatty serves as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Beatty serves on the exclusive House Committee on Financial Services as Chair of the Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion and is also a member of the Housing, Community Development, and Insurance Subcommittees. The Financial Services Committee oversees the entire financial services industry, including the nation’s banking, securities, insurance, and housing industries, as well as the work of the Federal Reserve, the United States Department of the Treasury and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. She also serves on the Joint Economic Committee, which examines economic conditions and policy.
Owning a home has long been at the cornerstone of the American Dream.
That is why I will continue to support and develop programs that make home ownership more accessible to the average American. This is especially important as Central Ohio remains one of the fastest growing areas of the country. At the same time, we must ensure that renters' rights are protected and expanded to protect against abusive and discriminatory housing practices.
Highlights of Beatty Work on Housing and Affordability
The consensus view of scientists about the impact that climate change poses to our planet is alarming. Rising temperatures are projected to devastate many of our planet's precious ecosystems, increase coastal flooding to dangerous levels, disrupt our food systems, and increase extreme weather occurrences.
These science-backed facts are why I support taking bold steps to invest in federal programs to address climate change, prevent spending cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), fully enforce the Clean Air Act, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, minimize our reliance on fossil fuels, and promote energy efficiency and conservation. I also support the Paris Climate Agreement and believe the United States should remain a full partner in the international effort to address climate change.
I am committed to keeping our country and all Americans safe at home and abroad. In Congress, I will continue to advance the safety and security of our great nation, and at the same time make sure our brave men and women in uniform have the necessary tools and equipment at home and on the battlefield.
As a former college administrator, I wholeheartedly support programs that ensure access to high-quality education, from childhood to adulthood. Our nation's elementary, secondary, and higher education institutions provide the next generation with the much-needed skills and opportunities to compete in the 21st century economy. Making a better system for them also means looking for avenues to address the racial and gender disparities in our education system from pre-K through college.
Highlights of Beatty Work on Education
All Americans should have access to affordable, high-quality healthcare, including those with pre-existing conditions. I will continue to work to protect and strengthen the Affordable Care Act, while moving toward a "Medicare-For-All-Who-Want-It" program which would give Americans the option to access a Medicare-type system in lieu of private insurance. I also will continue supporting federal investment in groundbreaking medical research, life-saving therapies, and innovative technologies to ensure the health and well-being of generations of Americans.
In addition, I strongly believe that women's reproductive decisions should be made between them and their doctor.
Highlights of Beatty Work on Healthcare
America is strongest when we have a robust and thriving economy coupled with access to good-paying jobs. While the economy has mostly recovered from the Great Recession, we know that far too many families have not seen a pay raise in decades and the racial wealth gap continues to widen. A strong economy is only valuable when it lifts the prospects of all Americans, not merely those wealthy enough to invest in the stock market. That is why I will continue to advocate for legislation that stimulates economic growth while ensuring that all workers' rights, including the right to unionize, are protected and celebrated.
Highlights of Beatty Work on Jobs and the Economy
Ohio's Third Congressional District reflects the rich diversity, vibrance, and tenacity of America. I am proud to call the Third District my home, and will continue to work tirelessly to keep it growing and prospering.
I am fighting to protect the benefits that seniors worked hard to earn. That is why I support strengthening and expanding Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, as well as upholding the promises made to America's seniors by improving these programs and by ensuring their long-term solvency. Our seniors worked a lifetime to live their golden years with dignity, and I will make sure that promise is kept.
Highlights of Beatty Work for Seniors
The federal budget is a statement of our nation's priorities and should be a blueprint that reflects our shared values. That is why I believe we should make responsible investments in all levels of education, expand access to high-quality, affordable healthcare, rebuild our crumbling infrastructure, protect Social Security, Medicare, and Veterans, and create innovative programs that will contribute to the success of Central Ohioans and all Americans.
I have worked my entire life to advance equal rights for all Americans and to create an America where each and every one of us has equal opportunity, regardless of how we look, who we love, or what we believe. Everyone should be able to live their lives free from discrimination based on race, gender, ethnicity, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender-identity, political affiliation, national origin, and disability status.
Highlights of Beatty Work on Civil Rights
Congress must continue to work together to find ways to not only support our nation's agricultural production, but also to ensure that American consumers continue to have access to the world's safest, most abundant food and agriculture products. I strongly support food security programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), that ensure the overall health and well-being of countless Americans.
The right to vote is among the most fundamental rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, and any attempt to infringe upon that right poses a serious threat to the fabric of our democracy. As Deputy Vice-Chair of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, I am committed to making it easier for Americans to vote, not harder.
Our nation’s energy challenges require new and innovative solutions. These issues affect every American, our economic future, and of course, our planet. I believe it is imperative that we invest in alternative energy sources to move our nation towards a more sustainable and secure energy future that will stimulate our economy, as well as pave the way towards energy independence.
Protecting our planet’s rich and vibrant wildlife and environment is of the utmost importance to me. I will continue to promote policies that help reduce air pollution, enhance emergency environmental response, and protect our nation’s precious drinking water resources.
While much progress has been made since the 2008 economic collapse, I believe we can do more to achieve a full economic recovery for all Americans. As a member of the exclusive House Committee on Financial Services, I will continue to closely monitor and advocate for legislation that ensures the stability of our financial sector and gives every American an equal opportunity at achieving their American Dream.
The United States has established a venerable reputation around the globe. Our nation takes a leadership role around the world, and our foreign affairs policy must continue to strengthen relations with our global allies while continuing to support our domestic priorities.
Gun violence takes the lives of far too many Americans each year. By taking a comprehensive look at our current laws and policies regarding firearms and ammunition, along with examining illegal access and activity in this area, we can increase safety standards in our schools and communities and prevent future tragedies, all while upholding and ensuring law-abiding citizens’ Second Amendment rights.
Owning a home has long been at the cornerstone of the American Dream. That is why I strongly support programs that encourage and expand homeownership and will continue to do so.
We are a nation of immigrants. As such, we need an immigration system that reflects those values, one that is humane and grounded in common sense and accountability.
Groundbreaking scientific and technological advances have propelled our country forward and vastly improved the world in which we live. We need to continue investing in programs that have made us the global leader in innovation, such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Science Foundation (NSF) and research and development funding at the Department of Defense.
As a former small business owner, I understand the unique challenges small business owners face. Supporting entrepreneurship creates millions of American jobs and is the best way to spur innovation, preserve community character and ensure economic prosperity for generations to come.
U.S. trade agreements need to benefit American workers, manufacturers, consumers, and the environment. That is why I will only support trade agreements that put America first.
I believe that sustained investments in our infrastructure—including roads, bridges, transit systems, and rail transportation networks—are a common sense approach to strengthening our economy, creating jobs, and building opportunities for long-term economic growth. The United States must invest in a robust, multimodal transportation system with an eye towards the future.
We have an obligation to our country’s servicemembers and veterans. Our brave men and women in uniform make enormous sacrifices for our country. That is why I remain strongly committed to our current and former members of the Armed Forces.
Women have made great strides throughout our country’s history. Yet, much more needs to be done to address the social, economic, and political disparities that still exist and that present unique challenges to women.