League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
San Bernardino, Los Angeles County, CA June 3, 2014 Election
	Christina M Gagnier Answers Questions Candidate for United States Representative; District 35

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. In this time of high unemployment and budget deficits, what are the most important steps that should be taken to improve our nation’s economy and sustain job creation?

Our district faces an unemployment rate hovering above 20%. This is unacceptable.

Our workforce programs are broken and everyday, thousands of frustrated job hunters are not receiving the support they need. I want to work on retooling workforce development programs to make sure we are providing job support services that empower everyone from first time workers to seniors needing to remain in the workforce.

I want to ensure our jobseekers are learning skills that reflect the needs of the job market. Our workers need the skills to take today's jobs.

A skilled workforce will allow our district to attract companies to our region, growing the economic opportunity for all of us.

Read more about my views on America's jobs issue: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christina-gagnier/americas-joblessness-cris_b_4549982.html

Need to learn some skills to find work? Check out a platform Christina developed, JobScout: http://www.myjobscout.org

2. What, if any, changes should be made to federal health care policies or programs?

We have overlooked the obstacles that caregivers face in the midst of managing the care of a sick loved one. Whether it is financial issues, sometimes as simple as not having bus fare to get to a sick child, or it is medical bills piling up, our systems are not providing adequate support.

Now that we have affordable care, it must also be accessible care. We must ensure resources are easy to use and accessible. Our policies and technology systems when it comes to providing healthcare must keep pace with one another.

3. What are your priorities with respect to our nation’s energy policy?

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we face. It poses a dire threat to our economy, to national security and to the environment. Scientific consensus warns of intensifying weather events, food and water shortages and increasing global conflicts should we fail to take action. I will support policies aimed improving energy efficiency standards and increasing the use of renewable and clean energy sources. Not only would support for such policies reduce the risk of negative impacts of climate change, they would create well-paying jobs in the district and would reduce our economic vulnerability to foreign sources of energy.

California has been, and should continue to be, a leader in clean energy policies.

4. What, if any, changes should be made with respect to our nation’s security, including our national defense or anti-terrorism measures?

We lack robust national policies that protect us from our newest threats: those that are coming online. I want to ensure that our businesses are equipped to meet the threats that exist and are prepared to manage unknown threats. I want to work to create systems that minimize our cyber vulnerabilities.

We need to take programs that have been created, such as the framework here in California, and integrate these ideas into a national infrastructure, giving support to business large and small.

In 2013, Representative Waxman and Senator Markey released a report highlighting the vulnerability of our nation's electrical grid to cyberattacks and malicious hackers. Given the importance of electricity our economy and the interconnectedness of our electrical grid, we are extraordinarily vulnerable to attacks on the grid. As an expert on cybersecurity, I will bring valuable perspective to legislative efforts to address the vulnerabilities. We must push for stronger standards to keep our economy safe from cyber warfare.

This type of smart planning should be part of a new approach to thinking about national security.

5. What is your position on the issue of immigration reform? What, if any, changes to legislation or policy would you support?

I have worked with entrepreneurs who could create jobs, but are hampered by their immigration status. I have also seen companies desperate for the high-skilled workers that would allow them grow and create new jobs for all levels of skill in the workforce.

A path to citizenship leads to shared economic gains. Immigration reform would help to bolster programs like Social Security since those who are legal workers would contribute to the fund. Businesses founded by immigrants create millions of jobs every year. A more fluid immigration process could also lead to higher wages for workers born the U.S. since the skills of immigrants often compliment the skills of a regional workforce. In a time when we need an economic boost and more jobs, meaningful reform would have a positive economic benefit.

I want to work to make sure we are not losing opportunities, such as the next innovative company, due to immigration laws that do not accommodate our modern workforce.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. References to opponents are not permitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: April 25, 2014 16:16
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