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2012 Republican Party PlatformAugust 27, 2012

We Believe in America: 2012 REPUBLICAN PLATFORM

This platform is dedicated w ith appreciation and reverence for:

Th e w isdom of th e Fr a m er s

of th e Un ited Sta tes Con st itu t ion ,

w h o g a v e u s a Repu blic,

a s Ben ja m in Fr a n klin ca u t ion ed,

if w e ca n keep it .

[Paid for by the Com mittee on Arrangements for the 2012 Republican National Convention Not Authorized By

Any Candidate Or Candidate's Committee w w w .gopconvention2012.com ]

Pream ble

Th e 2 01 2 Repu blica n Pla t for m is a sta tem en t of w h o w e a r e a n d w h a t w e believ e a s a Pa r ty a n d ou r v ision

for a str on g er a n d fr eer A m er ica .

Th e pu r su it of oppor tu n ity h a s defin ed A m er ica fr om ou r v er y beg in n in g . Th is is a la n d of oppor tu n ity .

Th e A m er ica n Dr ea m is a dr ea m of equ a l oppor tu n ity for a ll. A n d th e Repu blica n Pa r ty is th e pa r ty of

oppor tu n ity .

Toda y , th a t A m er ica n Dr ea m is a t r isk.

Ou r n a t ion fa ces u n pr eceden ted u n cer ta in ty w ith g r ea t fisca l a n d econ om ic ch a llen g es, a n d u n der th e

cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion h a s su ffer ed th r ou g h th e lon g est a n d m ost sev er e econ om ic dow n tu r n sin ce th e

Gr ea t Depr ession .

Ma n y A m er ica n s h a v e ex per ien ced th e bu r den of lost jobs, lost h om es, a n d lost h opes. Ou r m iddle cla ss h a s

felt th a t bu r den m ost a cu tely . Mea n w h ile, th e feder a l g ov er n m en t h a s ex pa n ded its size a n d scope, its

bor r ow in g a n d spen din g , its debt a n d deficit . Feder a lism is th r ea ten ed a n d liber ty r etr ea ts.

For th e w or ld, th is h a s been fou r y ea r s of lost A m er ica n lea der sh ip, lea der sh ip th a t depen ds u pon econ om ic

v ita lity a n d pea ce th r ou g h str en g th .

Pu t sim ply : Th e t im es ca ll for tr u stw or th y lea der sh ip a n d h on est ta lk a bou t th e ch a llen g es w e fa ce. Ou r

n a t ion a n d ou r people ca n n ot a ffor d th e sta tu s qu o. We m u st beg in a n ew , w ith pr ofou n d ch a n g es in th e

w a y g ov er n m en t oper a tes; th e w a y it bu dg ets, ta x es, a n d r eg u la tes. Jeffer son 's v ision of a "w ise a n d fr u g a l

g ov er n m en t" m u st be r estor ed.

Pr ov iden ce h a s pu t u s a t th e for k in th e r oa d, a n d w e m u st a n sw er th e qu est ion : If n ot u s, w h o? If n ot n ow ,

w h en ?

Th a t is th e ch oice fa cin g th e A m er ica n people th is Nov em ber . Ev er y v oter w ill be a sked to ch oose betw een

th e ch r on ic h ig h u n em ploy m en t a n d th e u n su sta in a ble debt pr odu ced by a big g ov er n m en t en t it lem en t

society , or a posit iv e, opt im ist ic v iew of a n oppor tu n ity society , w h er e a n y A m er ica n w h o w or ks h a r d, dr ea m s big a n d follow s th e

r u les ca n a ch iev e a n y th in g h e or sh e w a n ts.

Th e A m er ica n people possess v a st r eser v es of cou r a g e a n d deter m in a t ion a n d th e ca pa city to h ea r th e tr u th a n d ch a r t a str on g

cou r se. Th ey a r e ea g er for th e oppor tu n ity to ta ke on life's ch a llen g es a n d, th r ou g h fa ith a n d h a r d w or k, tr a n sfor m th e fu tu r e for

th e better . Th ey a r e th e m ost g en er ou s people on ea r th , g iv in g sa cr ificia lly of th eir t im e, ta len t , a n d tr ea su r e.

Th is pla t for m a ffir m s th a t A m er ica h a s a lw a y s been a pla ce of g r a n d dr ea m s a n d ev en g r a n der r ea lit ies; a n d so it w ill be a g a in , if

w e r etu r n g ov er n m en t to its pr oper r ole, m a kin g it sm a ller a n d sm a r ter . If w e r estr u ctu r e g ov er n m en t 's m ost im por ta n t dom est ic

pr og r a m s to a v oid th eir fisca l colla pse. If w e keep ta x a t ion , lit ig a t ion , a n d r eg u la t ion to a m in im u m . If w e celebr a te su ccess,

en tr epr en eu r sh ip, a n d in n ov a t ion . If w e lift u p th e m iddle cla ss. If w e h a n d ov er to th e n ex t g en er a t ion a leg a cy of g r ow th a n d

pr osper ity , r a th er th a n en t it lem en ts a n d in debtedn ess.

Th a t sa m e com m itm en t m u st be pr esen t both h er e a t h om e a n d a br oa d. We a r e a pa r ty th a t kn ow s th e differ en ce betw een

in ter n a t ion a l a ccla im a n d w or ld lea der sh ip. We w ill lift th e tor ch of fr eedom a n d dem ocr a cy to in spir e a ll th ose w h o w ou ld be fr ee.

A s Pr esiden t Rea g a n issu ed th e cla r ion ca ll to "tea r dow n th is Wa ll," so m u st w e a lw a y s sta n d a g a in st ty r a n n y a n d oppr ession . We

w ill a lw a y s su ppor t a n d ch er ish ou r m en a n d w om en in u n ifor m w h o defen d ou r liber t ies w ith th eir liv es.

A s w e em ba r k u pon th is cr it ica l m ission , w e a r e n ot w ith ou t g u ida n ce. We possess a n ow n er 's m a n u a l: th e Con st itu t ion of th e

Un ited Sta tes, th e g r ea test polit ica l docu m en t ev er w r it ten . Th a t sa cr ed docu m en t sh ow s u s th e pa th for w a r d. Tr u st th e people.

Lim it g ov er n m en t. Respect feder a lism . Gu a r a n tee oppor tu n ity , n ot ou tcom es. A dh er e to th e r u le of la w . Rea ffir m th a t ou r r ig h ts

com e fr om God, a r e pr otected by g ov er n m en t, a n d th a t th e on ly ju st g ov er n m en t is on e th a t tr u ly g ov er n s w ith th e con sen t of th e

g ov er n ed.

Th e pr in ciples w r it ten in th e Con st itu t ion a r e secu r ed by th e ch a r a cter of th e A m er ica n people. Pr esiden t Geor g e Wa sh in g ton sa id

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Th e pr in ciples w r it ten in th e Con st itu t ion a r e secu r ed by th e ch a r a cter of th e A m er ica n people. Pr esiden t Geor g e Wa sh in g ton sa id

in h is fir st in a u g u r a l a ddr ess: "Th e pr opit iou s sm iles of Hea v en ca n n ev er be ex pected on a n a t ion th a t disr eg a r ds th e eter n a l r u les

of or der a n d r ig h t w h ich Hea v en itself h a s or da in ed." V a lu es m a tter . Ch a r a cter cou n ts.

Mitt Rom n ey a n d Pa u l Ry a n u n der sta n d th ese g r ea t tr u th s. Th ey sh a r e a posit iv e v ision for A m er ica — a v ision of A m er ica

r en ew ed a n d str on g . Th ey kn ow A m er ica 's best da y s la y a h ea d. It w ill ta ke h on est r esu lts-or ien ted, con ser v a t iv e lea der sh ip to

en a ct g ood policies for ou r people. Th ey w ill pr ov ide it .

We r espectfu lly su bm it th is pla t for m to th e A m er ica n people. It is both a v ision of w h er e w e a r e h ea ded a n d a n in v ita t ion to join u s

in th a t jou r n ey . It is a bou t th e g r ea t dr ea m s a n d oppor tu n it ies th a t h a v e a lw a y s been A m er ica a n d m u st r em a in th e essen ce of

A m er ica for g en er a t ion s to com e.

Ma y God con tin u e to sh ed h is g r a ce on th e Un ited Sta tes of A m er ica .

Gov er n or Bob McDon n ell, Ch a ir m a n

Sen a tor Joh n Hoev en , Co-Ch a ir

Con g r essm a n Ma r sh a Bla ckbu r n , Co-Ch a ir

T able of Contents

1

Restor in g th e A m er ica n Dr ea m : Rebu ildin g th e Econ om y a n d Cr ea t in g Jobs

9

We Th e People: A Restor a t ion of Con st itu t ion a l Gov er n m en t

1 5

A m er ica 's Na tu r a l Resou r ces: En er g y , A g r icu ltu r e a n d th e En v ir on m en t

2 1

Refor m in g Gov er n m en t to Ser v e th e People

3 1

Ren ew in g A m er ica n V a lu es to Bu ild Hea lth y Fa m ilies, Gr ea t Sch ools a n d Sa fe Neig h bor h oods

3 9

A m er ica n Ex ception a lism

Restoring the American Dream: Rebuilding the Economy and Creating Jobs

We a r e th e pa r ty of m a x im u m econ om ic fr eedom a n d th e pr osper ity fr eedom m a kes possible. Pr osper ity is th e pr odu ct of self-

disciplin e, w or k, sa v in g s, a n d in v estm en t by in div idu a l A m er ica n s, bu t it is n ot a n en d in itself. Pr osper ity pr ov ides th e m ea n s by

w h ich in div idu a ls a n d fa m ilies ca n m a in ta in th eir in depen den ce fr om g ov er n m en t, r a ise th eir ch ildr en by th eir ow n v a lu es,

pr a ct ice th eir fa ith , a n d bu ild com m u n it ies of self-r elia n t n eig h bor s. It is a lso th e m ea n s by w h ich th e Un ited Sta tes is a ble to

a sser t g loba l lea der sh ip. Th e v ig or of ou r econ om y m a kes possible ou r m ilita r y str en g th a n d is cr it ica l to ou r n a t ion a l secu r ity .

Th is y ea r 's elect ion is a ch a n ce to r estor e th e pr ov en v a lu es of th e A m er ica n fr ee en ter pr ise sy stem . We offer ou r Repu blica n v ision

of a fr ee people u sin g th eir God-g iv en ta len ts, com bin ed w ith h a r d w or k, self-r elia n ce, eth ica l con du ct , a n d th e pu r su it of

oppor tu n ity , to a ch iev e g r ea t th in g s for th em selv es a n d th e g r ea ter com m u n ity . Ou r v ision of a n oppor tu n ity society sta n ds in

sta r k con tr a st to th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion 's policies th a t ex pa n d en t it lem en ts a n d g u a r a n tees, cr ea te n ew pu blic pr og r a m s, a n d

pr ov ide ex pen siv e g ov er n m en t ba ilou ts. Th a t r oa d h a s cr ea ted a cu ltu r e of depen den cy , bloa ted g ov er n m en t, a n d m a ssiv e debt .

Repu blica n s believ e in th e Gr ea t A m er ica n Dr ea m , w ith its econ om ics of in clu sion , en a blin g ev er y on e to h a v e a ch a n ce to ow n ,

in v est , bu ild, a n d pr osper . It is th e opposite of th e policies w h ich , for th e la st th r ee a n d a h a lf y ea r s, h a v e st ifled g r ow th , destr oy ed

jobs, h a lted in v estm en t, cr ea ted u n pr eceden ted u n cer ta in ty , a n d pr olon g ed th e w or st econ om ic dow n tu r n sin ce th e Gr ea t

Depr ession . Th ose policies h a v e pla ced th e feder a l g ov er n m en t in th e dr iv er 's sea t , r a th er th a n r ely in g on en er g et ic a n d

en tr epr en eu r ia l A m er ica n s to r ebu ild th e econ om y fr om th e g r ou n d u p. Ex cessiv e ta x a t ion a n d r eg u la t ion im pede econ om ic

dev elopm en t. Low er in g ta x es pr om otes su bsta n t ia l econ om ic g r ow th a n d r edu cin g r eg u la t ion en cou r a g es bu sin ess for m a tion a n d

job cr ea t ion . Kn ow in g th a t , a Repu blica n Pr esiden t a n d Con g r ess w ill ju m psta r t a n econ om ic r en ew a l th a t cr ea tes oppor tu n ity ,

r ew a r ds w or k a n d sa v in g , a n d u n lea sh es th e pr odu ct iv e g en iu s of th e A m er ica n people. Beca u se th e GOP is th e Gr ea t Oppor tu n ity

Pa r ty , th is is ou r pledg e to w or ker s w ith ou t jobs, fa m ilies w ith ou t sa v in g s, a n d n eig h bor h oods w ith ou t h ope: tog eth er w e ca n g et

ou r cou n tr y ba ck on tr a ck, ex pa n din g its bou n ty , r en ew in g its fa ith , a n d fu lfillin g its pr om ise of a better life.

Job Creation: Getting Am ericans Back to Work

Th e best jobs pr og r a m is econ om ic g r ow th . We do n ot offer y et a n oth er m a de-in -Wa sh in g ton pa cka g e of su bsidies a n d spen din g to

cr ea te tem por a r y or a r t ificia l jobs. We w a n t m u ch m or e th a n th a t . We w a n t a r oa r in g job m a r ket to m a tch a r oa r in g econ om y .

In stea d, w h a t th is A dm in istr a t ion h a s g iv en u s is 4 2 con secu t iv e m on th s of u n em ploy m en t a bov e 8 per cen t , th e lon g est per iod of

h ig h u n em ploy m en t sin ce th e Gr ea t Depr ession . Repu blica n s w ill pu r su e fr ee m a r ket policies th a t a r e th e su r est w a y to boost

em ploy m en t a n d cr ea te job g r ow th a n d econ om ic pr osper ity for a ll.

In a ll th e sect ion s th a t follow , a s w ell a s elsew h er e in th is pla t for m , w e ex pla in w h a t m u st be don e to a ch iev e th a t g oa l. Th e ta x

sy stem m u st be sim plified. Gov er n m en t spen din g a n d r eg u la t ion m u st be r ein ed in . A m er ica n com pa n ies m u st be m or e

com petit iv e in th e w or ld m a r ket , a n d w e m u st be a g g r essiv e in pr om otin g U.S. pr odu cts a br oa d a n d secu r in g open m a r kets for

th em . A feder a l-Sta te-pr iv a te pa r tn er sh ip m u st in v est in th e n a t ion 's in fr a str u ctu r e: r oa ds, br idg es, a ir por ts, por ts, a n d w a ter

sy stem s, a m on g oth er s. Feder a l tr a in in g pr og r a m s h a v e to be ov er h a u led a n d m a de r elev a n t for th e w or kpla ce of th e tw en ty -fir st

cen tu r y . Poten t ia l em ploy er s n eed cer ta in ty a n d pr edicta bility for th eir h ir in g decision s, a n d th e tea m of a Repu blica n Pr esiden t

a n d Con g r ess w ill cr ea te th e con fiden ce th a t w ill g et A m er ica n s ba ck to w or k.

Sm all Business and Entrepreneurship

A m er ica 's sm a ll bu sin esses a r e th e ba ckbon e of th e U.S. econ om y , em ploy in g ten s of m illion s of w or ker s. Sm a ll bu sin esses cr ea te

2/13/2014 Republican Party Platforms: 2012 Republican Party Platform

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=101961 3/31

A m er ica 's sm a ll bu sin esses a r e th e ba ckbon e of th e U.S. econ om y , em ploy in g ten s of m illion s of w or ker s. Sm a ll bu sin esses cr ea te

th e v a st m a jor ity of jobs, pa ten ts, a n d U.S. ex por ter s. Un der th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion , w e h a v e th e low est r a te of bu sin ess

sta r tu ps in th ir ty y ea r s. Sm a ll bu sin esses a r e th e lea der s in th e w or ld's a dv a n ces in tech n olog y a n d in n ov a t ion , a n d w e pledg e to

str en g th en th a t r ole a n d foster sm a ll bu sin ess en tr epr en eu r sh ip.

Wh ile sm a ll bu sin esses h a v e sig n ifica n t ly con tr ibu ted to th e n a t ion 's econ om ic g r ow th , ou r g ov er n m en t h a s fa iled to m eet its

sm a ll bu sin ess g oa ls y ea r a fter y ea r a n d fa iled to ov er com e bu r den som e r eg u la tor y , con tr a ct in g , a n d ca pita l ba r r ier s. Th is

im pedes th eir g r ow th .

We w ill r efor m th e ta x code to a llow bu sin esses to g en er a te en ou g h ca pita l to g r ow a n d cr ea te jobs for ou r fa m ilies, fr ien ds a n d

n eig h bor s a ll a cr oss A m er ica . We w ill en cou r a g e in v estm en ts in sm a ll bu sin esses. We w ill cr ea te a n en v ir on m en t w h er e a dequ a te

fin a n cin g a n d cr edit a r e a v a ila ble to spu r m a n u fa ctu r in g a n d ex pa n sion . We w ill ser v e a s a g g r essiv e a dv oca tes for sm a ll

bu sin esses.

T ax Relief to Grow the Econom y and Create Jobs

Ta x es, by th eir v er y n a tu r e, r edu ce a cit izen 's fr eedom . Th eir pr oper r ole in a fr ee society sh ou ld be to fu n d ser v ices th a t a r e

essen t ia l a n d a u th or ized by th e Con st itu t ion , su ch a s n a t ion a l secu r ity , a n d th e ca r e of th ose w h o ca n n ot ca r e for th em selv es. We

r eject th e u se of ta x a t ion to r edistr ibu te in com e, fu n d u n n ecessa r y or in effect iv e pr og r a m s, or foster th e cr on y ca pita lism th a t

cor r u pts both polit icia n s a n d cor por a t ion s.

Ou r g oa l is a ta x sy stem th a t is sim ple, tr a n spa r en t , fla t ter , a n d fa ir . In con tr a st , th e cu r r en t IRS code is like a pa tch w or k qu ilt ,

st itch ed tog eth er ov er t im e fr om m ism a tch ed pieces, a n d is bey on d th e com pr eh en sion of th e a v er a g e cit izen . A r efor m ed code

sh ou ld pr om ote sim plicity a n d coh er en ce, sa v in g s a n d in n ov a t ion , in cr ea se A m er ica n com petit iv en ess, a n d r ecog n ize th e bu r den s

on fa m ilies w ith ch ildr en . To th a t en d, w e pr opose to:

Ex ten d th e 2 001 a n d 2 003 ta x r elief pa cka g es—com m on ly kn ow n a s th e Bu sh ta x cu ts—pen din g r efor m of th e ta x

code, to keep ta x r a tes fr om r isin g on in com e, in ter est , div iden ds, a n d ca pita l g a in s;

Refor m th e ta x code by r edu cin g m a r g in a l ta x r a tes by 2 0 per cen t a cr oss-th e-boa r d in a r ev en u e-n eu tr a l m a n n er ;

Elim in a te th e ta x es on in ter est , div iden ds, a n d ca pita l g a in s a ltog eth er for low er a n d m iddle-in com e ta x pa y er s;

En d th e Dea th Ta x ; a n d

Repea l th e A lter n a t iv e Min im u m Ta x .

Am erican Com petitiveness in a Global Econom y

A m er ica n bu sin esses n ow fa ce th e w or ld's h ig h est cor por a te ta x r a te. It r edu ces th eir w or ldw ide com petit iv en ess, en cou r a g es

cor por a t ion s to m ov e ov er sea s, lessen s in v estm en t, cr ipples job cr ea t ion , low er s U.S. w a g es, a n d foster s th e a v oida n ce of ta x

lia bility —w ith ou t a ctu a lly in cr ea sin g ta x r ev en u es. To lev el th e in ter n a t ion a l pla y in g field, a n d to spu r job cr ea t ion h er e a t h om e,

w e ca ll for a r edu ct ion of th e cor por a te r a te to keep U.S. cor por a t ion s com petit iv e in ter n a t ion a lly , w ith a per m a n en t r esea r ch a n d

dev elopm en t ta x cr edit , a n d a r epea l of th e cor por a te a lter n a t iv e m in im u m ta x . We a lso su ppor t th e r ecom m en da tion of th e

Na tion a l Com m ission on Fisca l Respon sibility a n d Refor m , a s w ell a s th e cu r r en t Pr esiden t 's Ex por t Cou n cil, to sw itch to a

ter r itor ia l sy stem of cor por a te ta x a t ion , so th a t pr ofits ea r n ed a n d ta x ed a br oa d m a y be r epa tr ia ted for job-cr ea t in g in v estm en t

h er e a t h om e w ith ou t a ddit ion a l pen a lty .

Fundam ental T ax Principles

We oppose r etr oa ct iv e ta x a t ion ; a n d w e con dem n a ttem pts by a ct iv ist ju dg es, a t a n y lev el of g ov er n m en t, to seize th e pow er of th e

pu r se by or der in g h ig h er ta x es. We oppose ta x policies th a t div ide A m er ica n s or pr om ote cla ss w a r fa r e.

Beca u se of th e v ita l r ole of r elig iou s or g a n iza t ion s, ch a r it ies, a n d fr a ter n a l ben ev olen t societ ies in foster in g ben ev olen ce a n d

pa tr iot ism , th ey sh ou ld n ot be su bject to ta x a t ion , a n d don a tion s to th em sh ou ld con tin u e to be ta x dedu ct ible.

In a n y r estr u ctu r in g of feder a l ta x a t ion , to g u a r d a g a in st h y per ta x a t ion of th e A m er ica n people, a n y v a lu e a dded ta x or n a t ion a l

sa les ta x m u st be t ied to th e sim u lta n eou s r epea l of th e Six teen th A m en dm en t, w h ich esta blish ed th e feder a l in com e ta x .

Reining in Out-of-Control Spending, Balancing the Budget, and Ensuring Sound Monetary Policy

Th e m a ssiv e feder a l g ov er n m en t is str u ctu r a lly a n d fin a n cia lly br oken . For deca des it h a s been pu sh ed bey on d its cor e fu n ct ion s,

in cr ea sin g spen din g to u n su sta in a ble lev els. Elected officia ls h a v e ov er pr om ised a n d ov er spen t , a n d n ow th e bills a r e du e. Un less

w e ta ke dr a m a tic a ct ion n ow , y ou n g A m er ica n s a n d th eir ch ildr en w ill in h er it a n u n pr eceden ted leg a cy of en or m ou s a n d

u n su sta in a ble debt , w ith th e in ter est a lon e con su m in g a n ev er -in cr ea sin g por t ion of th e cou n tr y 's w ea lth . Th e specter of n a t ion a l

ba n kr u ptcy th a t n ow h a n g s ov er m u ch of Eu r ope is a w a r n in g to u s a s w ell. Ov er th e la st th r ee a n d a h a lf y ea r s, w h ile cu tt in g th e

defen se bu dg et , th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion h a s a dded a n a ddit ion a l $5 .3 tr illion to th e n a t ion a l debt—n ow a ppr ox im a tely $1 6

tr illion , th e la r g est a m ou n t in U.S. h istor y . In fisca l y ea r 2 01 1 , spen din g r ea ch ed $3 .6 tr illion , n ea r ly a qu a r ter of ou r g r oss

dom est ic pr odu ct . A dju sted for in fla t ion , th a t 's m or e th a n th r ee t im es its pea k lev el in Wor ld Wa r II, a n d a lm ost h a lf of ev er y

dolla r spen t w a s bor r ow ed m on ey . Th r ee pr og r a m s—Medica r e, Medica id, a n d Socia l Secu r ity —a ccou n t for ov er 4 0 per cen t of tota l

spen din g . Wh ile th ese lev els of spen din g a n d debt a r e a lr ea dy h a r m in g job cr ea t ion a n d g r ow th , pr oject ion s of fu tu r e spen din g

g r ow th a r e n oth in g sh or t of ca ta str oph ic, both econ om ica lly a n d socia lly . A n d th ose dir e pr oject ion s do n ot in clu de th e fisca l

n ig h tm a r e of Oba m a ca r e, w ith ov er $1 tr illion in n ew ta x es, m u lt iple m a n da tes, a n d a cr u sh in g pr ice ta g .

We ca n pr eem pt th e debt ex plosion . Ba cked by a Repu blica n Sen a te a n d Hou se, ou r n ex t Pr esiden t w ill pr opose im m edia te

r edu ct ion s in feder a l spen din g , a s a dow n pa y m en t on th e m u ch la r g er ta sk of lon g -r a n g e fisca l con tr ol. We su g g est a tr ipa r t ite test

for ev er y feder a l a ct iv ity . Fir st , is it w ith in th e con st itu t ion a l scope of th e feder a l g ov er n m en t? Secon d, is it effect iv e a n d

a bsolu tely n ecessa r y ? A n d th ir d, is it su fficien t ly im por ta n t to ju st ify bor r ow in g , especia lly for eig n bor r ow in g , to fu n d it? A g a in st

th ose sta n da r ds w e w ill m ea su r e pr og r a m s fr om in ter n a t ion a l popu la t ion con tr ol to Ca lifor n ia 's feder a lly su bsidized h ig h -speed

tr a in to n ow h er e, a n d ter m in a te pr og r a m s th a t don 't m ea su r e u p.

Balancing the Budget

Cu tt in g spen din g is n ot en ou g h ; it m u st be a ccom pa n ied by m a jor str u ctu r a l r efor m s, in cr ea sed pr odu ct iv ity , u se of tech n olog y ,

a n d lon g -ter m g ov er n m en t dow n sizin g th a t both r edu ce debt a n d deficits a n d ig n ite econ om ic g r ow th . We m u st r estr u ctu r e th e

tw en tieth cen tu r y en t it lem en t sta te so th e m ission s of im por ta n t pr og r a m s ca n su cceed in th e tw en ty -fir st cen tu r y . Medica r e, in

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tw en tieth cen tu r y en t it lem en t sta te so th e m ission s of im por ta n t pr og r a m s ca n su cceed in th e tw en ty -fir st cen tu r y . Medica r e, in

pa r t icu la r , is th e la r g est dr iv er of fu tu r e debt . Ou r r efor m of h ea lth ca r e w ill em pow er m illion s of sen ior s to con tr ol th eir per son a l

h ea lth ca r e decision s, u n like Oba m a ca r e th a t em pow er ed a h a n dfu l of bu r ea u cr a ts to cu t Medica r e in w a y s th a t w ill den y ca r e for

th e elder ly .

We m u st a lso ch a n g e th e bu dg et pr ocess itself. Fr om its beg in n in g , its desig n h a s en a bled, r a th er th a n r estr a in ed, r eckless

spen din g by g iv in g pr ocedu r a l cov er to Mem ber s of Con g r ess. Th e bu dg et pr ocess g a v e u s th e in sidiou s ter m "ta x ex pen ditu r e,"

w h ich m ea n s th a t a n y ea r n in g s th e g ov er n m en t a llow s a ta x pa y er to keep th r ou g h a dedu ct ion , ex em ption , or cr edit a r e

equ iv a len t to spen din g th e sa m e a m ou n t on som e pr og r a m . It a lso lu m ped a br oa d r a n g e of div er se pr og r a m s u n der th e h ea din g of

"en t it lem en t," a s if v eter a n s' ben efits a n d w elfa r e ch ecks belon g in th e sa m e ca teg or y . Fa r w or se, th e pr ocess a ssu m es ev er y

spen din g pr og r a m w ill be per m a n en t a n d ev er y ta x cu t w ill be tem por a r y . It r efu ses to r ecog n ize th e ben eficia l bu dg eta r y im pa ct

of low er ta x r a tes, a n d it ca lls a spen din g in cr ea se a cu t if it is less th a n th e r a te of in fla t ion .

Repu blica n Mem ber s of Con g r ess h a v e r epea tedly tr ied to r efor m th e bu dg et pr ocess to m a ke it m or e tr a n spa r en t a n d a ccou n ta ble,

in pa r t icu la r by v ot in g for a Ba la n ced Bu dg et A m en dm en t to th e Con st itu t ion , follow in g th e lea d of 3 3 Sta tes w h ich h a v e pu t th a t

r estr a in t in to th eir ow n con st itu t ion s. We ca ll for a Con st itu t ion a l a m en dm en t r equ ir in g a su per -m a jor ity for a n y ta x in cr ea se,

w ith ex cept ion s for on ly w a r a n d n a t ion a l em er g en cies, a n d im posin g a ca p lim it in g spen din g to th e h istor ica l a v er a g e per cen ta g e

of GDP so th a t fu tu r e Con g r esses ca n n ot ba la n ce th e bu dg et by r a isin g ta x es.

Inflation and the Federal Reserve

A sou n d m on eta r y policy is cr it ica l for m a in ta in in g a str on g econ om y . In fla t ion dim in ish es th e pu r ch a sin g pow er of th e dolla r a t

h om e a n d a br oa d a n d is a h idden ta x on th e A m er ica n people. Mor eov er , th e in fla t ion ta x is r eg r essiv e, pu n ish es th ose w h o sa v e,

tr a n sfer s w ea lth fr om Ma in Str eet to Wa ll Str eet , a n d h a s g r a v e im plica t ion s for sen ior s liv in g on fix ed in com es.

Beca u se th e Feder a l Reser v e's m on eta r y policy a ct ion s a ffect both in fla t ion a n d econ om ic a ct iv ity , th ose a ct ion s sh ou ld be

tr a n spa r en t . Mor eov er , th e Fed's im por ta n t r ole a s a len der of la st r esor t sh ou ld a lso be ca r r ied ou t in a m or e tr a n spa r en t m a n n er .

A fr ee society dem a n ds th a t th e su n sh in e on a ll elem en ts of g ov er n m en t. Th er efor e, th e Repu blica n Pa r ty w ill w or k to a dv a n ce

su bsta n t iv e leg isla t ion th a t br in g s tr a n spa r en cy a n d a ccou n ta bility to th e Feder a l Reser v e, th e Feder a l Open Ma r ket Com m ittee,

a n d th e Fed's dea lin g s w ith for eig n cen tr a l ba n ks. Th e fir st step to in cr ea sin g tr a n spa r en cy a n d a ccou n ta bility is th r ou g h a n

a n n u a l a u dit of th e Feder a l Reser v e's a ct iv it ies. Su ch a n a u dit w ou ld n eed to be ca r efu lly im plem en ted so th a t th e Feder a l Reser v e

r em a in s in su la ted fr om polit ica l pr essu r es a n d so its decision s a r e ba sed on sou n d econ om ic pr in ciples a n d sou n d m on ey r a th er

th a n on polit ica l pr essu r es for ea sy m on ey a n d loose cr edit .

Deter m in ed to cr u sh th e dou ble-dig it in fla t ion th a t w a s pa r t of th e Ca r ter A dm in istr a t ion 's econ om ic leg a cy , Pr esiden t Rea g a n ,

sh or t ly a fter h is in a u g u r a t ion , esta blish ed a com m ission to con sider th e fea sibility of a m eta llic ba sis for U.S. cu r r en cy . Th e

com m ission a dv ised a g a in st su ch a m ov e. Now , th r ee deca des la ter , a s w e fa ce th e ta sk of clea n in g u p th e w r ecka g e of th e cu r r en t

A dm in istr a t ion 's policies, w e pr opose a sim ila r com m ission to in v est ig a te possible w a y s to set a fix ed v a lu e for th e dolla r .

Ending the Housing Crisis and Expanding Opportunities for Hom eownership

Hom eow n er sh ip ex pa n ds per son a l liber ty , bu ilds com m u n it ies, a n d h elps A m er ica n s cr ea te w ea lth . "Th e A m er ica n Dr ea m " is n ot a

sta le slog a n . It is th e liv ed r ea lity th a t ex pr esses th e a spir a t ion s of a ll ou r people. It m ea n s a decen t pla ce to liv e, a sa fe pla ce to

r a ise kids, a w elcom in g pla ce to r et ir e. It bespea ks th e qu iet pr ide of th ose w h o w or k h a r d to sh elter th eir fa m ily a n d, in th e pr ocess,

cr ea te ca r in g n eig h bor h oods. Hom eow n er sh ip is best foster ed by a g r ow in g econ om y w ith low in ter est r a tes, a s w ell a s pr u den t

r eg u la t ion , fin a n cia l edu ca t ion , a n d ta r g eted a ssista n ce to r espon sible bor r ow er s.

Th e colla pse of th e h ou sin g m a r ket ov er th e la st fou r y ea r s h a s been n ot on ly a sev er e blow to th e en t ir e econ om y , bu t a lso a

per son a l tr a g edy to m illion s of A m er ica n s w h ose h om es h a v e lost v a lu e a n d to so m a n y oth er s w h o h a v e lost th eir h om es.

Com bin ed w ith h ig h u n em ploy m en t, th a t declin e h a s left cou n tless h om eow n er s sa ddled w ith m or tg a g es ex ceedin g th e v a lu e of

th eir h om es. Th e r espon se of th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion h a s don e lit t le to im pr ov e, a n d m u ch to w or sen , th e situ a t ion . By

discou r a g in g pr iv a te sector in v estm en t, it h a s sta lled th e h ou sin g r ecov er y . Its m a ssiv e in ter v en tion in th e h ou sin g m a r ket , w ith

th e Feder a l Hou sin g A dm in istr a t ion (FHA ), Fa n n ie Ma e a n d Fr eddie Ma c ba ckin g n ea r ly a ll n ew m or tg a g es, h a s h it th e ta x pa y er s

w ith a bill for a lm ost $2 00 billion to ba il ou t th e la t ter tw o in st itu t ion s. It h a s spen t billion s m or e on poor ly desig n ed a n d

in effect iv e h ou sin g a ssista n ce pr og r a m s. Ma kin g m a tter s w or se, th e Con g r ess, u n der Dem ocr a t con tr ol, en a cted th e Dodd-Fr a n k

A ct , a m a ssiv e la by r in th of cost ly n ew r eg u la t ion s th a t deter len der s fr om len din g to cr editw or th y h om ebu y er s a n d th a t

dispr opor t ion a tely h a r m s sm a ll a n d com m u n ity ba n ks. A s a r esu lt , h om e sa les r em a in w ea k, in v estm en t in h ou sin g r em a in s

depr essed, con str u ct ion in du str y jobs r em a in dow n , a n d m or tg a g e len din g h a s y et to r ecov er to pr e-cr isis lev els.

Rebuilding Hom eownership

We m u st esta blish a m or tg a g e fin a n ce sy stem ba sed on com petit ion a n d fr ee en ter pr ise th a t is tr a n spa r en t , en cou r a g es th e pr iv a te

sector to r etu r n to h ou sin g , a n d pr om otes per son a l r espon sibility on th e pa r t of bor r ow er s. Policies th a t pr om ote r elia n ce on pr iv a te

ca pita l, like pr iv a te m or tg a g e in su r a n ce, w ill be cr it ica l to sca lin g ba ck th e feder a l r ole in th e h ou sin g m a r ket a n d a v oidin g fu tu r e

ta x pa y er ba ilou ts. Refor m s sh ou ld pr ov ide clea r a n d pr u den t u n der w r it in g sta n da r ds a n d g u idelin es on a ccepta ble len din g

pr a ct ices. Com plia n ce w ith r eg u la tor y sta n da r ds sh ou ld pr ov ide a leg a l sa fe h a r bor to g u a r d a g a in st oppor tu n ist ic lit ig a t ion .

Fa n n ie Ma e a n d Fr eddie Ma c w er e a pr im a r y ca u se of th e h ou sin g cr isis beca u se th eir im plicit g ov er n m en t g u a r a n tee a llow ed

th em to a v oid m a r ket disciplin e a n d m a ke r isky in v estm en ts. Th eir fa v or ed polit ica l sta tu s en r ich ed th eir polit ica lly con n ected

ex ecu t iv es a n d th eir sh a r eh older s a t th e ex pen se of th e n a t ion . Both Fa n n ie Ma e a n d Fr eddie Ma c sh ou ld be w ou n d dow n in size a n d

scope, a n d th eir officia ls sh ou ld be h eld to a ccou n t .

Th e FHA , tr ipled in size to m or e th a n $1 tr illion u n der th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion , h a s cr ow ded ou t th e pr iv a te sector a n d is a t

r isk of r equ ir in g a ta x pa y er ba ilou t . It m u st be dow n sized a n d lim ited to h elpin g fir st-t im e h om ebu y er s a n d low a n d

m oder a tein com e bor r ow er s. Ta x pa y er dolla r s sh ou ld n ot be u sed to ba il ou t bor r ow er s a n d len der s by fu n din g pr in cipa l w r ite-

dow n s. Wh ile th e feder a l g ov er n m en t m u st pr osecu te m or tg a g e fr a u d a n d oth er fin a n cia l cr im es, a n y sett lem en ts r eceiv ed

th er eby sh ou ld be dir ected to in div idu a ls h a r m ed by th e m iscon du ct , n ot div er ted to pa y for u n r ela ted pr og r a m s.

FDIC in su r a n ce for ba n k depositor s m u st be pr eser v ed. How ev er , to cor r ect for th e m or a l h a za r d cr ea ted by deposit in su r a n ce,

ba n ks sh ou ld be w ell ca pita lized, w h ich is th e best in su r a n ce a g a in st fu tu r e ta x pa y er ba ilou ts.

Th e feder a l g ov er n m en t h a s a r ole in h ou sin g by en for cin g n on -discr im in a t ion la w s a n d a ssist in g low in com e fa m ilies a n d th e

elder ly w ith sa fe a n d a dequ a te sh elter , especia lly th r ou g h th e u se of h ou sin g v ou ch er s. Hom eow n er sh ip is a n im por ta n t g oa l, bu t

pu blic policy m u st be ba la n ced to r eflect th e n eeds of A m er ica n s w h o ch oose to r en t . A com pr eh en siv e h ou sin g policy sh ou ld

a ddr ess th e dem a n d for a pa r tm en ts a n d m u lt i-fa m ily h ou sin g . A n y a ssista n ce sh ou ld be su bject to str in g en t ov er sig h t to en su r e

th a t fu n ds a r e spen t w isely .

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Infrastructure: Building the Future

A m er ica 's in fr a str u ctu r e n etw or ks a r e cr it ica l for econ om ic g r ow th , in ter n a t ion a l com petit iv en ess, a n d n a t ion a l secu r ity .

In fr a str u ctu r e pr og r a m s h a v e tr a dit ion a lly been n on -pa r t isa n ; ev er y on e r ecog n ized th a t w e a ll n eed clea n w a ter a n d sa fe r oa ds,

r a il, br idg es, por ts, a n d a ir por ts. Th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion h a s ch a n g ed th a t , r epla cin g civ il en g in eer in g w ith socia l

en g in eer in g a s it pu r su es a n ex clu siv ely u r ba n v ision of den se h ou sin g a n d g ov er n m en t tr a n sit . In th e v a u n ted st im u lu s pa cka g e,

less th a n six per cen t of th e fu n ds w en t to tr a n spor ta t ion , w ith m ost of th a t to cosm etic "sh ov el-r ea dy " pr ojects r a th er th a n

fu n da m en ta l str u ctu r a l im pr ov em en ts. A ll th e w h ile, th e Dem ocr a ts' Da v is-Ba con la w con tin u es to dr iv e u p in fr a str u ctu r e

con str u ct ion a n d m a in ten a n ce costs for th e ben efit of th a t pa r ty 's u n ion sta lw a r ts.

Wh a t m ost A m er ica n s ta ke for g r a n ted—th e sa fety a n d a v a ila bility of ou r w a ter su pply —is in per ilou s con dit ion . En g in eer in g

su r v ey s r epor t cr u m blin g dr in kin g w a ter sy stem s, a g in g da m s, a n d ov er w h elm ed w a stew a ter in fr a str u ctu r e. In v estm en t in th ese

a r ea s, a s w ell a s w ith lev ees a n d in la n d w a ter w a y s, ca n r en ew com m u n it ies, a t tr a ct bu sin esses, a n d cr ea te jobs. Most im por ta n t ly ,

it ca n a ssu r e th e h ea lth a n d sa fety of th e A m er ica n people.

Th e n a t ion 's por ts h a v e becom e a bott len eck in in ter n a t ion a l tr a de. A m er ica 's ex por ter s som etim es u se Ca n a dia n por ts in or der to

r ea ch th e w or ld m a r ket in a t im ely m a n n er . With th e w iden in g of th e Pa n a m a Ca n a l, ou r Ea st Coa st a n d Gu lf por ts h a v e a n

ex tr a or din a r y oppor tu n ity to boost con ta in er tr a ffic bu t r equ ir e m a jor im pr ov em en t to r em a in com petit iv e r eceiv er s of la r g e

v essels.

In ter sta te in fr a str u ctu r e h a s lon g been a feder a l r espon sibility sh a r ed w ith th e Sta tes, a n d a r en ew ed feder a l-Sta te pa r tn er sh ip

a n d n ew pu blic-pr iv a te pa r tn er sh ips a r e u r g en t ly n eeded to m a in ta in a n d m oder n ize ou r cou n tr y 's tr a v el lifelin es to fa cilita te

econ om ic g r ow th a n d job cr ea t ion . In th e la st tw o y ea r s, Con g r ession a l Repu blica n s h a v e ta ken th e lea d w ith in it ia t iv es like th e

FA A Moder n iza t ion a n d Refor m A ct; th e Pipelin e Sa fety , Reg u la tor y Cer ta in ty , a n d Job Cr ea t ion A ct; a n d th e Coa st Gu a r d a n d

Ma r it im e Tr a n spor ta t ion A ct . Th e r ecen t h ig h w a y bill r efor m in g th e feder a l h ig h w a y pr og r a m in clu ded som e key r efor m s. It w ill

sh or ten th e pr oject a ppr ov a l pr ocess, elim in a te u n n ecessa r y pr og r a m s, a n d g iv e Sta tes m or e flex ibility to a ddr ess th eir pa r t icu la r

n eeds. It is a r etu r n to th e pr in ciples of feder a lism , a n d it con ta in s n ot a sin g le ea r m a r k. It sh ou ld be follow ed by r efor m of th e 4 2 -

y ea r old Na tion a l En v ir on m en ta l Policy A ct to cr ea te r eg u la tor y cer ta in ty for in fr a str u ctu r e pr ojects, ex pedite th eir t im eta bles,

a n d lim it lit ig a t ion a g a in st th em .

Secu r in g su fficien t fu n din g for th e Hig h w a y Tr u st Fu n d r em a in s a ch a llen g e g iv en th e debt a n d deficits a n d th e n eed to r edu ce

spen din g . Repu blica n s w ill m a ke h a r d ch oices a n d set pr ior it ies, a n d in fr a str u ctu r e w ill be a m on g th em . In som e Sta tes w ith

elected officia ls dom in a ted by th e Dem ocr a t ic Pa r ty , a pr opor t ion of h ig h w a y fu n ds is div er ted to oth er pu r poses. Th is m u st stop.

We oppose a n y fu n din g m ech a n ism th a t w ou ld in v olv e g ov er n m en ta l m on itor in g of ev er y ca r a n d tr u ck in th e n a t ion .

A m tr a k con tin u es to be, for th e ta x pa y er s, a n ex tr em ely ex pen siv e r a ilr oa d. Th e pu blic h a s to su bsidize ev er y t icket n ea r ly $5 0. It

is lon g pa st t im e for th e feder a l g ov er n m en t to g et ou t of w a y a n d a llow pr iv a te v en tu r es to pr ov ide pa ssen g er ser v ice to th e

n or th ea st cor r idor . Th e sa m e h olds tr u e w ith r eg a r d to h ig h -speed a n d in ter city r a il a cr oss th e cou n tr y .

International T rade: More Am erican Jobs, Higher Wages, and A Better Standard of Living

In ter n a t ion a l tr a de is cr u cia l for ou r econ om y . It m ea n s m or e A m er ica n jobs, h ig h er w a g es, a n d a better sta n da r d of liv in g . Ev er y

$1 billion in a ddit ion a l U.S. ex por ts m ea n s a n oth er 5 ,000 jobs h er e a t h om e. Th e Fr ee Tr a de A g r eem en ts n eg ot ia ted w ith fr ien dly

dem ocr a cies sin ce Pr esiden t Rea g a n 's tr a ilbla zin g pa ct w ith Isr a el in 1 9 8 5 fa cilita ted th e cr ea t ion of n ea r ly ten m illion jobs

su ppor ted by ou r ex por ts. Th a t r ecor d m a kes a ll th e m or e deplor a ble th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion 's slow n ess in com plet in g

a g r eem en ts beg u n by its pr edecessor a n d its fa ilu r e to pu r su e a n y n ew tr a de a g r eem en ts w ith fr ien dly n a t ion s.

Th is w or ldw ide ex plosion of tr a de h a s h a d a dow n side, h ow ev er , a s som e g ov er n m en ts h a v e u sed a v a r iety of u n fa ir m ea n s to lim it

A m er ica n a ccess to th eir m a r kets w h ile stea lin g ou r desig n s, pa ten ts, br a n ds, kn ow -h ow , a n d tech n olog y —th e "in tellectu a l

pr oper ty " th a t dr iv es in n ov a t ion . Th e ch ief offen der is Ch in a , w h ich h a s bu ilt u p its econ om y in pa r t by pig g y ba ckin g on to

Wester n tech n olog ica l a dv a n ces, m a n ipu la tes its cu r r en cy to th e disa dv a n ta g e of A m er ica n ex por ter s, ex clu des A m er ica n

pr odu cts fr om g ov er n m en t pu r ch a ses, su bsidizes Ch in ese com pa n ies to g iv e th em a com m er cia l a dv a n ta g e, a n d in v en ts

r eg u la t ion s a n d sta n da r ds desig n ed to keep ou t for eig n com petit ion . Th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion 's w a y of dea lin g w ith a ll th ese

v iola t ion s of w or ld tr a de sta n da r ds h a s been a v ir tu a l su r r en der .

Repu blica n s u n der sta n d th a t y ou ca n su cceed in a n eg ot ia t ion on ly if y ou a r e w illin g to w a lk a w a y fr om it . Th u s, a Repu blica n

Pr esiden t w ill in sist on fu ll pa r ity in tr a de w ith Ch in a a n d sta n d r ea dy to im pose cou n ter v a ilin g du t ies if Ch in a fa ils to a m en d its

cu r r en cy policies. Com m er cia l discr im in a t ion w ill be m et in kin d. Cou n ter feit g oods w ill be a g g r essiv ely kept ou t of th e cou n tr y .

V ict im ized pr iv a te fir m s w ill be en cou r a g ed to r a ise cla im s in both U.S. cou r ts a n d a t th e Wor ld Tr a de Or g a n iza t ion . Pu n it iv e

m ea su r es w ill be im posed on for eig n fir m s th a t m isa ppr opr ia te A m er ica n tech n olog y a n d in tellectu a l pr oper ty . Un til Ch in a a bides

by th e WTO's Gov er n m en t Pr ocu r em en t A g r eem en t, th e Un ited Sta tes g ov er n m en t w ill en d pr ocu r em en t of Ch in ese g oods a n d

ser v ices.

Beca u se A m er ica n w or ker s h a v e sh ow n th a t , on a tr u ly lev el pla y in g field, th ey ca n su r pa ss th e com petit ion in in ter n a t ion a l

tr a de, w e ca ll for th e r estor a t ion of pr esiden tia l Tr a de Pr om otion A u th or ity . It w ill en su r e u p or dow n v otes in Con g r ess on a n y

n ew tr a de a g r eem en ts, w ith ou t m eddlin g by specia l in ter ests. A Repu blica n Pr esiden t w ill com plete n eg ot ia t ion s for a Tr a n s-

Pa cific Pa r tn er sh ip to open r a pidly dev elopin g A sia n m a r kets to U.S. pr odu cts. Bey on d th a t , w e en v ision a w or ldw ide m u lt ila ter a l

a g r eem en t a m on g n a t ion s com m itted to th e pr in ciples of open m a r kets, w h a t h a s been ca lled a "Rea g a n Econ om ic Zon e," in w h ich

fr ee tr a de w ill t r u ly be fa ir tr a de for a ll con cer n ed.

A T wenty -First Century Workforce

Th e g r ea test a sset of th e A m er ica n econ om y is th e h a r d-w or kin g A m er ica n . Th e h ig h r a tes of u n em ploy m en t ov er th e la st th r ee

a n d a h a lf y ea r s—disa str ou sly h ig h a m on g y ou th , m in or it ies, a n d v eter a n s—h a v e th u s been a tr a g ic w a ste of en er g y a n d idea s,

com pou n ded by th e w a ste of billion s in "st im u lu s" fu n ds w ith n o pa y off in jobs. Th e ch ief ca u se h a s been a n u n pr eceden ted

u n cer ta in ty in th e A m er ica n fr ee en ter pr ise sy stem du e to th e ov er r ea ch in g policies of th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion . Noth in g

m a tter s m or e th a n g ett in g th e A m er ica n people ba ck to w or k. In a ddit ion to cu tt in g spen din g , keepin g ta x es low , a n d cu r ta ilin g

bu r ea u cr a t ic r ed ta pe, w e m u st r epla ce ou tda ted policies a n d in effectu a l tr a in in g pr og r a m s w ith a pla n to dev elop a tw en ty -fir st

cen tu r y w or kfor ce to m a ke th e m ost of ou r cou n tr y 's h u m a n ca pita l.

It is cr it ica l th a t th e Un ited Sta tes h a s a h ig h ly tr a in ed a n d skilled w or kfor ce. Nin e feder a l a g en cies cu r r en t ly r u n 4 7 r etr a in in g

pr og r a m s a t a tota l cost of $1 8 billion a n n u a lly w ith dism a l r esu lts. Both th e tr a in ees in th ose pr og r a m s a n d th e ta x pa y er s w h o

fu n d th em deser v e better . We pr opose con solida t ion of th ose pr og r a m s in to Sta te block g r a n ts so th a t tr a in in g ca n be coor din a ted

w ith loca l sch ools a n d em ploy er s. Th a t w ill be cr it ica lly im por ta n t if Sta tes esta blish Per son a l Reem ploy m en t A ccou n ts, let t in g

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w ith loca l sch ools a n d em ploy er s. Th a t w ill be cr it ica lly im por ta n t if Sta tes esta blish Per son a l Reem ploy m en t A ccou n ts, let t in g

tr a in ees dir ect r esou r ces in w a y s th a t w ill steer th em tow a r d lon g -ter m em ploy m en t, especia lly th r ou g h on -th ejob tr a in in g w ith

pa r t icipa t in g em ploy er s.

We ca n a cceler a te th e pr ocess of r estor in g ou r dom est ic econ om y —a n d r ecla im in g th is cou n tr y 's tr a dit ion a l posit ion of dom in a n ce

in in ter n a t ion a l tr a de—by a policy of str a teg ic im m ig r a t ion , g r a n t in g m or e w or k v isa s to h older s of a dv a n ced deg r ees in scien ce,

tech n olog y , en g in eer in g , a n d m a th fr om oth er n a t ion s. Hig h ly edu ca ted im m ig r a n ts ca n a ssist in cr ea t in g n ew ser v ices a n d

pr odu cts. In th e sa m e w a y , for eig n stu den ts w h o g r a du a te fr om a n A m er ica n u n iv er sity w ith a n a dv a n ced deg r ee in scien ce,

tech n olog y , en g in eer in g or m a th sh ou ld be en cou r a g ed to r em a in h er e a n d con tr ibu te to econ om ic pr osper ity a n d job cr ea t ion .

Hig h ly skilled, En g lish spea kin g , a n d in teg r a ted in to th eir com m u n it ies, th ey a r e too v a lu a ble a r esou r ce to lose. A s in pa st

g en er a t ion s, w e sh ou ld en cou r a g e th e w or ld's in n ov a tor s a n d in v en tor s to cr ea te ou r com m on fu tu r e a n d th eir per m a n en t h om es

h er e in th e Un ited Sta tes.

Repu blica n s believ e th a t th e em ploy er -em ploy ee r ela t ion sh ip of th e fu tu r e w ill be bu ilt u pon em ploy ee em pow er m en t a n d

w or kpla ce flex ibility , w h ich is w h y Repu blica n s su ppor t em ploy ee ow n er sh ip. We believ e em ploy ee stock ow n er sh ip pla n s cr ea te

ca pita lists a n d ex pa n d th e ow n er sh ip of pr iv a te pr oper ty a n d a r e th er efor e th e essen ce of a h ig h -per for m in g fr ee en ter pr ise

econ om y , w h ich cr ea tes oppor tu n ity for th ose w h o w or k a n d h on or s th ose v a lu es th a t h a v e m a de ou r n a t ion so str on g . Toda y 's

w or kfor ce is in depen den t , w a n ts flex ibility in w or kin g con dit ion s, n eeds fa m ily -fr ien dly opt ion s, a n d is m ost pr odu ct iv e w h en

a llow ed to in n ov a te a n d r eth in k th e sta tu s qu o. Th e feder a l g ov er n m en t sh ou ld set a n ex a m ple in m a kin g th ose a da pta t ion s,

especia lly in pr om otin g por ta bility in pen sion pla n s a n d h ea lth in su r a n ce.

Freedom in the Workplace

Th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion h a s ch osen a differ en t pa th w ith r eg a r d to la bor , clin g in g to a n t iqu a ted n ot ion s of con fr on ta t ion a n d

con cen tr a t in g pow er in th e Wa sh in g ton offices of u n ion elites. It h a s str on g ly su ppor ted th e a n t i-bu sin ess ca r d ch eck leg isla t ion to

den y w or ker s a secr et ba llot in u n ion or g a n izin g ca m pa ig n s a n d, th r ou g h th e u se of Pr oject La bor A g r eem en ts, ba r r ed 8 0 per cen t

of th e con str u ct ion w or kfor ce fr om com petin g for jobs in m a n y st im u lu s pr ojects. Th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion h a s tu r n ed th e

Na tion a l La bor Rela t ion s Boa r d in to a pa r t isa n a dv oca te for Big La bor , u sin g th r ea ts a n d coer cion ou tside th e la w to a tta ck

bu sin esses a n d, th r ou g h "sn a p elect ion s" a n d "m icr o u n ion s," lim it th e r ig h ts of w or ker s a n d em ploy er s a like.

We w ill r estor e th e r u le of la w to la bor la w by blockin g "ca r d ch eck," en a ct in g th e Secr et Ba llot Pr otect ion A ct , en for cin g th e Hobbs

A ct a g a in st la bor v iolen ce, a n d pa ssin g th e Ra ise A ct to a llow a ll w or ker s to r eceiv e w ell-ea r n ed r a ises w ith ou t th e a ppr ov a l of

th eir u n ion r epr esen ta t iv e. We dem a n d a n en d to th e Pr oject La bor A g r eem en ts; a n d w e ca ll for r epea l of th e Da v is-Ba con A ct ,

w h ich costs th e ta x pa y er s billion s of dolla r s a n n u a lly in a r t ificia lly h ig h w a g es on g ov er n m en t pr ojects. We su ppor t th e r ig h t of

Sta tes to en a ct Rig h t-to-Wor k la w s a n d en cou r a g e th em to do so to pr om ote g r ea ter econ om ic liber ty . Ult im a tely , w e su ppor t th e

en a ctm en t of a Na t ion a l Rig h t-to-Wor k la w to pr om ote w or ker fr eedom a n d to pr om ote g r ea ter econ om ic liber ty . We w ill

a g g r essiv ely en for ce th e r ecen t decision by th e Su pr em e Cou r t ba r r in g th e u se of u n ion du es for polit ica l pu r poses w ith ou t th e

con sen t of th e w or ker .

We sa lu te th e Repu blica n Gov er n or s a n d Sta te leg isla tor s w h o h a v e sa v ed th eir Sta tes fr om fisca l disa ster by r efor m in g th eir la w s

g ov er n in g pu blic em ploy ee u n ion s. We u r g e elected officia ls a cr oss th e cou n tr y to follow th eir lea d in or der to a v oid Sta te a n d loca l

defa u lts on th eir oblig a t ion s a n d th e colla pse of ser v ices to th e pu blic. To sa feg u a r d th e fr ee ch oice of pu blic em ploy ees, n o

g ov er n m en t a t a n y lev el sh ou ld a ct a s th e du es collector for u n ion s. A Repu blica n Pr esiden t w ill pr otect th e r ig h ts of con scien ce of

pu blic em ploy ees by pr oposin g leg isla t ion to ba r m a n da tor y du es for polit ica l pu r poses.

We The People: A Restoration of Constitutional Government

We a r e th e pa r ty of th e Con st itu t ion , th e solem n com pa ct w h ich con fir m s ou r God-g iv en in div idu a l r ig h ts a n d a ssu r es th a t a ll

A m er ica n s sta n d equ a l befor e th e la w . Per h a ps th e g r ea test polit ica l docu m en t ev er w r it ten , it defin es th e pu r poses a n d lim its of

g ov er n m en t a n d is th e blu epr in t for or der ed liber ty th a t m a kes th e U.S. th e w or ld's fr eest , m ost sta ble, a n d m ost pr osper ou s

n a t ion . Its Con st itu t ion a l idea ls h a v e been em u la ted a r ou n d th e w or ld, a n d w ith th em h a s com e u n pr eceden ted pr osper ity for

billion s of people.

In th e spir it of th e Con st itu t ion , w e con sider discr im in a t ion ba sed on sex , r a ce, a g e, r elig ion , cr eed, disa bility , or n a t ion a l or ig in

u n a ccepta ble a n d im m or a l. We w ill str on g ly en for ce a n t idiscr im in a t ion sta tu tes a n d a sk a ll to join u s in r eject in g th e for ces of

h a tr ed a n d big otr y a n d in den ou n cin g a ll w h o pr a ct ice or pr om ote r a cism , a n t i- Sem it ism , eth n ic pr eju dice, or r elig iou s

in toler a n ce. We su ppor t effor ts to h elp low -in com e in div idu a ls g et a fa ir ch a n ce ba sed on th eir poten t ia l a n d in div idu a l m er it ; bu t

w e r eject pr efer en ces, qu ota s, a n d set-a sides a s th e best or sole m eth ods th r ou g h w h ich fa ir n ess ca n be a ch iev ed, w h eth er in

g ov er n m en t, edu ca t ion , or cor por a te boa r dr oom s. In a fr ee society , th e pr im a r y r ole of g ov er n m en t is to pr otect th e God-g iv en ,

in a lien a ble, in h er en t r ig h ts of its cit izen s, in clu din g th e r ig h ts to life, liber ty , a n d th e pu r su it of h a ppin ess. Mer it , a bility ,

a pt itu de, a n d r esu lts sh ou ld be th e fa ctor s th a t deter m in e a dv a n cem en t in ou r society .

Th e Repu blica n Pa r ty in clu des A m er ica n s fr om ev er y fa ith a n d tr a dit ion , a n d ou r policies a n d posit ion s r espect th e r ig h t of ev er y

A m er ica n to follow h is or h er beliefs a n d u n der scor e ou r r ev er en ce for th e r elig iou s fr eedom en v ision ed by th e Fou n din g Fa th er s of

ou r n a t ion a n d of ou r pa r ty . A s a m a tter of pr in ciple, w e oppose th e cr ea t ion of a n y n ew r a ce-ba sed g ov er n m en ts w ith in th e Un ited

Sta tes.

A Restoration of Constitutional Order: Congress and the Executive

We sa lu te Repu blica n Mem ber s of th e Hou se of Repr esen ta t iv es for en sh r in in g in th e Ru les of th e Hou se th e r equ ir em en t th a t ev er y

bill m u st cite th e pr ov ision of th e Con st itu t ion w h ich per m its its in tr odu ct ion . Th eir a dh er en ce to th e Con st itu t ion sta n ds in sta r k

con tr a st to th e a n t ipa th y tow a r d th e Con st itu t ion dem on str a ted by th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion a n d its Sen a te a llies by a ppoin t in g

"cza r s" to ev a de th e con fir m a tion pr ocess, m a kin g u n la w fu l "r ecess" a ppoin tm en ts w h en th e Sen a te is n ot in r ecess, u sin g ex ecu t iv e

or der s to by pa ss th e sepa r a t ion of pow er s a n d its ch ecks a n d ba la n ces, en cou r a g in g illeg a l a ct ion s by r eg u la tor y a g en cies fr om th e

NLRB to th e EPA , open ly a n d n otor iou sly displa y in g con tem pt for Con g r ess, th e Ju dicia r y , a n d th e Con st itu t ion a l pr er og a t iv es of

th e in div idu a l Sta tes, r efu sin g to defen d th e n a t ion 's la w s in feder a l cou r ts or en for ce th em on th e str eets, ig n or in g th e leg a l

r equ ir em en t for leg isla t iv e en a ctm en t of a n a n n u a l bu dg et , g u tt in g w elfa r e r efor m by u n ila ter a lly r em ov in g its sta tu tor y w or k

r equ ir em en t, bu y in g sen a tor ia l v otes w ith specia l fa v or s, a n d ev a din g th e leg a l r equ ir em en t for con g r ession a l con su lta t ion

r eg a r din g tr oop com m itm en ts ov er sea s. A Repu blica n Pr esiden t a n d Repu blica n Sen a te w ill join Hou se Repu blica n s in liv in g by

th e r u le of la w , th e fou n da tion of th e A m er ica n Repu blic.

Pr otect in g A m er ica is th e fir st a n d m ost im por ta n t du ty of ou r feder a l g ov er n m en t. Th e Con st itu t ion w isely distr ibu tes im por ta n t

r oles in th e a r ea of n a t ion a l secu r ity to both th e Pr esiden t a n d Con g r ess. It em pow er s th e Pr esiden t to ser v e a s Com m a n der in

Ch ief, m a kin g h im th e lea d in str u m en t of th e A m er ica n people in m a tter s of n a t ion a l secu r ity a n d for eig n a ffa ir s. It a lso bestow s

a u th or ity on Con g r ess, in clu din g th e pow er s to decla r e w a r , r eg u la te com m er ce, a n d a u th or ize th e fu n ds n eeded to keep a n d

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a u th or ity on Con g r ess, in clu din g th e pow er s to decla r e w a r , r eg u la te com m er ce, a n d a u th or ize th e fu n ds n eeded to keep a n d

pr otect ou r Na tion . Th e Un ited Sta tes of A m er ica is str on g est w h en th e Pr esiden t a n d Con g r ess w or k closely tog eth er —in w a r a n d

in pea ce—to a dv a n ce ou r com m on in ter ests a n d idea ls. By u n it in g ou r g ov er n m en t a n d ou r cit izen s, ou r for eig n policy w ill secu r e

fr eedom , keep A m er ica sa fe, a n d en su r e th a t w e r em a in th e "la st best h ope on Ea r th ."

Defending Marriage Against An Activist Judiciary

A ser iou s th r ea t to ou r cou n tr y 's con st itu t ion a l or der , per h a ps ev en m or e da n g er ou s th a n pr esiden tia l m a lfea sa n ce, is a n a ct iv ist

ju dicia r y , in w h ich som e ju dg es u su r p th e pow er s r eser v ed to oth er br a n ch es of g ov er n m en t. A bla ta n t ex a m ple h a s been th e

cou r t-or der ed r edefin it ion of m a r r ia g e in sev er a l Sta tes. Th is is m or e th a n a m a tter of w a r r in g leg a l con cepts a n d idea ls. It is a n

a ssa u lt on th e fou n da tion s of ou r society , ch a llen g in g th e in st itu t ion w h ich , for th ou sa n ds of y ea r s in v ir tu a lly ev er y civ iliza t ion ,

h a s been en tr u sted w ith th e r ea r in g of ch ildr en a n d th e tr a n sm ission of cu ltu r a l v a lu es.

A Sacred Contract: Defense of Marriage

Th a t is w h y Con g r ession a l Repu blica n s took th e lea d in en a ct in g th e Defen se of Ma r r ia g e A ct , a ffir m in g th e r ig h t of Sta tes a n d th e

feder a l g ov er n m en t n ot to r ecog n ize sa m e-sex r ela t ion sh ips licen sed in oth er ju r isdict ion s. Th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion 's open

defia n ce of th is con st itu t ion a l pr in ciple—in its h a n dlin g of im m ig r a t ion ca ses, in feder a l per son n el ben efits, in a llow in g a sa m e-sex

m a r r ia g e a t a m ilita r y ba se, a n d in r efu sin g to defen d DOMA in th e cou r ts—m a kes a m ocker y of th e Pr esiden t 's in a u g u r a l oa th . We

com m en d th e Un ited Sta tes Hou se of Repr esen ta t iv es a n d Sta te A ttor n ey s Gen er a l w h o h a v e defen ded th ese la w s w h en th ey h a v e

been a tta cked in th e cou r ts. We r ea ffir m ou r su ppor t for a Con st itu t ion a l a m en dm en t defin in g m a r r ia g e a s th e u n ion of on e m a n

a n d on e w om a n . We a ppla u d th e cit izen s of th e m a jor ity of Sta tes w h ich h a v e en sh r in ed in th eir con st itu t ion s th e tr a dit ion a l

con cept of m a r r ia g e, a n d w e su ppor t th e ca m pa ig n s u n der w a y in sev er a l oth er Sta tes to do so.

Living Within Our Means: A Constitutional Budget

Repu blica n Mem ber s of Con g r ess h a v e r epea tedly tr ied to r efor m th e bu dg et pr ocess to m a ke it m or e tr a n spa r en t a n d a ccou n ta ble,

in pa r t icu la r by v ot in g for a Ba la n ced Bu dg et A m en dm en t to th e Con st itu t ion , follow in g th e lea d of 3 3 Sta tes w h ich h a v e pu t th a t

r estr a in t in to th eir ow n con st itu t ion s. We ca ll for a Con st itu t ion a l a m en dm en t r equ ir in g a su per -m a jor ity for a n y ta x in cr ea se

w ith ex cept ion s for on ly w a r a n d n a t ion a l em er g en cies, a n d im posin g a ca p lim it in g spen din g to th e h istor ica l a v er a g e per cen ta g e

of GDP so th a t fu tu r e Con g r esses ca n n ot ba la n ce th e bu dg et by r a isin g ta x es.

Federalism and T he T enth Am endm ent

We su ppor t th e r ev iew a n d ex a m in a t ion of a ll feder a l a g en cies to elim in a te w a stefu l spen din g , oper a t ion a l in efficien cies, or a bu se

of pow er to deter m in e w h eth er th ey a r e per for m in g fu n ct ion s th a t a r e better per for m ed by th e Sta tes. Th ese fu n ct ion s, a s

a ppr opr ia te, sh ou ld be r etu r n ed to th e Sta tes in a ccor da n ce w ith th e Ten th A m en dm en t of th e Un ited Sta tes Con st itu t ion . We

a ffir m th a t a ll leg isla t ion , r u les, a n d r eg u la t ion s m u st con for m a n d pu blic ser v a n ts m u st a dh er e to th e U.S. Con st itu t ion , a s

or ig in a lly in ten ded by th e Fr a m er s. Wh eth er su ch leg isla t ion is a Sta te or feder a l m a tter m u st be deter m in ed in a ccor da n ce w ith

th e Ten th A m en dm en t, in con ju n ct ion w ith A r t icle I, Sect ion 8 .

Wh en th e Con st itu t ion is ev a ded, tr a n sg r essed, or ig n or ed, so a r e th e fr eedom s it g u a r a n tees. In th a t con tex t , th e elect ion s of 2 01 2

w ill be m u ch m or e th a n a con test betw een pa r t ies. Th ey a r e a r efer en du m on th e fu tu r e of liber ty in A m er ica .

Th e Repu blica n Pa r ty , bor n in opposit ion to th e den ia l of liber ty , sta n ds for th e r ig h ts of in div idu a ls, fa m ilies, fa ith com m u n it ies,

in st itu t ion s — a n d of th e Sta tes w h ich a r e th eir in str u m en ts of selfg ov er n m en t. In esta blish in g a feder a l sy stem of g ov er n m en t,

th e Fr a m er s v iew ed th e Sta tes a s la bor a tor ies of dem ocr a cy a n d cen ter s of in n ov a t ion , a s do w e. To m a in ta in th e in teg r ity of th eir

sy stem , th ey bequ ea th ed to su ccessiv e g en er a t ion s a n in str u m en t by w h ich w e m ig h t cor r ect a n y m isa lig n m en t of pow er betw een

ou r Sta tes a n d th e feder a l g ov er n m en t, th e Ten th A m en dm en t:

The pow ers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States , are reserved to the States

respectively, or to the people.

In fidelity to th a t pr in ciple, w e con dem n th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion 's con tin u ed a ssa u lts on Sta te g ov er n m en ts in m a tter s

r a n g in g fr om v oter ID la w s to im m ig r a t ion , fr om h ea lth ca r e pr og r a m s to la n d u se decision s. Ou r Sta tes a r e th e la bor a tor ies of

dem ocr a cy fr om w h ich th e people pr opel ou r n a t ion for w a r d, solv in g loca l a n d Sta te pr oblem s th r ou g h loca l a n d Sta te

in n ov a t ion s. We pledg e to r estor e th e pr oper ba la n ce betw een th e feder a l g ov er n m en t a n d th e g ov er n m en ts closest to, a n d m ost

r eflect iv e of, th e A m er ica n people. Scor es of en tr en ch ed feder a l pr og r a m s v iola te th e con st itu t ion a l m a n da tes of feder a lism by

ta kin g m on ey fr om th e Sta tes, la u n der in g it th r ou g h v a r iou s feder a l a g en cies, on ly to r etu r n to th e Sta tes sh r u n ken g r a n ts w ith

m a n da tes a tta ch ed. We pr opose w h er ev er fea sible to lea v e r esou r ces w h er e th ey or ig in a te: in th e h om es a n d n eig h bor h oods of th e

ta x pa y er s. We ca ll on th e feder a l g ov er n m en t to do a sy stem a tic a n a ly sis of la w s a n d r eg u la t ion s to elim in a te cost ly bu r ea u cr a t ic

m a n da tes on th e Sta tes a n d th e people.

With ev er y r ig h t com es a r espon sibility . A few Sta tes a n d th eir polit ica l su bdiv ision s a r e cu r r en t ly in dir e fisca l situ a t ion s, la r g ely

beca u se of th eir spen din g , debt , a n d fa ilu r e to r ein in pu blic em ploy ee u n ion s. In th e ev en t th ose con dit ion s w or sen , th e feder a l

g ov er n m en t m u st n ot a ssu m e th e Sta te g ov er n m en ts' or th eir polit ica l su bdiv ision s' fin a n cia l r espon sibility or r equ ir e th e n a t ion 's

ta x pa y er s to pa y for th e m isr u le of a few Sta te g ov er n m en ts. Nor sh a ll th e Sta tes a ssu m e th e feder a l g ov er n m en t 's fin a n cia l

r espon sibility .

T he Continuing Im portance of Protecting the Electoral College

We oppose th e Na tion a l Popu la r V ote In ter sta te Com pa ct or a n y oth er sch em e to a bolish or distor t th e pr ocedu r es of th e Elector a l

Colleg e. We r ecog n ize th a t a n u n con st itu t ion a l effor t to im pose "n a t ion a l popu la r v ote" w ou ld be a m or ta l th r ea t to ou r feder a l

sy stem a n d a g u a r a n tee of cor r u ption a s ev er y ba llot box in ev er y sta te w ou ld becom e a ch a n ce to stea l th e pr esiden cy .

Voter Integrity to Ensure Honest Elections

Hon est elect ion s a r e th e fou n da tion of r epr esen ta t iv e g ov er n m en t. We su ppor t Sta te effor ts to en su r e ba llot a ccess for th e elder ly ,

th e h a n dica pped, m ilita r y per son n el, a n d a ll a u th or ized v oter s. For th e sa m e r ea son , w e a ppla u d leg isla t ion to r equ ir e ph oto

iden tifica t ion for v ot in g a n d to pr ev en t elect ion fr a u d, pa r t icu la r ly w ith r eg a r d to r eg istr a t ion a n d a bsen tee ba llots. We su ppor t

Sta te la w s th a t r equ ir e pr oof of cit izen sh ip a t th e t im e of v oter r eg istr a t ion to pr otect ou r elector a l sy stem a g a in st a sig n ifica n t a n d

g r ow in g for m of v oter fr a u d. Ev er y t im e th a t a fr a u du len t v ote is ca st , it effect iv ely ca n cels ou t a v ote of a leg it im a te v oter .

V oter fr a u d is polit ica l poison . It str ikes a t th e h ea r t of r epr esen ta t iv e g ov er n m en t. We ca ll on ev er y cit izen , elected officia l, a n d

m em ber of th e ju dicia r y to pr eser v e th e in teg r ity of th e v ote. We ca ll for v ig or ou s pr osecu t ion of v oter fr a u d a t th e Sta te a n d

feder a l lev el. To do less disen fr a n ch ises pr esen t a n d fu tu r e g en er a t ion s. We r ecog n ize th a t h a v in g a ph y sica l v er ifica t ion of th e

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feder a l lev el. To do less disen fr a n ch ises pr esen t a n d fu tu r e g en er a t ion s. We r ecog n ize th a t h a v in g a ph y sica l v er ifica t ion of th e

v ote is th e best w a y to en su r e a fa ir elect ion . "Let a m bit ion cou n ter a m bit ion ," a s Ja m es Ma dison sa id. Wh en a ll pa r t ies h a v e

r epr esen ta t iv es obser v in g th e cou n tin g of ba llots in a tr a n spa r en t pr ocess, in teg r ity is a ssu r ed. We str on g ly su ppor t th e policy th a t

a ll electr on ic v ot in g sy stem s h a v e a v oter v er ified pa per a u dit tr a il.

Sta tes or polit ica l su bdiv ision s th a t u se a ll-m a il elect ion s ca n n ot en su r e th e in teg r ity of th e ba llot . Wh en ba llots a r e m a iled to

ev er y r eg ister ed v oter , ba llots ca n be stolen or fr a u du len t ly v oted by u n a u th or ized in div idu a ls beca u se th e sy stem does n ot h a v e a

w a y to v er ify th e iden tity of th e v oter . We ca ll for Sta tes a n d polit ica l su bdiv ision s to a dopt v ot in g sy stem s th a t ca n v er ify th e

iden tity of th e v oter .

Milita r y m en a n d w om en m u st n ot be disen fr a n ch ised fr om th e v er y fr eedom th ey defen d. We a ffir m th a t ou r tr oops, w h er ev er

sta t ion ed, be a llow ed to v ote a n d th ose v otes be cou n ted in th e Nov em ber elect ion a n d in a ll elect ion s. To th a t en d, th e en t ir e ch a in

of com m a n d, fr om Pr esiden t a n d th e Secr eta r y of Defen se, to ba se a n d u n it com m a n der s—m u st en su r e th e t im ely r eceipt a n d

r etu r n of a ll ba llots a n d th e u t iliza t ion of electr on ic deliv er y of ba llots w h er e a llow ed by Sta te la w .

We su ppor t ch a n g in g th e w a y th a t th e decen n ia l cen su s is con du cted, so th a t cit izen s a r e dist in g u ish ed fr om la w fu lly pr esen t

a lien s a n d illeg a l a lien s. In or der to pr eser v e th e pr in ciple of on e-per son , on ev ote, th e a ppor t ion m en t of r epr esen ta t iv es a m on g th e

Sta tes sh ou ld be a ccor din g to th e n u m ber of cit izen s.

T he First Am endm ent: T he Foresight of Our Founders to Protect Religious Freedom

Th e fir st pr ov ision of th e Fir st A m en dm en t con cer n s fr eedom of r elig ion . Th a t g u a r a n tee r eflected Th om a s Jeffer son 's V ir g in ia

Sta tu te for Relig iou s Fr eedom , w h ich decla r ed th a t n o on e sh ou ld "su ffer on a ccou n t of h is r elig iou s opin ion or belief, bu t th a t a ll

m en sh a ll be fr ee to pr ofess, a n d by a r g u m en t to m a in ta in , th eir opin ion in m a tter s of r elig ion …." Th a t a ssu r a n ce h a s n ev er been

m or e n eeded th a n it is toda y , a s liber a l elites tr y to dr iv e r elig iou s beliefs—a n d r elig iou s believ er s—ou t of th e pu blic squ a r e. Th e

Fou n der s of th e A m er ica n Repu blic u n iv er sa lly a g r ee th a t dem ocr a cy pr esu pposes a m or a l people a n d th a t , in th e w or ds of Geor g e

Wa sh in g ton 's Fa r ew ell A ddr ess, "Of a ll th e disposit ion s a n d h a bits w h ich lea d to polit ica l pr osper ity , r elig ion a n d m or a lity a r e

in dispen sa ble su ppor ts."

Th e m ost offen siv e in sta n ce of th is w a r on r elig ion h a s been th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion 's a t tem pt to com pel fa ith -r ela ted

in st itu t ion s, a s w ell a s believ in g in div idu a ls, to con tr a v en e th eir deeply h eld r elig iou s, m or a l, or eth ica l beliefs r eg a r din g h ea lth

ser v ices, tr a dit ion a l m a r r ia g e, or a bor t ion . Th is for cible secu la r iza t ion of r elig iou s a n d r elig iou sly a ffilia ted or g a n iza t ion s,

in clu din g fa ith -ba sed h ospita ls a n d colleg es, h a s been in ta n dem w ith th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion 's a u da city in decla r in g w h ich

fa ith r ela ted a ct iv it ies a r e, or a r e n ot , pr otected by th e Fir st A m en dm en t—a n u n pr eceden ted a g g r ession r epu dia ted by a

u n a n im ou s Su pr em e Cou r t in its HosannaTabor v. EEOC decis ion.

We pledg e to r espect th e r elig iou s beliefs a n d r ig h ts of con scien ce of a ll A m er ica n s a n d to sa feg u a r d th e in depen den ce of th eir

in st itu t ion s fr om g ov er n m en t. We su ppor t th e pu blic displa y of th e Ten Com m a n dm en ts a s a r eflect ion of ou r h istor y a n d of ou r

cou n tr y 's Ju deo-Ch r ist ia n h er ita g e, a n d w e a ffir m th e r ig h t of stu den ts to en g a g e in pr a y er a t pu blic sch ool ev en ts in pu blic

sch ools a n d to h a v e equ a l a ccess to pu blic sch ools a n d oth er pu blic fa cilit ies to a ccom m oda te r elig iou s fr eedom in th e pu blic squ a r e.

We a sser t ev er y cit izen 's r ig h t to a pply r elig iou s v a lu es to pu blic policy a n d th e r ig h t of fa ith -ba sed or g a n iza t ion s to pa r t icipa te

fu lly in pu blic pr og r a m s w ith ou t r en ou n cin g th eir beliefs, r em ov in g r elig iou s sy m bols, or su bm itt in g to g ov er n m en t-im posed

h ir in g pr a ct ices. We oppose g ov er n m en t discr im in a t ion a g a in st bu sin esses du e to r elig iou s v iew s. We su ppor t th e Fir st

A m en dm en t r ig h t of fr eedom of a ssocia t ion of th e Boy Scou ts of A m er ica a n d oth er ser v ice or g a n iza t ion s w h ose v a lu es a r e u n der

a ssa u lt a n d con dem n th e Sta te bla cklist in g of r elig iou s g r ou ps w h ich declin e to a r r a n g e a doption s by sa m e-sex cou ples. We

con dem n th e h a te ca m pa ig n s, th r ea ts of v iolen ce, a n d v a n da lism by pr opon en ts of sa m e-sex m a r r ia g e a g a in st a dv oca tes of

tr a dit ion a l m a r r ia g e a n d ca ll for a feder a l in v est ig a t ion in to a ttem pts to den y r elig iou s believ er s th eir civ il r ig h ts.

T he First Am endm ent: Speech that is Protected

Th e r ig h ts of cit izen sh ip do n ot stop a t th e ba llot box . Th ey in clu de th e fr ee speech r ig h t to dev ote on e's r esou r ces to w h a tev er ca u se

or ca n dida te on e su ppor ts. We oppose a n y r estr ict ion s or con dit ion s th a t w ou ld discou r a g e A m er ica n s fr om ex er cisin g th eir

con st itu t ion a l r ig h t to en ter th e polit ica l fr a y or lim it th eir com m itm en t to th eir idea ls. A s a r esu lt , w e su ppor t r epea l of th e

r em a in in g sect ion s of McCa in Fein g old, su ppor t eith er r a isin g or r epea lin g con tr ibu t ion lim its, a n d oppose pa ssa g e of th e DISCLOSE

A ct or a n y sim ila r leg isla t ion desig n ed to v it ia te th e Su pr em e Cou r t 's r ecen t decision s pr otect in g polit ica l speech in Wisconsin Right

to Life v. Federal Election Com miss ion a n d Citizens United v. Federal Election Commiss ion. We in sist th a t th er e sh ou ld be n o r eg u la t ion

of polit ica l speech on th e In ter n et . By th e sa m e token , w e oppose g ov er n m en ta l cen sor sh ip of speech th r ou g h th e so-ca lled Fa ir n ess

Doctr in e or by g ov er n m en t en for cem en t of speech codes, fr ee speech zon es, or oth er for m s of "polit ica l cor r ectn ess" on ca m pu s.

T he Second Am endm ent: Our Right to Keep and Bear Arm s

We u ph old th e r ig h t of in div idu a ls to keep a n d bea r a r m s, a r ig h t w h ich a n teda ted th e Con st itu t ion a n d w a s solem n ly con fir m ed

by th e Secon d A m en dm en t. We a ckn ow ledg e, su ppor t , a n d defen d th e la w a bidin g cit izen 's God-g iv en r ig h t of self-defen se. We ca ll

for th e pr otect ion of su ch fu n da m en ta l in div idu a l r ig h ts r ecog n ized in th e Su pr em e Cou r t 's decision s in District of Columbia v. Heller

a n d McDonald v. Chicago a ffir m in g th a t r ig h t , a n d w e r ecog n ize th e in div idu a l r espon sibility to sa fely u se a n d stor e fir ea r m s. Th is

a lso in clu des th e r ig h t to obta in a n d stor e a m m u n it ion w ith ou t r eg istr a t ion . We su ppor t th e fu n da m en ta l r ig h t to self-defen se

w h er ev er a la w a bidin g cit izen h a s a leg a l r ig h t to be, a n d w e su ppor t feder a l leg isla t ion th a t w ou ld ex pa n d th e ex er cise of th a t

r ig h t by a llow in g th ose w ith sta te-issu ed ca r r y per m its to ca r r y fir ea r m s in a n y sta te th a t issu es su ch per m its to its ow n r esiden ts.

Gu n ow n er sh ip is r espon sible cit izen sh ip, en a blin g A m er ica n s to defen d th eir h om es a n d com m u n it ies. We con dem n fr iv olou s

la w su its a g a in st g u n m a n u fa ctu r er s a n d oppose feder a l licen sin g or r eg istr a t ion of la w -a bidin g g u n ow n er s. We oppose leg isla t ion

th a t is in ten ded to r estr ict ou r Secon d A m en dm en t r ig h ts by lim it in g th e ca pa city of clips or m a g a zin es or oth er w ise r estor in g th e

illcon sider ed Clin ton g u n ba n . We con dem n th e r eckless a ct ion s a ssocia ted w ith th e oper a t ion kn ow n a s "Fa st a n d Fu r iou s,"

con du cted by th e Depa r tm en t of Ju st ice, w h ich r esu lted in th e m u r der of a U.S. Bor der Pa tr ol A g en t a n d oth er s on both sides of th e

bor der . We a ppla u d th e Mem ber s of th e U.S. Hou se of Repr esen ta t iv es in h oldin g th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion 's A ttor n ey Gen er a l in

con tem pt of Con g r ess for h is r efu sa l to cooper a te w ith th eir in v est ig a t ion in to th a t deba cle. We oppose th e im pr oper collect ion of

fir ea r m s sa les in for m a tion in th e fou r sou th er n bor der sta tes, w h ich w a s im posed w ith ou t con g r ession a l a u th or ity .

T he Fourth Am endm ent: Liberty and Privacy

A ffir m in g "th e r ig h t of th e people to be secu r e in th eir h ou ses, pa per s, a n d effects, a g a in st u n r ea son a ble sea r ch es a n d seizu r es," w e

su ppor t pen din g leg isla t ion to pr ev en t u n w a r r a n ted or u n r ea son a ble g ov er n m en ta l in tr u sion th r ou g h th e u se of a er ia l

su r v eilla n ce or fly ov er s on U.S. soil, w ith th e ex cept ion of pa tr ollin g ou r n a t ion a l bor der s. A ll secu r ity m ea su r es a n d police a ct ion s

sh ou ld be v iew ed th r ou g h th e len s of th e Fou r th A m en dm en t; for if w e tr a de liber ty for secu r ity , w e sh a ll h a v e n eith er .

T he Fifth Am endm ent: Protecting Private Property

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T he Fifth Am endm ent: Protecting Private Property

Th e Ta kin g s Cla u se of th e Fifth A m en dm en t—"n or sh a ll pr iv a te pr oper ty be ta ken for pu blic u se w ith ou t ju st com pen sa t ion "—is a

bu lw a r k a g a in st ty r a n n y ; for w ith ou t pr oper ty r ig h ts, in div idu a l r ig h ts a r e dim in ish ed. Th a t is w h y w e deplor e th e Su pr em e

Cou r t 's Kelo v. New London decision , a llow in g loca l g ov er n m en ts to seize a per son 's h om e or la n d, n ot for v ita l pu blic u se, bu t for

tr a n sfer to pr iv a te dev eloper s. We ca ll on Sta te leg isla tu r es to m oot th e im pa ct of th e Kelo decision in th eir Sta tes by a ppr opr ia te

leg isla t ion or con st itu t ion a l a m en dm en ts. Equ a lly im por ta n t , w e pledg e to en for ce th e Ta kin g s Cla u se in th e a ct ion s of feder a l

a g en cies to en su r e ju st com pen sa t ion w h en ev er pr iv a te pr oper ty is n eeded to a ch iev e a com pellin g pu blic u se. Th is in clu des th e

ta kin g of pr oper ty in th e for m of w a ter r ig h ts in th e West a n d elsew h er e a n d th e ta kin g of pr oper ty by en v ir on m en ta l r eg u la t ion s

th a t destr oy its v a lu e.

T he Ninth Am endm ent: Affirm ing the People's Rights

Th is spea ks m ost eloqu en tly for itself: "Th e en u m er a t ion in th e Con st itu t ion of cer ta in r ig h ts sh a ll n ot be con str u ed to den y or

dispa r a g e oth er s r eta in ed by th e people." Th is pr ov ision codifies th e con cept th a t ou r g ov er n m en t der iv es its pow er fr om th e people

a n d a ll pow er s n ot deleg a ted to th e g ov er n m en t a r e r eta in ed by th e people. Th is is a n essen t ia l fea tu r e of ou r g ov er n m en ta l

sy stem , a n d w e th er efor e celebr a te th e g r a ssr oots r ediscov er y of th is a n d oth er con st itu t ion a l g u a r a n tees ov er th e la st fou r y ea r s

a n d w elcom e to ou r r a n ks a ll ou r fellow cit izen s w h o a r e deter m in ed to r ecla im th e r ig h ts of th e people th a t h a v e been ig n or ed or

v iola ted by g ov er n m en t.

T he Sanctity and Dignity of Hum an Life

Fa ith fu l to th e "self-ev iden t" tr u th s en sh r in ed in th e Decla r a t ion of In depen den ce, w e a sser t th e sa n ct ity of h u m a n life a n d a ffir m

th a t th e u n bor n ch ild h a s a fu n da m en ta l in div idu a l r ig h t to life w h ich ca n n ot be in fr in g ed. We su ppor t a h u m a n life a m en dm en t

to th e Con st itu t ion a n d en dor se leg isla t ion to m a ke clea r th a t th e Fou r teen th A m en dm en t 's pr otect ion s a pply to u n bor n ch ildr en .

We oppose u sin g pu blic r ev en u es to pr om ote or per for m a bor t ion or fu n d or g a n iza t ion s w h ich per for m or a dv oca te it a n d w ill n ot

fu n d or su bsidize h ea lth ca r e w h ich in clu des a bor t ion cov er a g e. We su ppor t th e a ppoin tm en t of ju dg es w h o r espect tr a dit ion a l

fa m ily v a lu es a n d th e sa n ct ity of in n ocen t h u m a n life. We oppose th e n on con sen su a l w ith h oldin g or w ith dr a w a l of ca r e or

tr ea tm en t, in clu din g food a n d w a ter , fr om people w ith disa bilit ies, in clu din g n ew bor n s, a s w ell a s th e elder ly a n d in fir m , ju st a s

w e oppose a ct iv e a n d pa ssiv e eu th a n a sia a n d a ssisted su icide.

Repu blica n lea der sh ip h a s led th e effor t to pr oh ibit th e ba r ba r ic pr a ct ice of pa r t ia l-bir th a bor t ion a n d per m itted Sta tes to ex ten d

h ea lth ca r e cov er a g e to ch ildr en befor e bir th . We u r g e Con g r ess to str en g th en th e Bor n A liv e In fa n t Pr otect ion A ct by en a ct in g

a ppr opr ia te civ il a n d cr im in a l pen a lt ies on h ea lth ca r e pr ov ider s w h o fa il to pr ov ide tr ea tm en t a n d ca r e to a n in fa n t w h o su r v iv es

a n a bor t ion , in clu din g ea r ly in du ct ion deliv er y w h er e th e dea th of th e in fa n t is in ten ded. We ca ll for leg isla t ion to ba n sex -

select iv e a bor t ion s—g en der discr im in a t ion in its m ost leth a l for m —a n d to pr otect fr om a bor t ion u n bor n ch ildr en w h o a r e ca pa ble

of feelin g pa in ; a n d w e a ppla u d U.S. Hou se Repu blica n s for lea din g th e effor t to pr otect th e liv es of pa in -ca pa ble u n bor n ch ildr en in

th e Distr ict of Colu m bia . We ca ll for a ba n on th e u se of body pa r ts fr om a bor ted fetu ses for r esea r ch . We su ppor t a n d a ppla u d a du lt

stem cell r esea r ch to dev elop lifesa v in g th er a pies, a n d w e oppose th e killin g of em br y os for th eir stem cells. We oppose feder a l

fu n din g of em br y on ic stem cell r esea r ch .

We a lso sa lu te th e m a n y Sta tes th a t h a v e pa ssed la w s for in for m ed con sen t , m a n da tor y w a it in g per iods pr ior to a n a bor t ion , a n d

h ea lth -pr otect iv e clin ic r eg u la t ion . We seek to pr otect y ou n g g ir ls fr om ex ploita t ion th r ou g h a pa r en ta l con sen t r equ ir em en t; a n d

w e a ffir m ou r m or a l oblig a t ion to a ssist , r a th er th a n pen a lize, w om en ch a llen g ed by a n u n pla n n ed pr eg n a n cy . We sa lu te th ose

w h o pr ov ide th em w ith cou n selin g a n d a doption a lter n a t iv es a n d em pow er th em to ch oose life, a n d w e ta ke com for t in th e

tr em en dou s in cr ea se in a doption s th a t h a s follow ed Repu blica n leg isla t iv e in it ia t iv es.

Respect for Our Flag: Sy m bol of the Constitution

Th e sy m bol of ou r con st itu t ion a l u n ity , to w h ich w e a ll pledg e a lleg ia n ce, is th e fla g of th e Un ited Sta tes of A m er ica . By w h a tev er

leg isla t iv e m eth od is m ost fea sible, Old Glor y sh ou ld be g iv en leg a l pr otect ion a g a in st desecr a t ion . We con dem n decision s by

a ct iv ist ju dg es to den y ch ildr en th e oppor tu n ity to sa y th e Pledg e of A lleg ia n ce in its en t ir ety , in clu din g "Un der God," in pu blic

sch ools a n d en cou r a g e Sta tes to pr om ote th e pledg e. We con dem n th e a ct ion s of th ose w h o den y ou r ch ildr en th e m ea n s by w h ich to

sh ow r espect for ou r g r ea t cou n tr y a n d th e con st itu t ion a l pr in ciples r epr esen ted by ou r fla g .

Am erican Sovereignty in U.S. Courts

Su bject in g A m er ica n cit izen s to for eig n la w s is in im ica l to th e spir it of th e Con st itu t ion . It is on e r ea son w e oppose U.S.

pa r t icipa t ion in th e In ter n a t ion a l Cr im in a l Cou r t . Th er e m u st be n o u se of for eig n la w by U.S. cou r ts in in ter pr et in g ou r

Con st itu t ion a n d la w s. Nor sh ou ld for eig n sou r ces of la w be u sed in Sta te cou r ts' a dju dica t ion of cr im in a l or civ il m a tter s.

Th e La cey A ct of 1 9 00, desig n ed to pr otect en da n g er ed w ildlife in in ter sta te com m er ce, is n ow a pplied w or ldw ide, m a kin g it a

cr im e to u se, in ou r dom est ic in du str ies, a n y pr odu ct illeg a lly obta in ed in th e cou n tr y of or ig in , w h eth er or n ot th e u ser h a d

a n y th in g to do w ith its h a r v est in g . Th is u n r ea son a ble ex ten sion of th e A ct n ot on ly h u r ts A m er ica n bu sin esses a n d A m er ica n jobs,

bu t a lso su bor din a tes ou r ow n r u le of la w to th e leg a l codes of 1 9 5 oth er g ov er n m en ts. It m u st be ch a n g ed.

Ju st a s Geor g e Wa sh in g ton w isely w a r n ed A m er ica to a v oid for eig n en ta n g lem en ts a n d en ter in to on ly tem por a r y a llia n ces, w e

oppose th e a doption or r a t ifica t ion of in ter n a t ion a l tr ea t ies th a t w ea ken or en cr oa ch u pon A m er ica n sov er eig n ty .

America's Natural Resources: Energy, Agriculture and the Environment

We a r e th e pa r ty of su sta in a ble jobs a n d econ om ic g r ow th — th r ou g h A m er ica n en er g y , a g r icu ltu r e, a n d en v ir on m en ta l policy .

We a r e a lso th e pa r ty of A m er ica 's g r ow er s a n d pr odu cer s, fa r m er s, r a n ch er s, for ester s, m in er s, a n d a ll th ose w h o br in g fr om th e

ea r th th e m in er a ls a n d en er g y th a t a r e th e lifeblood of ou r n a t ion 's h istor ica lly str on g econ om y . We a r e a s w ell th e pa r ty of

tr a dit ion a l con ser v a t ion : th e w ise dev elopm en t of r esou r ces th a t keeps in m in d both th e sa cr ifices of pa st g en er a t ion s to secu r e th a t

bou n ty a n d ou r r espon sibility to pr eser v e it for fu tu r e g en er a t ion s.

Dom estic Energy Independence: An "All of the Above" Energy Policy

Th e Repu blica n Pa r ty is com m itted to dom est ic en er g y in depen den ce. Th e Un ited Sta tes a n d its n eig h bor s to th e Nor th a n d Sou th

h a v e been blessed w ith a bu n da n t en er g y r esou r ces, ta pped a n d u n ta pped, tr a dit ion a l a n d a lter n a t iv e, th a t a r e a m on g th e la r g est

a n d m ost v a lu a ble on ea r th . A dv a n cin g tech n olog y h a s g iv en u s a m or e a ccu r a te u n der sta n din g of th e n a t ion 's en or m ou s r eser v es

th a t a r e ou r s for th e dev elopm en t. Th e r ole of pu blic officia ls m u st be to en cou r a g e r espon sible dev elopm en t a cr oss th e boa r d.

Un like th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion , w e w ill n ot pick w in n er s a n d loser s in th e en er g y m a r ketpla ce. In stea d, w e w ill let th e fr ee

m a r ket a n d th e pu blic's pr efer en ces deter m in e th e in du str y ou tcom es. In a ssessin g th e v a r iou s sou r ces of poten t ia l en er g y ,

Repu blica n s a dv oca te a n a ll-of-th e-a bov e div er sified a ppr oa ch , ta kin g a dv a n ta g e of a ll ou r A m er ica n God-g iv en r esou r ces. Th a t is

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Repu blica n s a dv oca te a n a ll-of-th e-a bov e div er sified a ppr oa ch , ta kin g a dv a n ta g e of a ll ou r A m er ica n God-g iv en r esou r ces. Th a t is

th e best w a y to a dv a n ce Nor th A m er ica n en er g y in depen den ce.

Ou r policies a im a t en er g y secu r ity to en su r e a n a ffor da ble, sta ble, a n d r elia ble en er g y su pply for a ll pa r ts of th e cou n tr y a n d a ll

sector s of th e econ om y . En er g y secu r ity is in t im a tely lin ked to n a t ion a l secu r ity both in ter m s of ou r cu r r en t depen den ce u pon

for eig n su pplies a n d beca u se som e of th e h u n dr eds of billion s of dolla r s w e pa y for for eig n oil en ds u p in th e h a n ds of ter r or ist g r ou ps

th a t w ish to h a r m u s. A g r ow in g , pr osper ou s econ om y a n d ou r sta n da r d of liv in g a n d qu a lity of life, m or eov er , depen d on

a ffor da ble a n d a bu n da n t dom est ic en er g y su pplies.

A str on g a n d sta ble en er g y sector is a job g en er a tor a n d a ca ta ly st of econ om ic g r ow th , n ot on ly in th e la bor -in ten siv e en er g y

in du str y bu t a lso in its secon da r y m a r kets. Th e Repu blica n Pa r ty w ill en cou r a g e a n d en su r e div er sified dom est ic sou r ces of

en er g y , fr om r esea r ch a n d dev elopm en t, ex plor a t ion , pr odu ct ion , tr a n spor ta t ion , tr a n sm ission , a n d con su m ption in a w a y th a t is

econ om ica lly v ia ble a n d job-pr odu cin g , a s w ell a s en v ir on m en ta lly sou n d. Wh en ou r en er g y in du str y is r ev ita lized, m illion s m or e

A m er ica n s w ill fin d w or k in m a n u fa ctu r in g , food pr odu ct ion , m eta ls, m in er a ls, pa cka g in g , tr a n spor ta t ion a n d oth er fields —

beca u se of th e jobs th a t w ill be cr ea ted in , a n d a s a r esu lt of, th e en er g y sector . We a r e deter m in ed to cr ea te jobs, spu r econ om ic

g r ow th , low er en er g y pr ices, a n d str en g th en ou r en er g y in du str y .

Our Nation's Energy Abundance

Coa l is a low -cost a n d a bu n da n t en er g y sou r ce w ith h u n dr eds of y ea r s of su pply . We look tow a r d th e pr iv a te sector 's dev elopm en t

of n ew , sta te-of-th e-a r t coa l-fir ed pla n ts th a t w ill be low -cost , en v ir on m en ta lly r espon sible, a n d efficien t . We a lso en cou r a g e

r esea r ch a n d dev elopm en t of a dv a n ced tech n olog ies in th is sector , in clu din g coa l-to-liqu id, coa l g a sifica t ion , a n d r ela ted

tech n olog ies for en h a n ced oil r ecov er y .

Th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion —w ith a Pr esiden t w h o pu blicly th r ea ten ed to ba n kr u pt a n y on e w h o bu ilds a coa l-pow er ed pla n t—

seem s deter m in ed to sh u t dow n coa l pr odu ct ion in th e Un ited Sta tes, ev en th ou g h th er e is n o cost-effect iv e su bst itu te for it or for

th e h u n dr eds of th ou sa n ds of jobs th a t g o w ith it a s th e n a t ion 's la r g est sou r ce of electr icity g en er a t ion . We w ill en d th e EPA 's w a r

on coa l a n d en cou r a g e th e in cr ea sed sa fe dev elopm en t in a ll r eg ion s of th e n a t ion 's coa l r esou r ces, th e jobs it pr odu ces, a n d th e

a ffor da ble, r elia ble en er g y th a t it pr ov ides for A m er ica . Fu r th er , w e oppose a n y a n d a ll ca p a n d tr a de leg isla t ion .

A ll est im a tes of A m er ica 's oil a n d n a t u ra l ga s r eser v es in dica te a n in cr edible bou n ty for th e u se of m a n y g en er a t ion s to com e. A t

a t im e w h en u n em ploy m en t h a s been a bov e 8 per cen t for 4 2 con secu t iv e m on th s, th e lon g est str etch sin ce th e Gr ea t Depr ession ,

a n d som e 2 3 m illion A m er ica n s a r e eith er u n em ploy ed, u n der em ploy ed, or h a v e g iv en u p on fin din g w or k, w e sh ou ld be pu r su in g

ou r oil a n d g a s r esou r ces both on a n d offsh or e. It is n on sen sica l to spu r n r ea l job cr ea t ion by pu tt in g a lm ost a ll of ou r coa sta l w a ter s

off lim its to en er g y ex plor a t ion , w h ile u r g in g oth er n a t ion s to ex plor e th eir coa sts. We ca ll for a r ea son ed a ppr oa ch to a ll offsh or e

en er g y dev elopm en t on th e Ea st Coa st a n d oth er a ppr opr ia te w a ter s, a n d su ppor t th e r ig h t of Sta tes to a r ea son a ble sh a r e of th e

r esu lt in g r ev en u e a n d r oy a lt ies. We su ppor t open in g th e Ou ter Con tin en ta l Sh elf (OCS) for en er g y ex plor a t ion a n d dev elopm en t

a n d en din g th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion 's m or a tor iu m on per m itt in g ; open in g th e coa sta l pla in of th e A r ct ic Na t ion a l Wildlife

Refu g e (A NWR) for ex plor a t ion a n d pr odu ct ion of oil a n d n a tu r a l g a s; a n d a llow in g for m or e oil a n d n a tu r a l g a s ex plor a t ion on

feder a lly ow n ed a n d con tr olled la n d. We su ppor t th is dev elopm en t in a ccor da n ce w ith a pplica ble en v ir on m en ta l, h ea lth a n d

sa fety la w s, a n d r eg u la t ion s.

Th e cu r r en t Pr esiden t per son a lly blocked on e of th e m ost im por ta n t en er g y a n d jobs pr ojects in y ea r s. Th e Key ston e XL Pipelin e—

w h ich w ou ld h a v e br ou g h t m u ch n eeded Ca n a dia n a n d A m er ica n oil to U.S. r efin er ies—w ou ld cr ea te th ou sa n ds of jobs. Th e

cu r r en t Pr esiden t 's job-killin g com bin a t ion of ex tr em ism a n d in ept itu de th r ea ten s to cr ea te a per m a n en t en er g y sh or ta g e. We a r e

com m itted to a ppr ov in g th e Key ston e XL Pipelin e a n d to str ea m lin in g per m itt in g for th e dev elopm en t of oth er oil a n d n a tu r a l g a s

pipelin es.

Nu clea r en ergy , n ow g en er a t in g a bou t 2 0 per cen t of ou r electr icity th r ou g h 1 04 pow er pla n ts, m u st be ex pa n ded. No n ew

n u clea r g en er a t in g pla n ts h a v e been licen sed a n d con str u cted for th ir ty y ea r s. We ca ll for t im ely pr ocessin g of n ew r ea ctor

a pplica t ion s cu r r en t ly pen din g a t th e Nu clea r Reg u la tor y Com m ission .

Th e feder a l g ov er n m en t 's fa ilu r e to a ddr ess th e stor a g e a n d disposa l of spen t n u clea r fu el h a s left h u g e bills for Sta tes a n d

ta x pa y er s. Ou r cou n tr y n eeds a m or e pr oa ct iv e a ppr oa ch to m a n a g in g spen t n u clea r fu el, in clu din g th r ou g h dev elopin g a dv a n ced

r epr ocessin g tech n olog ies.

We en cou r a g e th e cost-effect iv e dev elopm en t of ren ewa ble en ergy , bu t th e ta x pa y er s sh ou ld n ot ser v e a s v en tu r e ca pita lists for

r isky en dea v or s. It is im por ta n t to cr ea te a pa th w a y tow a r d a m a r ket-ba sed a ppr oa ch for r en ew a ble en er g y sou r ces a n d to

a g g r essiv ely dev elop a lter n a t iv e sou r ces for electr icity g en er a t ion su ch a s w in d, h y dr o, sola r , biom a ss, g eoth er m a l, a n d t ida l

en er g y . Pa r tn er sh ips betw een tr a dit ion a l en er g y in du str ies a n d em er g in g r en ew a ble in du str ies ca n be a cen tr a l com pon en t in

m eetin g th e n a t ion 's lon g -ter m n eeds. A lter n a t iv e for m s of en er g y a r e pa r t of ou r a ct ion a g en da to pow er th e h om es a n d

w or kpla ces of th e n a t ion .

Pulling the Plug on Am erican Energy Independence: T he Failure of the Current Adm inistration

Th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion h a s u sed ta x pa y er dolla r s to pick w in n er s a n d loser s in th e en er g y sector w h ile pu blicly th r ea ten in g

to ba n kr u pt a n y on e w h o bu ilds a n ew coa l-fir ed pla n t a n d h a s stopped th e Key ston e XL Pipelin e. Th e cu r r en t Pr esiden t h a s don e

n oth in g to disa v ow th e sca r e ca m pa ig n a g a in st h y dr a u lic fr a ctu r in g . Fu r th er m or e, h e h a s w a sted billion s of ta x pa y er s' dolla r s by

su bsidizin g fa v or ed com pa n ies like Soly n dr a , w h ich g en er a ted ba n kr u ptcies r a th er th a n kilow a tts.

Sin ce th e cu r r en t Pr esiden t took office in 2 009 , con su m er s pa y a ppr ox im a tely tw ice a s m u ch for g a s a t th e pu m p. Ou r com m on

th em e is to pr om ote dev elopm en t of a ll for m s of en er g y , en a ble con su m er ch oice to keep en er g y costs low , a n d en su r e th a t A m er ica

r em a in s com petit iv e in th e g loba l m a r ketpla ce. We w ill r espect th e Sta tes' pr ov en a bility to r eg u la te th e u se of h y dr a u lic

fr a ctu r in g , con t in u e dev elopm en t of oil a n d g a s r esou r ces in pla ces like th e Ba kken for m a tion a n d Ma r cellu s Sh a le, a n d r ev iew th e

en v ir on m en ta l la w s th a t often th w a r t n ew en er g y ex plor a t ion a n d pr odu ct ion . We sa lu te th e Repu blica n Mem ber s of th e Hou se of

Repr esen ta t iv es for pa ssin g th e Dom est ic En er g y a n d Jobs A ct , a v ita l piece of pr o-g r ow th leg isla t ion n ow in tr odu ced by

Repu blica n s in th e Sen a te.

Agriculture

Abundant Harvests: Protecting Our Farm ers

A g r icu ltu r a l pr odu ct ion a n d a g r icu ltu r a l ex por ts a r e a fu n da m en ta l pa r t of th e U.S. econ om y , a n d th e v ig or of U.S. a g r icu ltu r e is

cen tr a l to ou r a g en da for jobs, g r ow th , a n d pr osper ity . Ou r fa r m er s a n d r a n ch er s a r e r espon sible for m illion s of jobs a n d for

g en er a t in g a tr a de su r plu s of m or e th a n $1 3 7 billion a n n u a lly . Ou r pr odu cer s pr ov ide A m er ica w ith a bu n da n t food, ex por t food to

h u n g r y people a r ou n d th e w or ld, a n d cr ea te a posit iv e tr a de ba la n ce. Beca u se of th eir ca r e for th e la n d, th e Un ited Sta tes does n ot

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h u n g r y people a r ou n d th e w or ld, a n d cr ea te a posit iv e tr a de ba la n ce. Beca u se of th eir ca r e for th e la n d, th e Un ited Sta tes does n ot

depen d on for eig n im por ts for su sten a n ce th e w a y w e depen d on oth er s for m u ch of ou r en er g y . How ev er , A m er ica n s a r e con cer n ed

a bou t th e in cr ea sin g cost of th eir food u n der th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion policies th a t r estr ict en er g y pr odu ct ion a n d r a ise costs for

pr odu cer s du e to in cr ea sed r eg u la t ion . Ou r depen den ce on for eig n im por ts of fer t ilizer cou ld th r ea ten ou r food su pply , a n d w e

su ppor t th e dev elopm en t of dom est ic pr odu ct ion of fer t ilizer . Th e su ccess of ou r sy stem of r isk m a n a g em en t policies w ill en a ble

fa r m er s a n d r a n ch er s to con tin u e to feed a n d fu el th e n a t ion a n d m u ch of th e w or ld.

Restoring Econom ic Stability for Our Farm ers

Un cer ta in ty is th r ea ten in g th e su r v iv a l of ou r n a t ion 's fa r m er s. A m er ica 's g r ow er s a n d fa r m er s a r e a g in g a n d m u ch of A m er ica 's

fa r m la n d w ill be pa ssed to th e n ex t g en er a t ion of fa r m er s w ith fa m ilies. Un cer ta in t ies in esta te a n d ca pita l g a in s ta x la w s th r ea ten

th e su r v iv a l of m u lt ig en er a t ion a l fa m ily fa r m s. Th e pr oposa ls for ta x r efor m s con ta in ed elsew h er e in th is docu m en t w ill m a ke

cer ta in th a t fa m ily fa r m s w ill n ot be lost .

The Proper Federal Role in Agriculture

A g r icu ltu r a l pr odu cer s a n d th e jobs th ey g en er a te th r ou g h ou t th e en t ir e food ch a in m u st con fr on t v ola t ility in both th e w ea th er

a n d th e m a r kets. We su ppor t fa r m pr og r a m s th a t en a ble th em to m a n a g e th e ex tr a or din a r y r isk th ey m eet in th e fields ev er y

y ea r . Th ese pr og r a m s sh ou ld be a s cost-effect iv e a s th ey a r e fu n ct ion a l, offer in g r isk m a n a g em en t tools th a t im pr ov e pr odu cer s'

a bility to oper a te w h en t im es a r e tou g h .

Ju st a s a ll oth er feder a l pr og r a m s m u st con tr ibu te to th e deficit r edu ct ion n ecessa r y to pu t ou r cou n tr y ba ck on a sou n d fisca l

foot in g , so m u st fa r m pr og r a m s con tr ibu te to ba la n cin g th e bu dg et .

Pr og r a m s like th e Dir ect Pa y m en t pr og r a m sh ou ld en d in fa v or of th ose, like cr op in su r a n ce, th a t h elp m a n a g e r isk a n d a r e

cou n ter -cy clica l in n a tu r e.

We su ppor t th e h istor ic r ole of th e USDA in a g r icu ltu r a l r esea r ch th a t h a s tr a n sfor m ed fa r m in g h er e a n d a r ou n d th e w or ld.

Beca u se food sa fety is a m a jor con cer n of th e A m er ica n people, w e u r g e Con g r ess to en su r e a dequ a te r esou r ces for th e Depa r tm en t 's

r espon sibilit ies in th a t r eg a r d.

Th e U. S. For est Ser v ice con tr ols a bou t 1 9 3 m illion a cr es of la n d a n d em ploy s 3 0,000 w or ker s. Th e For est Ser v ice sh ou ld be

ch a r g ed to u se th ese r esou r ces to th e best econ om ic poten t ia l for th e n a t ion . We m u st lim it in ju n ct ion s by a ct iv ist ju dg es r eg a r din g

en v ir on m en ta l m a n a g em en t. In or der to secu r e on e of th e cou n tr y 's m ost im por ta n t n a tu r a l r esou r ces, w e w ill r ev iew th e w a y th e

For est Ser v ice h a n dles w ildfir es. Th is su m m er 's la ck of r a in fa ll ov er m u ch of a g r icu ltu r a l A m er ica h ig h lig h ts th e im por ta n ce of

a ccess to w a ter for fa r m er s a n d r a n ch er s a like. We sta n d w ith g r ow er s a n d pr odu cer s in defen se of th eir w a ter r ig h ts a g a in st

a ttem pts by th e EPA a n d th e A r m y Cor ps of En g in eer s to ex pa n d ju r isdict ion ov er w a ter , in clu din g w a ter th a t is clea r ly n ot

n a v ig a ble.

Th e pr odu ct iv ity of A m er ica 's fa r m er s m a kes possible th e g en er osity of U.S. food a id effor ts a r ou n d th e w or ld. Th ese pr og r a m s a r e

fr a g m en ted betw een th e Depa r tm en t of A g r icu ltu r e a n d th e U.S. A g en cy for In ter n a t ion a l Dev elopm en t. Th ey sh ou ld be

str ea m lin ed in to on e a g en cy w ith a con cen tr a t ion on r edu cin g ov er h ea d to m a x im ize deliv er y of th e a ctu a l g oods.

Th e food sta m p pr og r a m n ow a ccou n ts for n ea r ly 8 0 per cen t of th e en t ir e USDA bu dg et . In fin din g w a y s to fig h t fr a u d a n d a bu se,

th e Con g r ess sh ou ld con sider block-g r a n tin g th a t pr og r a m to th e Sta tes, a lon g w ith th e oth er dom est ic n u tr it ion pr og r a m s.

Protecting Our Environm ent

Th e en v ir on m en t is g ett in g clea n er a n d h ea lth ier . Th e n a t ion 's a ir a n d w a ter w a y s, a s a w h ole, a r e m u ch h ea lth ier th a n th ey w er e

ju st a few deca des a g o. Effor ts to r edu ce pollu t ion , en cou r a g e r ecy clin g , edu ca te th e pu blic, a n d a v oid ecolog ica l deg r a da t ion h a v e

been a su ccess. To en su r e th eir con tin u ed su ppor t by th e A m er ica n people, h ow ev er , w e n eed a dr a m a tic ch a n g e in th e a tt itu de of

officia ls in Wa sh in g ton , a sh ift fr om a job-killin g pu n it iv e m en ta lity to a spir it of cooper a t ion w ith pr odu cer s, la n dow n er s, a n d th e

pu blic. A n im por ta n t fa ctor is fu ll t r a n spa r en cy in dev elopm en t of th e da ta a n d m odelin g th a t dr iv e r eg u la t ion s. Leg isla t ion to

r estor e th e a u th or ity of Sta tes in en v ir on m en ta l pr otect ion is essen t ia l. We en cou r a g e th e u se of a g r icu ltu r a l best m a n a g em en t

pr a ct ices a m on g th e Sta tes to r edu ce pollu t ion .

Our Republican Party 's Com m itm ent to Conservation

Con ser v a t ion is a con ser v a t iv e v a lu e. A s th e pion eer of con ser v a t ion ov er a cen tu r y a g o, th e Repu blica n Pa r ty believ es in th e

m or a l oblig a t ion of th e people to be g ood stew a r ds of th e God-g iv en n a tu r a l bea u ty a n d r esou r ces of ou r cou n tr y a n d ba ses

en v ir on m en ta l policy on sev er a l com m on -sen se pr in ciples. For ex a m ple, w e believ e people a r e th e m ost v a lu a ble r esou r ce, a n d

h u m a n h ea lth a n d sa fety a r e th e m ost im por ta n t m ea su r em en ts of su ccess. A policy pr otect in g th ese object iv es, h ow ev er , m u st

ba la n ce econ om ic dev elopm en t a n d pr iv a te pr oper ty r ig h ts in th e sh or t r u n w ith con ser v a t ion g oa ls ov er th e lon g r u n . A lso,

pu blic a ccess to pu blic la n ds for r ecr ea t ion a l a ct iv it ies su ch a s h u n tin g , fish in g , a n d r ecr ea t ion a l sh oot in g sh ou ld be per m itted on

a ll a ppr opr ia te feder a l la n ds.

Mor eov er , th e a dv a n ce of scien ce a n d tech n olog y a dv a n ces en v ir on m en ta lism a s w ell. Scien ce a llow s u s to w eig h th e costs a n d

ben efits of a policy so th a t w e ca n pr u den tly dea l w ith ou r r esou r ces. Th is is especia lly im por ta n t w h en th e ca u ses a n d lon g -r a n g e

effects of a ph en om en on a r e u n cer ta in . We m u st r estor e scien t ific in teg r ity to ou r pu blic r esea r ch in st itu t ion s a n d r em ov e polit ica l

in cen tiv es fr om pu blicly fu n ded r esea r ch .

Priv a t e St ewa rdsh ip of t h e En v iron m en t

Ex per ien ce h a s sh ow n th a t , in ca r in g for th e la n d a n d w a ter , pr iv a te ow n er sh ip h a s been ou r best g u a r a n tee of con scien t iou s

stew a r dsh ip, w h ile th e w or st in sta n ces of en v ir on m en ta l deg r a da t ion h a v e occu r r ed u n der g ov er n m en t con tr ol. By th e sa m e

token , th e m ost econ om ica lly a dv a n ced cou n tr ies—th ose th a t r espect a n d pr otect pr iv a te pr oper ty r ig h ts—a lso h a v e th e str on g est

en v ir on m en ta l pr otect ion s, beca u se th eir econ om ic pr og r ess m a kes possible th e con ser v a t ion of n a tu r a l r esou r ces. In th is con tex t ,

Con g r ess sh ou ld r econ sider w h eth er pa r ts of th e feder a l g ov er n m en t 's en or m ou s la n dh oldin g s a n d con tr ol of w a ter in th e West

cou ld be better u sed for r a n ch in g , m in in g , or for estr y th r ou g h pr iv a te ow n er sh ip. Tim ber is a r en ew a ble n a tu r a l r esou r ce, w h ich

pr ov ides jobs to th ou sa n ds of A m er ica n s. A ll effor ts sh ou ld be m a de to m a ke feder a l la n ds m a n a g ed by th e U.S. For est Ser v ice

a v a ila ble for h a r v est in g . Th e en du r in g tr u th is th a t people best pr otect w h a t th ey ow n .

It m a kes sen se th a t th ose closest to a situ a t ion a r e best a ble to deter m in e its r em edy . Th a t is w h y a site- a n d situ a t ion -specific

a ppr oa ch to a n en v ir on m en ta l pr oblem is m or e likely to solv e it , in stea d of a n a t ion a l r u le ba sed on th e ideolog ica l con cer n s of

polit icized cen tr a l pla n n in g . We th er efor e en dor se leg isla t ion to r equ ir e con g r ession a l a ppr ov a l befor e a n y r u le pr ojected to cost in

ex cess of $1 00 m illion to A m er ica n con su m er s ca n g o in to effect .

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Th e Repu blica n Pa r ty su ppor ts a ppoin t in g pu blic officia ls to feder a l a g en cies w h o w ill pr oper ly a n d cor r ect ly a pply en v ir on m en ta l

la w s a n d r eg u la t ion s, a lw a y s in su ppor t of econ om ic dev elopm en t, job cr ea t ion , a n d A m er ica n pr osper ity a n d lea der sh ip. Feder a l

a g en cies ch a r g ed w ith en for cin g en v ir on m en ta l la w s m u st stop r eg u la t in g bey on d th eir a u th or ity . Th er e is n o pla ce in r eg u la tor y

a g en cies for a ct iv ist r eg u la tor s.

Reining in the EPA

Sin ce 2 009 , th e EPA h a s m ov ed for w a r d w ith ex pa n siv e r eg u la t ion s th a t w ill im pose ten s of billion s of dolla r s in n ew costs on

A m er ica n bu sin esses a n d con su m er s. Ma n y of th ese n ew r u les a r e cr ea t in g r eg u la tor y u n cer ta in ty , pr ev en tin g n ew pr ojects fr om

g oin g for w a r d, discou r a g in g n ew in v estm en t, a n d st iflin g job cr ea t ion .

We dem a n d a n en d to th e EPA 's pa r t icipa t ion in "su e a n d sett le" la w su its, sw eeth ea r t lit ig a t ion br ou g h t by en v ir on m en ta l g r ou ps

to ex pa n d th e A g en cy 's r eg u la tor y a ct iv it ies a g a in st th e w ish es of Con g r ess a n d th e pu blic. We w ill r equ ir e fu ll t r a n spa r en cy in

lit ig a t ion u n der th e n a t ion 's en v ir on m en ta l la w s, in clu din g a dv a n ce n ot ice to a ll Sta te a n d loca l g ov er n m en ts, tr ibes, bu sin esses,

la n dow n er s, a n d th e pu blic w h o cou ld be a dv er sely a ffected. We likew ise su ppor t pen din g leg isla t ion to en su r e cu m u la t iv e a n a ly sis

of EPA r eg u la t ion s, a n d to r equ ir e fu ll t r a n spa r en cy in a ll EPA decision s, so th a t th e pu blic w ill kn ow in a dv a n ce th eir fu ll im pa ct

on jobs a n d th e econ om y . We oppose th e EPA 's u n w a r r a n ted r ev oca t ion of ex ist in g per m its. We a lso ca ll on Con g r ess to ta ke qu ick

a ct ion to pr oh ibit th e EPA fr om m ov in g for w a r d w ith n ew g r een h ou se g a s r eg u la t ion s th a t w ill h a r m th e n a t ion 's econ om y a n d

th r ea ten m illion s of jobs ov er th e n ex t qu a r ter cen tu r y . Th e m ost pow er fu l en v ir on m en ta l policy is liber ty , th e cen tr a l or g a n izin g

pr in ciple of th e A m er ica n Repu blic a n d its people. Liber ty a lon e foster s scien t ific in qu ir y , tech n olog ica l in n ov a t ion ,

en tr epr en eu r sh ip, a n d in for m a tion ex ch a n g e. Liber ty m u st r em a in th e cor e en er g y beh in d A m er ica 's en v ir on m en ta l

im pr ov em en t.

Reforming Government to Serve the People

We a r e th e pa r ty of g ov er n m en t r efor m . A t a t im e w h en th e feder a l g ov er n m en t h a s becom e bloa ted, a n t iqu a ted a n d u n r espon siv e

to ta x pa y er s, it is ou r in ten t ion n ot on ly to im pr ov e m a n a g em en t a n d pr ov ide better ser v ices, bu t a lso to r eth in k a n d r estr u ctu r e

g ov er n m en t to br in g it in to th e tw en ty -fir st cen tu r y . Gov er n m en t r efor m r equ ir es con sta n t v ig ila n ce a n d effor t beca u se

g ov er n m en t by its n a tu r e ten ds to ex pa n d in both size a n d scope. Ou r g oa l is n ot ju st less spen din g in Wa sh in g ton bu t som eth in g

fa r m or e im por ta n t for th e fu tu r e of ou r n a t ion : pr otect in g th e con st itu t ion a l r ig h ts of cit izen s, su sta in a ble pr osper ity , a n d

str en g th en in g th e A m er ica n fa m ily .

It isn 't en ou g h to m er ely dow n size g ov er n m en t, h a v in g a sm a ller v er sion of th e sa m e fa iled sy stem s. We m u st do th in g s in a

dr a m a tica lly differ en t w a y by r ev er sin g th e u n der m in in g of feder a lism a n d th e cen tr a lizin g of pow er in Wa sh in g ton . We look to

th e ex a m ple set by Repu blica n Gov er n or s a n d leg isla tor s a ll a cr oss th e n a t ion . Th eir lea der sh ip in r efor m in g a n d r een g in eer in g

g ov er n m en t closest to th e people v in dica tes th e r ole of th e Sta tes a s th e la bor a tor ies of dem ocr a cy .

Ou r a ppr oa ch , like th eir s, is tw o-fold. We look to g ov er n m en t—loca l, Sta te, a n d feder a l—for th e th in g s g ov er n m en t m u st do, bu t w e

believ e th ose du t ies ca n be ca r r ied ou t m or e efficien t ly a n d a t less cost . For a ll oth er a ct iv it ies, w e look to th e pr iv a te sector ; for th e

A m er ica n people's r esou r cefu ln ess, pr odu ct iv ity , in n ov a t ion , fisca l r espon sibility , a n d cit izen lea der sh ip h a v e a lw a y s been th e tr u e

fou n da tion of ou r n a t ion a l g r ea tn ess.

For m u ch of th e la st cen tu r y , a n opposin g v iew h a s dom in a ted pu blic policy w h er e w e h a v e w itn essed th e ex pa n sion ,

cen tr a liza t ion , a n d bu r ea u cr a cy in a n en t it lem en t society . Gov er n m en t h a s lu m ber ed on , st iflin g in n ov a t ion , w ith n o in cen tiv e

for fu n da m en ta l ch a n g e, th r ou g h a n t iqu a ted pr og r a m s beg u n g en er a t ion s a g o a n d n ow ill-su ited to pr esen t n eeds a n d fu tu r e

r equ ir em en ts. A s a r esu lt , toda y 's ta x pa y er s—a n d fu tu r e g en er a t ion s—fa ce m a ssiv e in debtedn ess, w h ile Con g r ession a l Dem ocr a ts

a n d th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion block ev er y a ttem pt to tu r n th in g s a r ou n d. Th is m a n -m a de log -ja m —th e so-ca lled sta lem a te in

Wa sh in g ton —pa r t icu la r ly a ffects th e g ov er n m en t 's th r ee la r g est pr og r a m s, w h ich h a v e becom e cen tr a l to th e liv es of u n told

m illion s of A m er ica n s: Medica r e, Medica id, a n d Socia l Secu r ity .

Saving Medicare for Future Generations

Th e Repu blica n Pa r ty is com m itted to sa v in g Medica r e a n d Medica id. Un less th e pr og r a m s' fisca l sh ip is r ig h ted, th e in div idu a ls

h u r t th e fir st a n d th e w or st w ill be th ose w h o depen d on th em th e m ost . We w ill sa v e Medica r e by m oder n izin g it , by em pow er in g

its pa r t icipa n ts, a n d by pu tt in g it on a secu r e fin a n cia l foot in g . Th is w ill be a n en or m ou s u n der ta kin g , a n d it sh ou ld be a n on -

pa r t isa n on e. We w elcom e to th e effor t a ll w h o sin cer ely w a n t to en su r e th e fu tu r e for ou r sen ior s a n d th e poor . Repu blica n s a r e

deter m in ed to a ch iev e th a t g oa l w ith a ca n did a n d h on est pr esen ta t ion of th e pr oblem a n d its solu t ion s to th e A m er ica n people.

Despite th e en or m ou s differ en ces betw een Medica r e a n d Medica id, th e tw o pr og r a m s sh a r e th e sa m e fisca l ou t look: th eir cu r r en t

cou r ses ca n n ot be su sta in ed. Medica r e h a s g r ow n fr om m or e th a n 2 0 m illion en r olled in 1 9 7 0 to m or e th a n 4 7 m illion en r olled

toda y , w ith a pr ojected tota l of 8 0 m illion in 2 03 0. Medica id cou n ted a lm ost 3 0 m illion en r ollees in 1 9 9 0, h a s a bou t 5 4 m illion

n ow , a n d u n der Oba m a ca r e w ou ld in clu de a n a ddit ion a l 1 1 m illion . Medica r e spen t m or e th a n $5 2 0 billion in 2 01 0 a n d h a s close

to $3 7 tr illion in u n fu n ded oblig a t ion s, w h ile tota l Medica id spen din g w ill m or e th a n dou ble by 2 01 9 . In m a n y Sta tes, Medica id's

m a n da tes a n d in flex ible bu r ea u cr a cy h a v e becom e a bu dg eta r y bla ck h ole, g r ow in g fa ster th a n m ost oth er bu dg et lin es a n d

dev ou r in g fu n din g for m a n y oth er essen t ia l g ov er n m en ta l fu n ct ion s.

Th e pr oblem g oes bey on d fin a n ces. Poor qu a lity h ea lth ca r e is th e m ost ex pen siv e ty pe of ca r e beca u se it pr olon g s a fflict ion a n d

lea ds to ev er m or e com plica t ion s. Ev en ex pen siv e pr ev en tion is pr efer a ble to m or e cost ly tr ea tm en t la ter on . Wh en a ppr ox im a tely

8 0 per cen t of h ea lth ca r e costs a r e r ela ted to lifesty le—sm okin g , obesity , su bsta n ce a bu se—fa r g r ea ter em ph a sis h a s to be pu t u pon

per son a l r espon sibility for h ea lth m a in ten a n ce. Ou r g oa l for both Medica r e a n d Medica id m u st be to a ssu r e th a t ev er y pa r t icipa n t

r eceiv es th e a m ou n t of ca r e th ey n eed a t th e t im e th ey n eed it , w h eth er for a n ex pecta n t m oth er a n d h er ba by or for som eon e in

th e la st m om en ts of life. A bsen t r efor m s, th ese tw o pr og r a m s a r e h ea ded for ba n kr u ptcy th a t w ill en da n g er ca r e for sen ior s a n d th e

poor .

Th e fir st step is to m ov e th e tw o pr og r a m s a w a y fr om th eir cu r r en t u n su sta in a ble defin ed-ben efit en t it lem en t m odel to a fisca lly

sou n d defin edcon tr ibu t ion m odel. Th is is th e on ly w a y to lim it costs a n d r estor e con su m er ch oice for pa t ien ts a n d in tr odu ce

com petit ion ; for in h ea lth ca r e, a s in a n y oth er sector of th e econ om y , g en u in e com petit ion is th e best g u a r a n tee of better ca r e a t

low er cost . It is a lso th e best g u a r d a g a in st th e fr a u d a n d a bu se th a t h a v e pla g u ed Medica r e in its isola t ion fr om fr ee m a r ket for ces,

w h ich in tu r n costs th e ta x pa y er s billion s of dolla r s ev er y y ea r . We ca n do th is w ith ou t m a kin g a n y ch a n g es for th ose 5 5 a n d

older . Wh ile r eta in in g th e opt ion of tr a dit ion a l Medica r e in com petit ion w ith pr iv a te pla n s, w e ca ll for a tr a n sit ion to a pr em iu m -

su ppor t m odel for Medica r e, w ith a n in com ea dju sted con tr ibu t ion tow a r d a h ea lth pla n of th e en r ollee's ch oice. Th is m odel w ill

in clu de pr iv a te h ea lth in su r a n ce pla n s th a t pr ov ide ca ta str oph ic pr otect ion , to en su r e th e con tin u a t ion of doctor -pa t ien t

r ela t ion sh ips. With ou t disa dv a n ta g in g r et ir ees or th ose n ea r in g r et ir em en t, th e a g e elig ibility for Medica r e m u st be m a de m or e

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r ea list ic in ter m s of toda y 's lon g er life spa n .

Strengthening Medicaid in the States

Medica id, a s th e dom in a n t pa y er in th e h ea lth m a r ket in r eg a r ds to lon g -ter m ca r e, bir th s, a n d in div idu a ls w ith m en ta l illn ess, is

th e n ex t fr on t ier of w elfa r e r efor m . It is sim ply too big a n d too fla w ed to be m a n a g ed in its cu r r en t con dit ion fr om Wa sh in g ton .

Repu blica n Gov er n or s h a v e ta ken th e lea d in pr oposin g a h ost of r eg u la tor y ch a n g es th a t cou ld m a ke th e pr og r a m m or e flex ible,

in n ov a t iv e, a n d a ccou n ta ble. Th er e sh ou ld be a lter n a t iv es to h ospita liza t ion for ch r on ic h ea lth pr oblem s. Pa t ien ts cou ld be

r ew a r ded for pa r t icipa t in g in disea se pr ev en tion a ct iv it ies. Ex cessiv e m a n da tes on cov er a g e sh ou ld be elim in a ted. Pa t ien ts w ith

lon g -ter m ca r e n eeds m ig h t fa r e better in a sepa r a tely desig n ed pr og r a m .

A s th ose a n d oth er specific pr oposa ls sh ow , Repu blica n Gov er n or s a n d Sta te leg isla tu r es a r e r ea dy to do th e h a r d w or k of

m oder n izin g Medica id for th e tw en ty -fir st cen tu r y . We pr opose to let th em do a ll th a t a n d m or e by block-g r a n tin g th e pr og r a m to

th e Sta tes, pr ov idin g th e Sta tes w ith th e flex ibility to desig n pr og r a m s th a t m eet th e n eeds of th eir low in com e cit izen s. Su ch

r efor m s cou ld be a ch iev ed th r ou g h pr em iu m su ppor ts or a r efu n da ble ta x cr edit , a llow in g n on -disa bled a du lts a n d ch ildr en to be

m ov ed in to pr iv a te h ea lth in su r a n ce of th eir ch oice, w h er e th eir n eeds ca n be m et on th e sa m e ba sis a s th ose of m or e a fflu en t

A m er ica n s. For th e a g ed a n d disa bled u n der Medica id, for w h om m on th ly costs ca n be ex tr em ely h ig h , Sta tes w ou ld h a v e

flex ibility to im pr ov e th e qu a lity of ca r e a n d to a v oid th e in a ppr opr ia te in st itu t ion a l pla cin g of pa t ien ts w h o pr efer to be ca r ed for

a t h om e.

Security For T hose Who Need It: Ensuring Retirem ent Security

Wh ile n o ch a n g es sh ou ld a dv er sely a ffect a n y cu r r en t or n ea r -r et ir ee, com pr eh en siv e r efor m sh ou ld a ddr ess ou r society 's

r em a r ka ble m edica l a dv a n ces in lon g ev ity a n d a llow y ou n g er w or ker s th e opt ion of cr ea t in g th eir ow n per son a l in v estm en t

a ccou n ts a s su pplem en ts to th e sy stem . You n g er A m er ica n s h a v e lost a ll fa ith in th e Socia l Secu r ity sy stem , w h ich is

u n der sta n da ble w h en th ey r ea d th e n on pa r t isa n a ctu a r y 's r epor ts a bou t its fu tu r e fu n din g sta tu s. Bor n in a n old in du str ia l er a

bey on d th e m em or y of m ost A m er ica n s, it is lon g ov er du e for m a jor ch a n g e, n ot ju st a n oth er leg isla t iv e stopg a p th a t postpon es a

da y of r eckon in g . To r estor e pu blic tr u st in th e sy stem , Repu blica n s a r e com m itted to sett in g it on a sou n d fisca l ba sis th a t w ill

g iv e w or ker s con tr ol ov er , a n d a sou n d r etu r n on , th eir in v estm en ts. Th e soon er w e a ct , th e soon er th ose close to r et ir em en t ca n be

r ea ssu r ed of th eir ben efits a n d y ou n g er w or ker s ca n ta ke r espon sibility for pla n n in g th eir ow n r et ir em en t deca des fr om n ow .

Un like Socia l Secu r ity , th e pr oblem s fa cin g pr iv a te pen sion pla n s a r e both dem og r a ph ic a n d eth ica l. Wh ile pen sion la w m a y be

com plica ted, th e cu r r en t bottom lin e is th a t m a n y pla n s a r e in cr ea sin g ly u n der fu n ded by ov er est im a tin g th eir r a tes of r etu r n on

in v estm en ts. Th is in tu r n en da n g er s th e in teg r ity of th e Pen sion Gu a r a n ty Ben efit Cor por a t ion , w h ich is itself ser iou sly

u n der fu n ded. In both ca ses, th e ta x pa y er s w ill be ex pected to pa y for a ba ilou t . A s th e fir st step tow a r d possible cor r ect iv e a ct ion ,

w e ca ll for a pr esiden tia l pa n el to r ev iew th e pr iv a te pen sion sy stem in th is cou n tr y of on ly th ose pr iv a te pen sion s th a t a r e ba cked

by th e Pen sion Gu a r a n ty Ben efit Cor por a t ion a n d to m a ke pu blic its fin din g s.

Th e situ a t ion of pu blic pen sion sy stem s dem a n ds im m edia te r em edia l a ct ion . Th e ir r espon sible pr om ises of polit icia n s a t ev er y

lev el of g ov er n m en t h a v e com e ba ck to h a u n t toda y 's ta x pa y er s w ith en or m ou s u n fu n ded pen sion lia bilit ies. Ma n y cit ies fa ce

ba n kr u ptcy beca u se of ex cessiv e ou t la y s for ea r ly r et ir em en t, ex tr a v a g a n t h ea lth pla n s, a n d ov er ly g en er ou s pen sion ben efits. We

sa lu te th e Repu blica n Gov er n or s a n d Sta te leg isla tor s w h o h a v e, in th e fa ce of a bu se a n d th r ea ts of v iolen ce, r efor m ed th eir Sta te

pen sion sy stem s for th e ben efit of both ta x pa y er s a n d r et ir ees a like.

Regulatory Reform : T he Key to Econom ic Growth

Th e pr oper pu r pose of r eg u la t ion is to set for th clea r r u les of th e r oa d for th e cit izen s, so th a t bu sin ess ow n er s a n d w or ker s ca n

u n der sta n d in a dv a n ce w h a t th ey n eed to do, or n ot do, to a u g m en t th e possibilit ies for su ccess w ith in th e con fin es of th e la w .

Reg u la t ion s m u st be dr a fted a n d im plem en ted to ba la n ce leg it im a te pu blic sa fety or con su m er pr otect ion g oa ls a n d job cr ea t ion .

Con str u ct iv e r eg u la t ion sh ou ld be a h elpfu l g u ide, n ot a pu n it iv e th r ea t . Wor st of a ll, ov er r eg u la t ion is a stea lth ta x on ev er y on e

a s th e costs of com plia n ce w ith th e w h im s of feder a l a g en cies a r e pa ssed a lon g to th e con su m er s a t th e cost of $1 .7 5 tr illion a y ea r .

Ma n y r eg u la t ion s a r e n ecessa r y , like th ose w h ich en su r e th e sa fety of food a n d m edicin e, especia lly fr om ov er sea s. Bu t n o per il

ju st ifies th e r eg u la tor y im pa ct of Oba m a ca r e on th e pr a ct ice of m edicin e, th e Dodd-Fr a n k A ct on fin a n cia l ser v ices, or th e EPA 's

a n d OSHA 's ov er r ea ch in g r eg u la t ion a g en da . A Repu blica n Con g r ess a n d Pr esiden t w ill r epea l th e fir st a n d secon d, a n d r ein in th e

th ir d. We su ppor t a su n set r equ ir em en t to for ce r econ sider a t ion of ou t-ofda te r eg u la t ion s, a n d w e en dor se pen din g leg isla t ion to

r equ ir e con g r ession a l a ppr ov a l for a ll n ew m a jor a n d cost ly r eg u la t ion s.

Th e bottom lin e on r eg u la t ion s is jobs. In listen in g to A m er ica , on e con sta n t w e h a v e h ea r d is th e jobcr ipplin g effect of ev en w ell-

in ten t ion ed r eg u la t ion . Th a t m a kes it a ll th e m or e im por ta n t for feder a l a g en cies to be ju diciou s a bou t th e im posit ion s th ey cr ea te

on bu sin esses, especia lly sm a ll bu sin esses. We ca ll for a m or a tor iu m on th e dev elopm en t of a n y n ew m a jor a n d cost ly r eg u la t ion s

u n til a Repu blica n A dm in istr a t ion r ev iew s ex ist in g r u les to en su r e th a t th ey h a v e a sou n d ba sis in scien ce a n d w ill be cost-

effect iv e.

Protecting Internet Freedom

Th e In ter n et h a s u n lea sh ed in n ov a t ion , en a bled g r ow th , a n d in spir ed fr eedom m or e r a pidly a n d ex ten siv ely th a n a n y oth er

tech n olog ica l a dv a n ce in h u m a n h istor y . Its in depen den ce is its pow er . Th e In ter n et offer s a com m u n ica t ion s sy stem u n iqu ely fr ee

fr om g ov er n m en t in ter v en tion . We w ill r em ov e r eg u la tor y ba r r ier s th a t pr otect ou tda ted tech n olog ies a n d bu sin ess pla n s fr om

in n ov a t ion a n d com petit ion , w h ile pr ev en tin g leg a cy r eg u la t ion fr om in ter fer in g w ith n ew a n d disr u ptiv e tech n olog ies su ch a s

m obile deliv er y of v oice v ideo da ta a s th ey becom e cr u cia l com pon en ts of th e In ter n et ecosy stem . We w ill r esist a n y effor t to sh ift

con tr ol a w a y fr om th e su ccessfu l m u lt i-sta keh older a ppr oa ch of In ter n et g ov er n a n ce a n d tow a r d g ov er n a n ce by in ter n a t ion a l or

oth er in ter g ov er n m en ta l or g a n iza t ion s. We w ill en su r e th a t per son a l da ta r eceiv es fu ll con st itu t ion a l pr otect ion fr om g ov er n m en t

ov er r ea ch a n d th a t in div idu a ls r eta in th e r ig h t to con tr ol th e u se of th eir da ta by th ir d pa r t ies; th e on ly w a y to sa feg u a r d or

im pr ov e th ese sy stem s is th r ou g h th e pr iv a te sector .

A Vision for the T wenty -First Century : T echnology , T elecom m unications and the Internet

Th e m ost v ibr a n t sector of th e A m er ica n econ om y , in deed, on e-six th of it , is r eg u la ted by th e feder a l g ov er n m en t on pr eceden ts

fr om th e n in eteen th cen tu r y . Toda y 's tech n olog y a n d telecom m u n ica t ion s in du str ies a r e ov er seen by th e Feder a l

Com m u n ica t ion s Com m ission , esta blish ed in 1 9 3 4 a n d g iv en th e ju r isdict ion ov er telecom m u n ica t ion s for m er ly a ssig n ed to th e

In ter sta te Com m er ce Com m ission , w h ich h a d been cr ea ted in 1 8 8 7 to r eg u la te th e r a ilr oa ds. Th is is n ot a g ood fit . In deed, th e

dev elopm en t of telecom m u n ica t ion s a dv a n ces so r a pidly th a t ev en th e Telecom A ct of 1 9 9 6 is w oefu lly ou t of da te. A n in du str y

th a t in v ested $6 6 billion in 2 01 1 a lon e n eeds, a n d deser v es, a m or e m oder n r ela t ion sh ip w ith th e feder a l g ov er n m en t for th e

ben efit of con su m er s h er e a n d w or ldw ide.

Th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion h a s been fr ozen in th e pa st . It h a s con du cted n o a u ct ion of spectr u m , h a s offer ed n o in cen tiv es for

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Th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion h a s been fr ozen in th e pa st . It h a s con du cted n o a u ct ion of spectr u m , h a s offer ed n o in cen tiv es for

in v estm en t, a n d, th r ou g h th e FCC's n et n eu tr a lity r u le, is tr y in g to m icr om a n a g e telecom a s if it w er e a r a ilr oa d n etw or k. It

in h er ited fr om th e pr ev iou s Repu blica n A dm in istr a t ion 9 5 per cen t cov er a g e of th e n a t ion w ith br oa dba n d. It w ill lea v e office w ith

n o pr og r ess tow a r d th e g oa l of u n iv er sa l cov er a g e — a fter spen din g $7 .2 billion m or e. Th a t h u r ts r u r a l A m er ica , w h er e fa r m er s,

r a n ch er s, a n d sm a ll bu sin ess m a n u fa ctu r er s n eed con n ect iv ity to ex pa n d th eir cu stom er ba se a n d oper a te in r ea l t im e w ith th e

w or ld's pr odu cer s. We en cou r a g e pu blic-pr iv a te pa r tn er sh ips to pr ov ide pr edicta ble su ppor t for con n ect in g r u r a l a r ea s so th a t

ev er y A m er ica n ca n fu lly pa r t icipa te in th e g loba l econ om y .

We ca ll for a n in v en tor y of feder a l a g en cy spectr u m to deter m in e th e su r plu s th a t cou ld be a u c a u ct ion ed for th e ta x pa y er s'

ben efit . With specia l r ecog n it ion of th e r ole u n iv er sity tech n olog y cen ter s a r e pla y in g in a ttr a ct in g pr iv a te in v estm en t to th e

field, w e w ill r epla ce th e a dm in istr a t ion 's Lu ddite a ppr oa ch to tech n olog ica l pr og r ess w ith a r eg u la tor y pa r tn er sh ip th a t w ill keep

th is cou n tr y th e w or ld lea der in tech n olog y a n d telecom m u n ica t ion s.

Protecting the T axpay ers: No More "T oo Big to Fail"

For m or e th a n a cen tu r y , th e U.S. w a s th e w or ld lea der in fin a n cia l ser v ices. Th e v ision a r y m a n a g em en t of ca pita l w a s th e

lifeblood of th e en t ir e econ om y . By g iv in g r espon sible a ccess to cr edit , it h elped sm a ll bu sin esses g r ow , cr ea ted jobs, a n d m a de

A m er ica n s th e best-h ou sed people in h istor y . By fu n din g in n ov a t ion , fin a n cia l ser v ices u n der w r ote ou r fu tu r e. Th en ca m e th e

fin a n cia l colla pse of 2 008 a n d a cr it ica l r ea ssessm en t of th e r ole a n d con dit ion of fin a n cia l in st itu t ion s—m ost of w h ich , it m u st be

sa id, w er e r espon sible a n d h ea lth y , especia lly th ose closest to th eir in v estor s a n d bor r ow er s.

In ca ses of m a lfea sa n ce or oth er cr im in a l beh a v ior , th e fu ll for ce of th e la w sh ou ld be u sed. Bu t in a ll ca ses, th is r u le m u st a pply : No

fin a n cia l in st itu t ion is too big to fa il. Th e ta x pa y er s m u st n ev er a g a in be on th e h ook for th e losses of Fa n n ie Ma e a n d Fr eddie Ma c.

Th e pu blic m u st n ev er a g a in be left h oldin g th e ba g for Wa ll Str eet g ia n ts, w h ich is w h y w e decr y th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion 's

r ecor d of ov er -r eg u la t ion a n d select iv e in ter v en tion , w h ich h a s a lr ea dy fr ozen in v estm en t a n d job cr ea t ion a n d th r ea ten s to m a ke

fin a n cia l in st itu t ion s th e coddled w a r ds of g ov er n m en t.

A fa r better a ppr oa ch —pr otect in g con su m er s a n d ta x pa y er s a like—is in st itu t ion a l tr a n spa r en cy . Ba n ks n eed to kn ow th a t th ey

cou ld be a t r isk, a n d in v estor s n eed clea r r u les th a t a r e n ot su bject to polit ica l m eddlin g . Th e sa m e h olds tr u e for th e equ ity m a r ket

r eg u la ted by th e Secu r it ies a n d Ex ch a n g e Com m ission . We pr opose r ea son a ble feder a l ov er sig h t of fin a n cia l in st itu t ion s, pr a ct ica l

sa feg u a r ds for con su m er s, a n d — w h a t is cr u cia l for th is cou n tr y 's econ om ic r ebou n d — sou n d spen din g , ta x , a n d r eg u la tor y

policies th a t w ill a llow th ose in st itu t ion s to on ce a g a in becom e th e bu ilder s of th e n ex t A m er ica n cen tu r y . We str on g ly su ppor t ta x

r efor m ; in th e ev en t w e do n ot a ch iev e th is, w e m u st pr eser v e th e m or tg a g e in ter est dedu ct ion .

Judicial Activism : A T hreat to the U.S. Constitution

Despite im pr ov em en ts a s a r esu lt of Repu blica n n om in a t ion s to th e ju dicia r y , som e ju dg es in th e feder a l cou r ts r em a in fa r a field

fr om th eir con st itu t ion a l lim ita t ion s. Th e U.S. Con st itu t ion is th e la w of th e la n d. Ju dicia l a ct iv ism w h ich in clu des r elia n ce on

for eig n la w or u n r a t ified tr ea t ies u n der m in es A m er ica n la w . Th e sole solu t ion , a pa r t fr om im pea ch m en t, is th e a ppoin tm en t of

con st itu t ion a list ju r ists, w h o w ill in ter pr et th e la w a s it w a s or ig in a lly in ten ded r a th er th a n m a ke it . Th a t is both a pr esiden tia l

r espon sibility , in select in g ju dicia l ca n dida tes, a n d a sen a tor ia l r espon sibility , in con fir m in g th em . We u r g e Repu blica n Sen a tor s

to do a ll in th eir pow er to pr ev en t th e elev a t ion of a ddit ion a l left ist ideolog u es to th e cou r ts, pa r t icu la r ly in th e w a n in g da y s of th e

cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion .

In a ddit ion to a ppoin t in g a ct iv ist ju dg es, th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion h a s in clu ded a n a ct iv ist a n d h ig h ly pa r t isa n Depa r tm en t of

Ju st ice. With a Repu blica n A dm in istr a t ion , th e Depa r tm en t w ill stop su in g Sta tes for ex er cisin g th ose pow er s r eser v ed to th e

Sta tes, w ill stop a bu sin g its pr eclea r a n ce a u th or ity to block ph oto-ID v ot in g la w s, a n d w ill fu lfill its r espon sibility to defen d a ll

feder a l la w s in cou r t , in clu din g th e Defen se of Ma r r ia g e A ct .

Restructuring the U.S. Postal Service for the T wenty -First Century

Th e dir e fin a n cia l cir cu m sta n ces of th e Posta l Ser v ice r equ ir e dr a m a tic r estr u ctu r in g . In a w or ld of r a pidly a dv a n cin g

telecom m u n ica t ion s, m a il deliv er y fr om th e er a of th e Pon y Ex pr ess ca n n ot lon g su r v iv e. We ca ll on Con g r ess to r estr u ctu r e th e

Ser v ice to en su r e th e con tin u a n ce of its essen t ia l fu n ct ion of deliv er in g m a il w h ile pr epa r in g for th e dow n sizin g m a de in ev ita ble

by th e a dv a n ce of in ter n et com m u n ica t ion . In lig h t of th e Posta l Ser v ice's ser iou sly u n der fu n ded pen sion sy stem , Con g r ess sh ou ld

ex plor e a g r ea ter r ole for pr iv a te en ter pr ise in a ppr opr ia te a spects of th e m a il-pr ocessin g sy stem .

Protecting T ravelers and their Rights: Reform ing the T SA for Security and Privacy

Wh ile th e a fter m a th of th e 2 001 ter r or ist a t ta cks br ou g h t a bou t a g r ea ter n eed for h om ela n d secu r ity , th e A m er ica n people h a v e

a lr ea dy deliv er ed th eir v er dict on th e Tr a n spor ta t ion Secu r ity A dm in istr a t ion : its pr ocedu r es — a n d m u ch of its per son n el — n eed

to be ch a n g ed. It is n ow a m a ssiv e bu r ea u cr a cy of 6 5 ,000 em ploy ees w h o seem to be a ccou n ta ble to n o on e for th e w a y th ey tr ea t

tr a v eler s. We ca ll for th e pr iv a te sector to ta ke ov er a ir por t scr een in g w h er ev er fea sible a n d look tow a r d th e dev elopm en t of

secu r ity sy stem s th a t ca n r epla ce th e per son a l v iola t ion of fr iskin g .

T he Rule of Law: Legal Im m igration

Th e g r ea test a sset of th e A m er ica n econ om y is th e A m er ica n w or ker . Ju st a s im m ig r a n t la bor h elped bu ild ou r cou n tr y in th e

pa st , toda y 's leg a l im m ig r a n ts a r e m a kin g v ita l con tr ibu t ion s in ev er y a spect of ou r n a t ion a l life. Th eir in du str y a n d com m itm en t

to A m er ica n v a lu es str en g th en s ou r econ om y , en r ich es ou r cu ltu r e, a n d en a bles u s to better u n der sta n d a n d m or e effect iv ely

com pete w ith th e r est of th e w or ld. Illeg a l im m ig r a t ion u n der m in es th ose ben efits a n d a ffects U.S. w or ker s. In a n a g e of ter r or ism ,

dr u g ca r tels, h u m a n tr a ffickin g , a n d cr im in a l g a n g s, th e pr esen ce of m illion s of u n iden tified per son s in th is cou n tr y poses g r a v e

r isks to th e sa fety a n d th e sov er eig n ty of th e Un ited Sta tes. Ou r h ig h est pr ior ity , th er efor e, is to secu r e th e r u le of la w both a t ou r

bor der s a n d a t por ts of en tr y .

We r ecog n ize th a t for m ost of th ose seekin g en tr y in to th is cou n tr y , th e la ck of r espect for th e r u le of la w in th eir h om ela n ds h a s

m ea n t econ om ic ex ploita t ion a n d polit ica l oppr ession by cor r u pt elites. In th is cou n tr y , th e r u le of la w g u a r a n tees equ a l tr ea tm en t

to ev er y in div idu a l, in clu din g m or e th a n on e m illion im m ig r a n ts to w h om w e g r a n t per m a n en t r esiden ce ev er y y ea r . Th a t is

w h y w e oppose a n y for m of a m n esty for th ose w h o, by in ten t ion a lly v iola t in g th e la w , disa dv a n ta g e th ose w h o h a v e obey ed it .

Gr a n tin g a m n esty on ly r ew a r ds a n d en cou r a g es m or e la w br ea kin g . We su ppor t th e m a n da tor y u se of th e Sy stem a tic A lien

V er ifica t ion for En tit lem en ts (S.A .V .E.) pr og r a m —a n in ter n et-ba sed sy stem th a t v er ifies th e la w fu l pr esen ce of a pplica n ts—pr ior to

th e g r a n tin g of a n y Sta te or feder a l g ov er n m en t en t it lem en ts or IRS r efu n ds. We in sist u pon en for cem en t a t th e w or kpla ce

th r ou g h v er ifica t ion sy stem s so th a t jobs ca n be a v a ila ble to a ll leg a l w or ker s. Use of th e E-v er ify pr og r a m —a n in ter n et-ba sed

sy stem th a t v er ifies th e em ploy m en t a u th or iza t ion a n d iden tity of em ploy ees—m u st be m a de m a n da tor y n a t ion w ide. Sta te

en for cem en t effor ts in th e w or kpla ce m u st be w elcom ed, n ot a t ta cked. Wh en A m er ica n s n eed jobs, it is a bsolu tely essen t ia l th a t w e

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en for cem en t effor ts in th e w or kpla ce m u st be w elcom ed, n ot a t ta cked. Wh en A m er ica n s n eed jobs, it is a bsolu tely essen t ia l th a t w e

pr otect th em fr om illeg a l la bor in th e w or kpla ce. In a ddit ion , it is w h y w e dem a n d tou g h pen a lt ies for th ose w h o pr a ct ice iden tity

th eft , dea l in fr a u du len t docu m en ts, a n d tr a ffic in h u m a n bein g s. It is w h y w e su ppor t Repu blica n leg isla t ion to g iv e th e

Depa r tm en t of Hom ela n d Secu r ity lon g -ter m deten t ion a u th or ity to keep da n g er ou s bu t u n depor ta ble a lien s off ou r str eets,

ex pedite ex pu lsion of cr im in a l a lien s, a n d m a ke g a n g m em ber sh ip a depor ta ble offen se.

Th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion 's a ppr oa ch to im m ig r a t ion h a s u n der m in ed th e r u le of la w a t ev er y tu r n . It h a s lessen ed w or k-site

en for cem en t—a n d ev en a llow s th e illeg a l a lien s it does u n cov er to w a lk dow n th e str eet to th e n ex t em ploy er —a n d ch a llen g ed

leg it im a te Sta te effor ts to keep com m u n it ies sa fe, su in g th em for tr y in g to en for ce th e la w w h en th e feder a l g ov er n m en t r efu ses to

do so. It h a s cr ea ted a ba ckdoor a m n esty pr og r a m u n r ecog n ized in la w , g r a n t in g w or ker a u th or iza t ion to illeg a l a lien s, a n d sh ow n

lit t le r eg a r d for th e life-a n d-dea th situ a t ion s fa cin g th e m en a n d w om en of th e bor der pa tr ol.

Per h a ps w or st of a ll, th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion h a s fa iled to en for ce th e leg a l m ea n s for w or ker s or em ploy er s w h o w a n t to

oper a te w ith in th e la w .

In con tr a st , a Repu blica n A dm in istr a t ion a n d Con g r ess w ill pa r tn er w ith loca l g ov er n m en ts th r ou g h cooper a t iv e en for cem en t

a g r eem en ts in Sect ion 2 8 7 g of th e Im m ig r a t ion a n d Na tion a lity A ct to m a ke com m u n it ies sa fer for a ll a n d w ill con sider , in lig h t of

both cu r r en t n eeds a n d h istor ic pr a ct ice, th e u t ility of a leg a l a n d r elia ble sou r ce of for eig n la bor w h er e n eeded th r ou g h a n ew

g u est w or ker pr og r a m . We w ill cr ea te h u m a n e pr ocedu r es to en cou r a g e illeg a l a lien s to r etu r n h om e v olu n ta r ily , w h ile en for cin g

th e la w a g a in st th ose w h o ov er sta y th eir v isa s.

Sta te effor ts to r edu ce illeg a l im m ig r a t ion m u st be en cou r a g ed, n ot a t ta cked. Th e pen din g Depa r tm en t of Ju st ice la w su its a g a in st

A r izon a , A la ba m a , Sou th Ca r olin a , a n d Uta h m u st be dism issed im m edia tely . Th e dou ble-la y er ed fen cin g on th e bor der th a t w a s

en a cted by Con g r ess in 2 006 , bu t n ev er com pleted, m u st fin a lly be bu ilt . In or der to r estor e th e r u le of la w , feder a l fu n din g sh ou ld

be den ied to sa n ctu a r y cit ies th a t v iola te feder a l la w a n d en da n g er th eir ow n cit izen s, a n d feder a l fu n din g sh ou ld be den ied to

u n iv er sit ies th a t pr ov ide in sta te tu it ion r a tes to illeg a l a lien s, in open defia n ce of feder a l la w .

We a r e g r a tefu l to th e th ou sa n ds of n ew im m ig r a n ts, m a n y of th em n ot y et cit izen s, w h o a r e ser v in g in th e A r m ed For ces. Th eir

pa tr iot ism sh ou ld en cou r a g e u s a ll to em br a ce th e n ew com er s leg a lly a m on g u s, a ssist th eir jou r n ey to fu ll cit izen sh ip, a n d h elp

th eir com m u n it ies a v oid isola t ion fr om th e m a in str ea m of society . To th a t en d, w h ile w e en cou r a g e th e r eten t ion a n d

tr a n sm ission of h er ita g e ton g u es, w e su ppor t En g lish a s th e n a t ion 's officia l la n g u a g e, a u n ify in g for ce essen t ia l for th e edu ca t ion a l

a n d econ om ic a dv a n cem en t of—n ot on ly im m ig r a n t com m u n it ies—bu t a lso ou r n a t ion a s a w h ole.

Honoring Our Relationship with Am erican Indians

Ba sed on both tr ea ty a n d oth er la w , th e feder a l g ov er n m en t h a s a u n iqu e g ov er n m en t-to-g ov er n m en t r ela t ion sh ip w ith a n d tr u st

r espon sibility for In dia n Tr iba l Gov er n m en ts a n d A m er ica n In dia n s a n d A la ska Na tiv es. Th ese oblig a t ion s h a v e n ot been

su fficien t ly h on or ed. Th e socia l a n d econ om ic pr oblem s th a t pla g u e In dia n cou n tr y h a v e g r ow n w or se ov er th e la st sev er a l

deca des; w e m u st r ev er se th a t tr en d. In effect iv e feder a l pr og r a m s depr iv e A m er ica n In dia n s of th e ser v ices th ey n eed, a n d lon g -

ter m fa ilu r es th r ea ten to u n der m in e tr iba l sov er eig n ty itself.

A m er ica n In dia n s h a v e esta blish ed elected tr iba l g ov er n m en ts to ca r r y ou t th e pu blic policies of th e tr ibe, a dm in ister ser v ices to

its tr iba l m em ber con st itu en ts, a n d m a n a g e r ela t ion s w ith feder a l, Sta te, a n d loca l g ov er n m en ts. We r espect th e tr iba l

g ov er n m en ts a s th e v oice of th eir com m u n it ies a n d en cou r a g e feder a l, Sta te, a n d loca l g ov er n m en ts to h eed th ose v oices in

dev elopin g pr og r a m s a n d pa r tn er sh ips to im pr ov e th e qu a lity of life for A m er ica n In dia n s a n d th eir n eig h bor s in th eir

com m u n it ies.

Repu blica n s believ e th a t econ om ic selfsu fficien cy is th e u lt im a te a n sw er to th e ch a llen g es con fr on tin g In dia n cou n tr y . We believ e

th a t tr iba l g ov er n m en ts a n d th eir com m u n it ies, n ot Wa sh in g ton bu r ea u cr a cies, a r e best situ a ted to cr a ft solu t ion s th a t w ill en d

sy stem ic pr oblem s th a t cr ea te pov er ty a n d disen fr a n ch isem en t. Ju st a s th e feder a l g ov er n m en t sh ou ld n ot bu r den Sta tes w ith

r eg u la t ion s, it sh ou ld n ot st ifle th e dev elopm en t of r esou r ces w ith in th e r eser v a t ion s, w h ich n eed feder a l a ssista n ce to a dv a n ce

th eir com m er ce n a t ion a lly th r ou g h r oa ds a n d tech n olog y . Feder a l a n d Sta te r eg u la t ion s th a t th w a r t job cr ea t ion m u st be

w ith dr a w n or r edr a w n so th a t tr iba l g ov er n m en ts a ct in g on beh a lf of A m er ica n In dia n s a r e n ot disa dv a n ta g ed. It is especia lly

eg r eg iou s th a t th e Dem ocr a t ic Pa r ty h a s per sisten t ly u n der m in ed tr iba l sov er eig n ty in or der to pr ov ide a dv a n ta g e to u n ion bosses

in th e tr iba l w or kpla ce.

Repu blica n s r ecog n ize th a t ea ch tr ibe h a s th e r ig h t of con su lta t ion befor e a n y n ew r eg u la tor y policy is im plem en ted on tr iba l

la n d. To th e ex ten t possible, su ch con su lta t ion sh ou ld ta ke pla ce in In dia n cou n tr y w ith th e tr iba l g ov er n m en t a n d its m em ber s.

Befor e pr om u lg a t in g a n d im posin g a n y n ew la w s or r eg u la t ion s a ffect in g tr u st la n d or m em ber s, th e feder a l g ov er n m en t sh ou ld

en cou r a g e In dia n tr ibes to dev elop th eir ow n policies to a ch iev e pr og r a m object iv es, a n d sh ou ld defer to tr ibes to dev elop th eir ow n

sta n da r ds, or sta n da r ds in con ju n ct ion w ith Sta te g ov er n m en ts.

Repu blica n s r eject a on e-size-fits-a ll a ppr oa ch to feder a l-tr iba l-Sta te pa r tn er sh ips a n d w ill w or k to ex pa n d loca l a u ton om y w h er e

tr iba l g ov er n m en ts seek it . Better pa r tn er sh ips w ill h elp u s to ex pa n d econ om ic oppor tu n ity , deliv er top-flig h t edu ca t ion to fu tu r e

g en er a t ion s, m oder n ize a n d im pr ov e th e In dia n Hea lth Ser v ice to m a ke it m or e r espon siv e to loca l n eeds, a n d bu ild essen t ia l

in fr a str u ctu r e in In dia n cou n tr y in cooper a t ion w ith tr iba l n eig h bor s. Ou r a ppr oa ch is to em pow er A m er ica n In dia n s, th r ou g h

tr iba l self-deter m in a t ion a n d self-g ov er n a n ce policies, to dev elop th eir g r ea test a ssets, h u m a n r esou r ces a n d th e r ich n a tu r a l

r esou r ces on th eir la n ds, w ith ou t u n du e feder a l in ter fer en ce.

Like a ll A m er ica n s, A m er ica n In dia n s w a n t sa fe com m u n it ies for th eir fa m ilies; bu t in a dequ a te r esou r ces a n d n eg lect h a v e, ov er

t im e, a llow ed cr im in a l a ct iv it ies to pla g u e In dia n cou n tr y . To pr otect ev er y on e—a n d especia lly th e m ost v u ln er a ble: ch ildr en ,

w om en , a n d elder s—th e leg a l sy stem in tr iba l com m u n it ies m u st pr ov ide sta bility a n d pr otect pr oper ty r ig h ts. Ev er y on e's du e

pr ocess a n d civ il r ig h ts m u st be sa feg u a r ded.

We su ppor t effor ts to en su r e equ ita ble pa r t icipa t ion in feder a l pr og r a m s by A m er ica n In dia n s, in clu din g A la ska Na tiv es, a n d

Na tiv e Ha w a iia n s a n d to pr eser v e th eir cu ltu r e a n d la n g u a g es th a t w e con sider to be n a t ion a l tr ea su r es. La st ly , w e r ecog n ize th a t

A m er ica n In dia n s h a v e r espon ded to th e ca ll for m ilita r y ser v ice in per cen ta g e n u m ber s fa r g r ea ter th a n h a v e oth er g r ou ps of

A m er ica n s. We h on or th a t com m itm en t, loy a lty , a n d sa cr ifice of a ll A m er ica n In dia n s ser v in g in th e m ilita r y toda y a n d in y ea r s

pa st a n d w ill en su r e th a t a ll v eter a n s a n d th eir fa m ilies r eceiv e th e ca r e a n d r espect th ey h a v e ea r n ed th r ou g h th eir loy a l ser v ice

to A m er ica .

Preserving the District of Colum bia

Th e n a t ion 's ca pita l city , a specia l r espon sibility of th e feder a l g ov er n m en t, belon g s both to its r esiden ts a n d to a ll A m er ica n s,

m illion s of w h om v isit it ev er y y ea r . Con g r ession a l Repu blica n s h a v e ta ken th e lea d in effor ts to foster h om eow n er sh ip a n d open

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a ccess to h ig h er edu ca t ion for Wa sh in g ton r esiden ts. A g a in st th e opposit ion of th e cu r r en t Pr esiden t a n d lea der s of th e Dem ocr a t ic

Pa r ty , th ey h a v e fou g h t to esta blish , a n d n ow to ex pa n d, th e D.C. Oppor tu n ity Sch ola r sh ip Pr og r a m , th r ou g h w h ich th ou sa n ds of

low -in com e ch ildr en h a v e been a ble to a tten d a sch ool of th eir ch oice a n d r eceiv e a qu a lity edu ca t ion .

D.C. 's Repu blica n s h a v e been in th e for efr on t of ex posin g a n d com ba tin g th e ch r on ic cor r u ption a m on g th e city 's top Dem ocr a t ic

officia ls. We join th eir ca ll for a n on -pa r t isa n elected A ttor n ey Gen er a l to clea n u p th e city 's polit ica l cu ltu r e a n d for con g r ession a l

a ct ion to en for ce th e spir it of th e Hom e Ru le A ct a ssu r in g m in or ity r epr esen ta t ion on th e City Cou n cil. A fter deca des of in ept on e-

pa r ty r u le, th e city 's str u ctu r a l deficit dem a n ds con g r ession a l a t ten t ion .

A s th e cen ter of ou r g ov er n m en t, th e Distr ict con ta in s m a n y poten t ia l ta r g ets for ter r or ist a t ta cks. Feder a l secu r ity a g en cies

sh ou ld w or k closely w ith loca l officia ls a n d r eg ion a l a dm in istr a t ion s like th e Wa sh in g ton A r ea Metr opolita n Tr a n sit A u th or ity . A

top pr ior ity m u st be en su r in g th a t a ll pu blic tr a n spor ta t ion , especia lly Metr o r a ils, is fu n ct ion in g in th e ev en t of a n em er g en cy

ev a cu a t ion . A lso, to en su r e pr otect ion of th e fu n da m en ta l r ig h t to keep a n d bea r a r m s, w e ca ll on th e g ov er n in g a u th or ity to pa ss

la w s con sisten t w ith th e Su pr em e Cou r t 's decision s in th e District of Colum bia v. Heller a n d McDonald v. Chicago ca ses, w h ich u ph eld

th e fu n da m en ta l r ig h t to keep a n d bea r a r m s for self-defen se.

We oppose sta teh ood for th e Distr ict of Colu m bia .

Modernizing the Federal Civil Service

Th e feder a l w or kfor ce bea r s g r ea t r espon sibilit ies a n d som etim es w ields tr em en dou s pow er , especia lly w h en Con g r ess deleg a tes to

it th e ex ecu t ion of com plica ted a n d fa r -r ea ch in g leg isla t ion . We r ecog n ize th e dedica t ion of feder a l w or ker s a n d th e difficu lty of

th eir th a n kless ta sk of im plem en tin g poor ly dr a fted or open -en ded leg isla t ion .

Un der th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion , th e civ il ser v ice h a s g r ow n by a t lea st 1 4 0,000 w or ker s, w h ile th e n u m ber m a kin g a t lea st

$1 5 0,000 h a s dou bled. A t a t im e w h en th e n a t ion a l debt h a s in cr ea sed to ov er $1 5 .9 tr illion u n der th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion ,

th is is g r ossly ir r espon sible. Th e A m er ica n people w or k too h a r d a n d too lon g to su ppor t a bloa ted g ov er n m en t. We ca ll for a

r edu ct ion , th r ou g h a ttr it ion , in th e feder a l pa y r oll of a t lea st 1 0 per cen t a n d th e a dju stm en t of pa y sca les a n d ben efits to r eflect

th ose of th e pr iv a te sector . We m u st br in g th e 1 3 0-y ea r old Civ il Ser v ice Sy stem in to th e tw en ty -fir st cen tu r y . Th e feder a l pa y

sy stem sh ou ld be su fficien t ly flex ible to a ckn ow ledg e a n d r ew a r d th ose w h o da r e to in n ov a te, r edu ce ov er h ea d, opt im ize pr ocesses,

a n d ex pedite pa per w or k.

Delin qu en cy in pa y in g ta x es a n d r epa y in g stu den t loa n s h a s been too com m on in som e seg m en ts of th e civ il ser v ice. A Repu blica n

A dm in istr a t ion w ill m a ke en for cem en t a m on g its ow n em ploy ees a pr ior ity a n d, u n like th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion , w ill n a m e to

pu blic office n o on e w h o h a s fa iled to m eet th eir fin a n cia l oblig a t ion s to th e g ov er n m en t a n d fellow ta x pa y er s.

Am erica's Future in Space: Continuing this Quest

Th e ex plor a t ion of spa ce h a s been a key pa r t of U.S. g loba l lea der sh ip a n d h a s su ppor ted in n ov a t ion a n d ow n er sh ip of tech n olog y .

Ov er th e la st h a lfcen tu r y , in pa r tn er sh ip w ith ou r a er ospa ce in du str y , th e w or k of NA SA h a s h elped defin e a n d str en g th en ou r

n a t ion 's tech n olog ica l pr ow ess. Fr om bu ildin g th e w or ld's m ost pow er fu l r ockets to la n din g m en on th e Moon , sen din g r obot ic

spa cecr a ft th r ou g h ou t ou r sola r sy stem a n d bey on d, bu ildin g th e In ter n a t ion a l Spa ce Sta t ion , a n d la u n ch in g spa ce-ba sed

telescopes th a t a llow scien t ists to better u n der sta n d ou r u n iv er se, NA SA scien ce a n d en g in eer in g h a v e pr odu ced specta cu la r

r esu lts. Th e tech n olog ies th a t em er g ed fr om th ose pr og r a m s pr opelled ou r a er ospa ce in du str ia l ba se a n d dir ect ly ben efit ou r

n a t ion a l secu r ity , sa fety , econ om y , a n d qu a lity of life. Th r ou g h its a ch iev em en ts, NA SA h a s in spir ed g en er a t ion s of A m er ica n s to

stu dy scien ce, tech n olog y , en g in eer in g , a n d m a th em a tics, lea din g to ca r eer s th a t dr iv e ou r cou n tr y 's tech n olog ica l a n d econ om ic

en g in es.

Toda y , A m er ica 's lea der sh ip in spa ce is ch a llen g ed by cou n tr ies ea g er to em u la te—a n d su r pa ss—NA SA 's a ccom plish m en ts. To

pr eser v e ou r n a t ion a l secu r ity in ter ests a n d foster in n ov a t ion a n d com petit iv en ess, w e m u st su sta in ou r pr eem in en ce in spa ce,

la u n ch in g m or e scien ce m ission s, g u a r a n teein g u n fetter ed a ccess, a n d m a in ta in in g a sou r ce of h ig h -v a lu e A m er ica n jobs.

Honoring and Supporting Am ericans in the T erritories

We h on or th e ex tr a or din a r y sa cr ifices of th e m en a n d w om en of th e ter r itor ies w h o pr otect ou r fr eedom th r ou g h th eir ser v ice in

th e U.S. A r m ed For ces. We w elcom e th eir g r ea ter pa r t icipa t ion in a ll a spects of th e polit ica l pr ocess a n d a ffir m th eir r ig h t to seek

th e fu ll ex ten sion of th e Con st itu t ion , w ith a ll th e r ig h ts a n d r espon sibilit ies it en ta ils.

U.S. ter r itor ies fa ce ser iou s econ om ic ch a llen g es a s th ey str u g g le to r eta in ex ist in g in du str ies a n d dev elop n ew on es. Dev elopm en t

of loca l en er g y opt ion s is cr u cia l to r edu ce th eir depen den ce on im por ted fu el a n d pr om ote econ om ic sta bility . Th e Pa cific

ter r itor ies sh ou ld h a v e flex ibility to deter m in e th e m in im u m w a g e, w h ich h a s ser iou sly r estr icted pr og r ess in th e pr iv a te sector . A

str on g er pr iv a te sector ca n r a ise w a g es, r edu ce depen den ce on pu blic sector em ploy m en t, a n d lea d tow a r d loca l self-su fficien cy . A ll

u n r ea son a ble econ om ic im pedim en ts m u st be r em ov ed, in clu din g u n r ea son a ble U.S. cu stom s pr a ct ices.

We su ppor t th e r ig h t of th e Un ited Sta tes cit izen s of Pu er to Rico to be a dm itted to th e Un ion a s a fu lly sov er eig n sta te if th ey fr eely

so deter m in e. We r ecog n ize th a t Con g r ess h a s th e fin a l a u th or ity to defin e th e con st itu t ion a lly v a lid opt ion s for Pu er to Rico to

a ch iev e a per m a n en t n on -ter r itor ia l sta tu s w ith g ov er n m en t by con sen t a n d fu ll en fr a n ch isem en t. A s lon g a s Pu er to Rico is n ot a

Sta te, h ow ev er , th e w ill of its people r eg a r din g th eir polit ica l sta tu s sh ou ld be a scer ta in ed by m ea n s of a g en er a l r ig h t of

r efer en du m or specific r efer en da spon sor ed by th e U.S. g ov er n m en t.

Renewing American Values to Build Healthy Families, Great Schools and SafeNeighborhoods

We a r e th e pa r ty of in depen den t in div idu a ls a n d th e in st itu t ion s th ey cr ea te—fa m ilies, sch ools, con g r eg a t ion s, n eig h bor h oods—to

a dv a n ce th eir idea ls a n d m a ke r ea l th eir dr ea m s. For em ost a m on g th ose in st itu t ion s is th e A m er ica n fa m ily . It is th e fou n da tion of

ou r society a n d th e fir st lev el of selfg ov er n m en t. Its da ily lesson s—cooper a t ion , pa t ien ce, m u tu a l r espect , r espon sibility , self-

r elia n ce — a r e fu n da m en ta l to th e or der a n d pr og r ess of ou r Repu blic. Gov er n m en t ca n n ev er r epla ce th e fa m ily . Th a t is w h y w e

in sist th a t pu blic policy , fr om ta x a t ion to edu ca t ion , fr om h ea lth ca r e to w elfa r e, be for m u la ted w ith a tten t ion to th e n eeds a n d

str en g th s of th e fa m ily .

Preserving and Protecting T raditional Marriage

Th e in st itu t ion of m a r r ia g e is th e fou n da tion of civ il society . Its su ccess a s a n in st itu t ion w ill deter m in e ou r su ccess a s a n a t ion . It

h a s been pr ov en by both ex per ien ce a n d en dless socia l scien ce stu dies th a t tr a dit ion a l m a r r ia g e is best for ch ildr en . Ch ildr en r a ised

in in ta ct m a r r ied fa m ilies a r e m or e likely to a tten d colleg e, a r e ph y sica lly a n d em otion a lly h ea lth ier , a r e less likely to u se dr u g s

or a lcoh ol, en g a g e in cr im e, or g et pr eg n a n t ou tside of m a r r ia g e. Th e su ccess of m a r r ia g e dir ect ly im pa cts th e econ om ic w ell-bein g

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or a lcoh ol, en g a g e in cr im e, or g et pr eg n a n t ou tside of m a r r ia g e. Th e su ccess of m a r r ia g e dir ect ly im pa cts th e econ om ic w ell-bein g

of in div idu a ls. Fu r th er m or e, th e fu tu r e of m a r r ia g e a ffects fr eedom . Th e la ck of fa m ily for m a tion n ot on ly lea ds to m or e

g ov er n m en t costs, bu t a lso to m or e g ov er n m en t con tr ol ov er th e liv es of its cit izen s in a ll a spects. We r ecog n ize a n d h on or th e

cou r a g eou s effor ts of th ose w h o bea r th e m a n y bu r den s of pa r en tin g a lon e, ev en a s w e believ e th a t m a r r ia g e, th e u n ion of on e m a n

a n d on e w om a n m u st be u ph eld a s th e n a t ion a l sta n da r d, a g oa l to sta n d for , en cou r a g e, a n d pr om ote th r ou g h la w s g ov er n in g

m a r r ia g e. We em br a ce th e pr in ciple th a t a ll A m er ica n s sh ou ld be tr ea ted w ith r espect a n d dig n ity .

Creating a Culture of Hope: Raising Fam ilies Bey ond Poverty

Th e Repu blica n -led w elfa r e r efor m s en a cted in 1 9 9 6 m a r ked a r ev olu t ion in g ov er n m en t 's a ppr oa ch to pov er ty . Th ey ch a n g ed th e

sta n da r d for policy su ccess fr om th e a m ou n t of in com e tr a n sfer r ed to th e poor to th e n u m ber of poor w h o m ov ed fr om w elfa r e to

econ om ic in depen den ce. We took th e belief of m ost A m er ica n s—th a t w elfa r e sh ou ld be a h a n d u p, n ot a h a n d ou t—a n d m a de it la w .

Wor k r equ ir em en ts, th ou g h m odest , w er e a t th e h ea r t of th is su ccess. Th a t is w h y so m a n y a r e n ow ou tr a g ed by th e cu r r en t

A dm in istr a t ion 's r ecen t decision to per m it w a iv er s for w or k r equ ir em en ts for w elfa r e ben efits, in oth er w or ds, to a dm in istr a t iv ely

r epea l th e m ost su ccessfu l a n t i-pov er ty policy in m em or y . In stea d of u n der m in in g th e ex pecta t ion th a t low -in com e pa r en ts a n d

in div idu a ls sh ou ld str iv e to su ppor t th em selv es, ben efit pr og r a m s like food sta m ps m u st en su r e th a t th ose ben efits a r e better

ta r g eted to th ose w h o n eed h elp th e m ost .

For th e sa ke of low -in com e fa m ilies a s w ell a s th e ta x pa y er s, th e feder a l g ov er n m en t 's en t ir e sy stem of pu blic a ssista n ce sh ou ld be

r efor m ed to en su r e th a t it pr om otes w or k. Ea ch y ea r , th is sy stem dispen ses n ea r ly $1 tr illion in ta x pa y er fu n ds a cr oss a m a ze of

a ppr ox im a tely 8 0 pr og r a m s th a t a r e n eith er coor din a ted n or effect iv e in solv in g pov er ty a n d lift in g u p fa m ilies. For m a n y

in div idu a ls collect in g ben efits fr om m u lt iple ca teg or ica l pr og r a m s, effor ts to w or k or ea r n m or e a ctu a lly r esu lt in less m on ey in

th eir pocket th r ou g h th e r esu lt in g loss of ben efits. Th is pov er ty tr a p w ou ld en sn a r e ev en m or e A m er ica n s if Oba m a ca r e w er e

im plem en ted. Ta kin g a pa r t t im e job, w or kin g a n ex tr a sh ift , or ev en ju st m a r r y in g som eon e w h o w or ks, w ou ld r esu lt in a loss of

ben efits, th er eby discou r a g in g th e v er y a cts n ecessa r y to a ch iev e th e A m er ica n Dr ea m .

Adoption and Foster Care

Fa m ilies for m ed or en la r g ed by a doption str en g th en ou r com m u n it ies a n d en n oble ou r n a t ion . We a ppla u d th e Repu blica n

leg isla t iv e in it ia t iv es th a t led to a sig n ifica n t in cr ea se in a doption s in r ecen t y ea r s, a n d w e ca ll u pon th e pr iv a te sector to con sider

th e n eeds of a doptiv e fa m ilies on a pa r w ith oth er s. A n y r estr u ctu r in g of th e feder a l ta x code sh ou ld r ecog n ize th e fin a n cia l im pa ct

of th e a doption pr ocess a n d th e com m itm en t m a de by a doptiv e fa m ilies.

Th e n a t ion 's foster ca r e sy stem r em a in s a n ecessa r y fa llba ck for y ou n g ster s fr om tr ou bled fa m ilies. Beca u se of r efor m s in it ia ted by

m a n y Sta tes, th e n u m ber of foster ch ildr en h a s declin ed to ju st ov er 4 00,000. A m a jor pr oblem of th e sy stem is its la ck of su ppor t ,

fin a n cia l a n d oth er w ise, for teen s w h o a g e ou t of foster ca r e a n d in to a w or ld in w h ich m a n y a r e n ot pr epa r ed to g o it a lon e. We

u r g e Sta tes to w or k w ith th e fa ith -ba sed a n d oth er com m u n ity g r ou ps w h ich r ea ch ou t to th ese y ou n g people in n eed.

Making the Internet Fam ily -Friendly

Million s of A m er ica n s su ffer fr om pr oblem or pa th olog ica l g a m blin g th a t ca n destr oy fa m ilies. We su ppor t th e pr oh ibit ion of

g a m blin g ov er th e In ter n et a n d ca ll for r ev er sa l of th e Ju st ice Depa r tm en t 's decision distor t in g th e for m er ly a ccepted m ea n in g of

th e Wir e A ct th a t cou ld open th e door to In ter n et bett in g .

Th e In ter n et m u st be m a de sa fe for ch ildr en . We ca ll on ser v ice pr ov ider s to ex er cise du e ca r e to en su r e th a t th e In ter n et ca n n ot

becom e a sa fe h a v en for pr eda tor s w h ile r espect in g Fir st A m en dm en t r ig h ts. We con g r a tu la te th e socia l n etw or kin g sites th a t ba r

kn ow n sex offen der s fr om pa r t icipa t ion . We u r g e a ct iv e pr osecu t ion a g a in st ch ild por n og r a ph y , w h ich is closely lin ked to th e

h or r or s of h u m a n tr a ffickin g . Cu r r en t la w s on a ll for m s of por n og r a ph y a n d obscen ity n eed to be v ig or ou sly en for ced.

Advancing Am ericans with Disabilities

We r en ew ou r com m itm en t to th e in clu sion of A m er ica n s w ith disa bilit ies in a ll a spects of ou r n a t ion a l life. In keepin g w ith th a t

com m itm en t, w e oppose th e n on -con sen su a l w ith h oldin g of ca r e or tr ea tm en t fr om people w ith disa bilit ies, in clu din g n ew bor n s, a s

w ell a s th e elder ly a n d in fir m , ju st a s w e oppose eu th a n a sia a n d a ssisted su icide, w h ich en da n g er especia lly th ose on th e m a r g in s

of society . Beca u se g ov er n m en t sh ou ld set a posit iv e sta n da r d in h ir in g a n d con tr a ct in g for th e ser v ices of per son s w ith disa bilit ies,

w e n eed to u pda te th e sta tu tor y a u th or ity for th e A bility On e pr og r a m , a m a jor a v en u e by w h ich th ose pr odu ct iv e m em ber s of

ou r society ca n offer h ig h qu a lity ser v ices.

Th e In div idu a ls w ith Disa bilit ies Edu ca t ion A ct (IDEA ) h a s open ed u p u n pr eceden ted oppor tu n it ies for m a n y stu den ts, a n d w e

r ea ffir m ou r su ppor t for its g oa l of m in im izin g th e sepa r a t ion of ch ildr en w ith disa bilit ies fr om th eir peer s. We u r g e pr ev en tiv e

effor ts in ea r ly ch ildh ood, especia lly a ssista n ce in g a in in g pr e-r ea din g skills, to h elp m a n y stu den ts m ov e bey on d th e n eed for

IDEA 's pr otect ion s. We en dor se th e pr og r a m of Em ploy m en t Fir st , dev eloped by m a jor disa bility r ig h ts g r ou ps, to r epla ce

depen den cy w ith jobs in th e m a in str ea m of th e A m er ica n w or kfor ce.

Repealing Obam acare

Th e Pa t ien t Pr otect ion a n d A ffor da ble Ca r e A ct—Oba m a ca r e—w a s n ev er r ea lly a bou t h ea lth ca r e, th ou g h its im pa ct u pon th e

n a t ion 's h ea lth is disa str ou s. Fr om its sta r t , it w a s a bou t pow er , th e ex pa n sion of g ov er n m en t con tr ol ov er on e six th of ou r

econ om y , a n d r esu lted in a n a tta ck on ou r Con st itu t ion , by r equ ir in g th a t U.S. cit izen s pu r ch a se h ea lth in su r a n ce. We a g r ee w ith

th e fou r dissen t in g ju st ices of th e Su pr em e Cou r t : "In ou r v iew th e en t ir e A ct befor e u s is in v a lid in its en t ir ety ." It w a s th e h ig h -

w a ter m a r k of a n ou tda ted liber a lism , th e la test a t tem pt to im pose u pon A m er ica n s a eu r o-sty le bu r ea u cr a cy to m a n a g e a ll

a spects of th eir liv es. Oba m a ca r e h a s been str u ck dow n in th e cou r t of pu blic opin ion a n d is fa llin g by th e w eig h t of its ow n

con fu sin g , u n w or ka ble, bu dg et-bu st in g , a n d con flict in g pr ov ision s. It w ou ld tr em en dou sly ex pa n d Medica id w ith ou t sig n ifica n t

r efor m , lea v in g th e Sta tes to a ssu m e u n su sta in a ble fin a n cia l bu r den s. If fu lly im plem en ted, it cou ld n ot fu n ct ion ; a n d Repu blica n

v ictor ies in th e Nov em ber elect ion s w ill g u a r a n tee th a t it is n ev er im plem en ted. Con g r ession a l Repu blica n s a r e com m itted to its

r epea l; a n d a Repu blica n Pr esiden t , on th e fir st da y in office, w ill u se h is leg it im a te w a iv er a u th or ity u n der th a t la w to h a lt its

pr og r ess a n d th en w ill sig n its r epea l. Th en th e A m er ica n people, th r ou g h th e fr ee m a r ket , ca n a dv a n ce a ffor da ble a n d r espon sible

h ea lth ca r e r efor m th a t m eets th e n eeds a n d con cer n s of pa t ien ts a n d pr ov ider s. Th r ou g h Oba m a ca r e, th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion

h a s pr om oted th e n ot ion of a bor t ion a s h ea lth ca r e. We, h ow ev er , a ffir m th e dig n ity of w om en by pr otect in g th e sa n ct ity of h u m a n

life. Nu m er ou s stu dies h a v e sh ow n th a t a bor t ion en da n g er s th e h ea lth a n d w ellbein g of w om en , a n d w e sta n d fir m ly a g a in st it .

Our Prescription for Am erican Healthcare: Im prove Quality and Lower Costs

We believ e th a t ta kin g ca r e of on e's h ea lth is a n in div idu a l r espon sibility . Ch r on ic disea ses, m a n y of th em r ela ted to lifesty le, dr iv e

h ea lth ca r e costs, a ccou n tin g for m or e th a n 7 5 per cen t of th e n a t ion 's m edica l spen din g . To r edu ce dem a n d, a n d th er eby low er

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h ea lth ca r e costs, a ccou n tin g for m or e th a n 7 5 per cen t of th e n a t ion 's m edica l spen din g . To r edu ce dem a n d, a n d th er eby low er

costs, w e m u st foster per son a l r espon sibility w h ile in cr ea sin g pr ev en tiv e ser v ices to pr om ote h ea lth y lifesty les. We believ e th a t a ll

A m er ica n s sh ou ld h a v e im pr ov ed a ccess to a ffor da ble, coor din a ted, qu a lity h ea lth ca r e, in clu din g in div idu a ls str u g g lin g w ith

m en ta l illn ess.

Ou r g oa l is to en cou r a g e th e dev elopm en t of a h ea lth ca r e sy stem th a t pr ov ides h ig h er qu a lity ca r e a t a low er cost to a ll A m er ica n s

w h ile pr otect in g th e pa t ien tph y sicia n r ela t ion sh ip ba sed on m u tu a l tr u st , in for m ed con sen t , a n d pr iv ileg ed pa t ien t

con fiden tia lity . We seek to in cr ea se h ea lth ca r e ch oice a n d opt ion s, con ta in costs a n d r edu ce m a n da tes, sim plify th e sy stem for

pa t ien ts a n d pr ov ider s, r estor e cu ts m a de to Medica r e, a n d equ a lize th e ta x tr ea tm en t of g r ou p a n d in div idu a l h ea lth in su r a n ce

pla n s. For m ost A m er ica n s, th ose w h o a r e in su r ed n ow or w h o seek in su r a n ce in th e fu tu r e, ou r pr a ct ica l, n on -in tr u siv e r efor m s

w ill pr om ote flex ibility in Sta te lea der sh ip in h ea lth ca r e r efor m , pr om ote a fr ee-m a r ket ba sed sy stem , a n d em pow er con su m er

ch oice. A ll of w h ich w ill r etu r n dir ect ion of th e n a t ion 's h ea lth ca r e to th e people a n d a w a y fr om th e feder a l g ov er n m en t.

To r etu r n th e Sta tes to th eir pr oper r ole of r eg u la t in g loca l in su r a n ce m a r kets a n d ca r in g for th e n eedy , w e pr opose to block g r a n t

Medica id a n d oth er pa y m en ts to th e Sta tes; lim it feder a l r equ ir em en ts on both pr iv a te in su r a n ce a n d Medica id; a ssist a ll pa t ien ts,

in clu din g th ose w ith pr e-ex ist in g con dit ion s, th r ou g h r ein su r a n ce a n d r isk a dju stm en t; a n d pr om ote n on -lit ig a t ion a lter n a t iv es

for dispu te r esolu t ion . We ca ll on Sta te officia ls to ca r efu lly con sider th e in cr ea sed costs of m edica l m a n da tes, im posed u n der th eir

la w s, w h ich m a y pr ice m a n y low -in com e fa m ilies ou t of th e in su r a n ce m a r ket . We ca ll on th e g ov er n m en t to per m a n en tly ba n a ll

feder a l fu n din g a n d su bsidies for a bor t ion a n d h ea lth ca r e pla n s th a t in clu de a bor t ion cov er a g e.

To a ch iev e a fr ee m a r ket in h ea lth ca r e a n d en su r e com petit ion , w e w ill pr om ote pr ice tr a n spa r en cy so th a t con su m er s w ill kn ow

th e a ctu a l cost of tr ea tm en ts befor e th ey u n der g o th em . Wh en pa t ien ts a r e a w a r e of costs, th ey a r e less likely to ov er -u t ilize

ser v ices. We su ppor t leg isla t ion to ca p n on -econ om ic da m a g es in m edica l m a lpr a ct ice la w su its, th er eby r eliev in g con scien t iou s

pr ov ider s of bu r den s th a t a r e n ot r ig h t ly th eir s a n d a ddr essin g a ser iou s ca u se of esca la t in g m edica l bills. We w ill em pow er

in div idu a ls a n d sm a ll bu sin esses to for m pu r ch a sin g pools in or der to ex pa n d cov er a g e to th e u n in su r ed. In div idu a ls w ith

pr eex ist in g con dit ion s w h o m a in ta in con tin u ou s in su r a n ce cov er a g e sh ou ld be pr otected fr om discr im in a t ion . We su ppor t

tech n olog y en h a n cem en ts for m edica l h ea lth r ecor ds a n d da ta sy stem s w h ile a ffir m in g pa t ien t pr iv a cy a n d ow n er sh ip of h ea lth

in for m a tion .

Ensuring Consum er Choice in Healthcare

Con su m er ch oice is th e m ost pow er fu l fa ctor in h ea lth ca r e r efor m . Toda y 's h ig h ly m obile w or k for ce r equ ir es por ta bility of

in su r a n ce cov er a g e th a t ca n g o w ith th em fr om job to job. Th e n eed to m a in ta in cov er a g e sh ou ld n ot dicta te w h er e fa m ilies h a v e

to liv e a n d w or k. Pu tt in g th e pa t ien t a t th e cen ter of policy decision s w ill in cr ea se ch oice a n d r edu ce costs w h ile en su r in g th a t

ser v ices pr ov ide w h a t A m er ica n s a ctu a lly w a n t . We m u st en d ta x discr im in a t ion a g a in st th e in div idu a l pu r ch a se of in su r a n ce

a n d a llow con su m er s to pu r ch a se in su r a n ce a cr oss Sta te lin es. Wh ile pr om otin g "co-in su r a n ce" pr odu cts a n d a lter n a t iv es to "fee for

ser v ice," g ov er n m en t m u st pr om ote Hea lth Sa v in g s A ccou n ts a n d Hea lth Reim bu r sem en t A ccou n ts to be u sed for in su r a n ce

pr em iu m s a n d sh ou ld en cou r a g e th e pr iv a te sector to r a te com petin g in su r a n ce pla n s. We w ill en su r e th a t A m er ica 's a g in g

popu la t ion h a s a ccess to sa fe a n d a ffor da ble ca r e. Beca u se sen ior s ov er w h elm in g ly desir e to a g e a t h om e, w e w ill m a ke h om e ca r e a

pr ior ity in pu blic policy . We w ill ch a m pion th e r ig h t of in div idu a l ch oice in sen ior ca r e. We w ill a g g r essiv ely im plem en t pr og r a m s

to pr otect a g a in st elder a bu se, a n d w e w ill w or k to en su r e th a t qu a lity ca r e is pr ov ided a cr oss th e ca r e con tin u u m fr om h om e to

n u r sin g h om e to h ospice.

Supporting Federal Healthcare Research and Developm ent

We su ppor t feder a l in v estm en t in h ea lth ca r e deliv er y sy stem s a n d solu t ion s cr ea t in g in n ov a t iv e m ea n s to pr ov ide g r ea ter , m or e

cost-effect iv e a ccess to h ig h qu a lity h ea lth ca r e. We a lso su ppor t feder a l in v estm en t in ba sic a n d a pplied biom edica l r esea r ch ,

especia lly th e n eu r oscien ce r esea r ch th a t m a y h old g r ea t poten t ia l for dea lin g w ith disea ses a n d disor der s su ch a s A u tism ,

A lzh eim er 's, a n d Pa r kin son 's. If w e a r e to m a ke sig n ifica n t h ea dw a y a g a in st br ea st a n d pr osta te ca n cer , dia betes, a n d oth er killer s,

r esea r ch m u st con sider th e specia l n eeds of for m er ly n eg lected g r ou ps. We ca ll for ex pa n ded su ppor t for th e stem -cell r esea r ch th a t

n ow offer s th e g r ea test h ope for m a n y a fflict ion s—w ith a du lt stem cells, u m bilica l cor d blood, a n d cells r epr og r a m m ed in to

plu r ipoten t stem cells—w ith ou t th e destr u ct ion of em br y on ic h u m a n life. We u r g e a ba n on h u m a n clon in g a n d on th e cr ea t ion of

or ex per im en ta t ion on h u m a n em br y os. We su ppor t r estor in g th e Dr u g En for cem en t A dm in istr a t ion ba n on th e u se of con tr olled

su bsta n ces for ph y sicia n a ssisted su icide. We oppose th e FDA a ppr ov a l of Mifepr ex , for m er ly kn ow n a s RU-4 8 6 , a n d sim ila r dr u g s

th a t ter m in a te in n ocen t h u m a n life a fter con ception .

Protecting Individual Conscience in Healthcare

No h ea lth ca r e pr ofession a l or or g a n iza t ion sh ou ld ev er be r equ ir ed to per for m , pr ov ide for , w ith h old, or r efer for a m edica l ser v ice

a g a in st th eir con scien ce. Th is is especia lly tr u e of th e r elig iou s or g a n iza t ion s w h ich deliv er a m a jor por t ion of A m er ica 's

h ea lth ca r e, a ser v ice r ooted in th e ch a r ity of fa ith com m u n it ies. We do n ot believ e, h ow ev er , th a t h ea lth ca r e pr ov ider s sh ou ld be

a llow ed to w ith h old ser v ices beca u se th e h ea lth ca r e pr ov ider believ es th e pa t ien t 's life is n ot w or th liv in g . We su ppor t th e a bility of

a ll or g a n iza t ion s to pr ov ide, pu r ch a se, or en r oll in h ea lth ca r e cov er a g e con sisten t w ith th eir r elig iou s, m or a l or eth ica l con v ict ion s

w ith ou t discr im in a t ion or pen a lty . We likew ise su ppor t th e r ig h t of pa r en ts to con sen t to m edica l tr ea tm en t for th eir ch ildr en ,

in clu din g m en ta l h ea lth tr ea tm en t, dr u g tr ea tm en t, a n d tr ea tm en t in v olv in g pr eg n a n cy , con tr a cept iv es a n d a bor t ion . We u r g e

en a ctm en t of pen din g leg isla t ion th a t w ou ld r equ ir e pa r en ta l con sen t to tr a n spor t g ir ls a cr oss sta te lin es for a bor t ion s.

Reform ing the FDA

A m er ica 's lea der sh ip in life scien ces R&D a n d m edica l in n ov a t ion is bein g th r ea ten ed. A s a cou n tr y , w e m u st w or k tog eth er n ow or

lose ou r lea der sh ip posit ion in m edica l in n ov a t ion , U.S. job cr ea t ion , a n d a ccess to life-sa v in g tr ea tm en ts for U.S. pa t ien ts. Th e

Un ited Sta tes h a s led th e g loba l m edica l dev ice a n d ph a r m a ceu tica l in du str ies for deca des. Th is lea der sh ip h a s m a de th e U.S. th e

m edica l in n ov a t ion ca pita l of th e w or ld, br in g in g m illion s of h ig h -pa y in g jobs to ou r cou n tr y a n d life-sa v in g dev ices a n d dr u g s to

ou r n a t ion 's pa t ien ts. Bu t th a t lea der sh ip posit ion is a t r isk; pa t ien ts, in n ov a tor s, a n d job cr ea tor s poin t to th e la ck of

pr edicta bility , con sisten cy , tr a n spa r en cy a n d efficien cy a t th e Food a n d Dr u g A dm in istr a t ion th a t is dr iv in g in n ov a t ion ov er sea s,

ben efit in g for eig n , n ot U.S., pa t ien ts.

We pledg e to r efor m th e FDA so w e ca n en su r e th a t th e U.S. r em a in s th e w or ld lea der in m edica l in n ov a t ion , th a t dev ice a n d dr u g

jobs sta y in th e U.S., th a t U.S. pa t ien ts ben efit fir st fr om n ew dev ices a n d dr u g s, a n d th a t th e FDA n o lon g er w a stes U.S. ta x pa y er

a n d in n ov a tor s' r esou r ces beca u se of bu r ea u cr a t ic r ed ta pe a n d leg a l u n cer ta in ty .

Reducing Costs through T ort Reform

Fr iv olou s m edica l m a lpr a ct ice la w su its h a v e ba lloon ed th e cost of h ea lth ca r e for th e a v er a g e A m er ica n . Ph y sicia n s a r e

in cr ea sin g ly pr a ct icin g defen siv e m edicin e beca u se of th e loom in g th r ea t of m a lpr a ct ice lia bility . Mor eov er , som e m edica l

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in cr ea sin g ly pr a ct icin g defen siv e m edicin e beca u se of th e loom in g th r ea t of m a lpr a ct ice lia bility . Mor eov er , som e m edica l

pr a ct it ion er s a r e a v oidin g pa t ien ts w ith com plex a n d h ig h -r isk m edica l pr oblem s beca u se of th e h ig h costs of m edica l m a lpr a ct ice

la w su its. Ru r a l A m er ica is h u r t especia lly h a r d a s obstetr icia n s, su r g eon s, a n d oth er h ea lth ca r e pr ov ider s a r e m ov in g to u r ba n

sett in g s or r et ir in g , ca u sin g a sig n ifica n t h ea lth ca r e w or kfor ce sh or ta g e a n d su bsequ en tly decr ea sin g a ccess to ca r e for a ll

pa t ien ts. We a r e com m itted to a g g r essiv ely pu r su in g tor t r efor m leg isla t ion to h elp a v oid th e pr a ct ice of defen siv e m edicin e, to

keep h ea lth ca r e costs low , a n d im pr ov e h ea lth ca r e qu a lity .

Education: A Chance for Every Child

Pa r en ts a r e r espon sible for th e edu ca t ion of th eir ch ildr en . We do n ot believ e in a on e size fits a ll a ppr oa ch to edu ca t ion a n d su ppor t

pr ov idin g br oa d edu ca t ion ch oices to pa r en ts a n d ch ildr en a t th e Sta te a n d loca l lev el. Ma in ta in in g A m er ica n pr eem in en ce

r equ ir es a w or ld-cla ss sy stem of edu ca t ion , w ith h ig h sta n da r ds, in w h ich a ll stu den ts ca n r ea ch th eir poten t ia l. Toda y 's edu ca t ion

r efor m m ov em en t ca lls for a ccou n ta bility a t ev er y sta g e of sch oolin g . It a ffir m s h ig h er ex pecta t ion s for a ll stu den ts a n d r ejects th e

cr ipplin g big otr y of low ex pecta t ion s. It r ecog n izes th e w isdom of Sta te a n d loca l con tr ol of ou r sch ools, a n d it w isely sees con su m er

r ig h ts in edu ca t ion —ch oice—a s th e m ost im por ta n t dr iv in g for ce for r en ew in g ou r sch ools.

Edu ca t ion is m u ch m or e th a n sch oolin g . It is th e w h ole r a n g e of a ct iv it ies by w h ich fa m ilies a n d com m u n it ies tr a n sm it to a

y ou n g er g en er a t ion , n ot ju st kn ow ledg e a n d skills, bu t eth ica l a n d beh a v ior a l n or m s a n d tr a dit ion s. It is th e h a n din g ov er of a

per son a l a n d cu ltu r a l iden t ity . Th a t is w h y edu ca t ion ch oice h a s ex pa n ded so v ig or ou sly . It is a lso w h y A m er ica n edu ca t ion h a s,

for th e la st sev er a l deca des, been th e focu s of con sta n t con tr ov er sy , a s cen tr a lizin g for ces ou tside th e fa m ily a n d com m u n ity h a v e

sou g h t to r em a ke edu ca t ion in or der to r em a ke A m er ica . Th ey h a v e n ot su cceeded, bu t th ey h a v e don e im m en se da m a g e.

Attaining Academ ic Excellence for All

Sin ce 1 9 6 5 th e feder a l g ov er n m en t h a s spen t $2 tr illion on elem en ta r y a n d secon da r y edu ca t ion w ith n o su bsta n t ia l

im pr ov em en t in a ca dem ic a ch iev em en t or h ig h sch ool g r a du a t ion r a tes (w h ich cu r r en t ly a r e 5 9 per cen t for A fr ica n -A m er ica n

stu den ts a n d 6 3 per cen t for Hispa n ics). Th e U.S. spen ds a n a v er a g e of m or e th a n $1 0,000 per pu pil per y ea r in pu blic sch ools, for

a tota l of m or e th a n $5 5 0 billion . Th a t r epr esen ts m or e th a n 4 per cen t of GDP dev oted to K-1 2 edu ca t ion in 2 01 0. Of th a t a m ou n t,

feder a l spen din g w a s m or e th a n $4 7 billion . Clea r ly , if m on ey w er e th e solu t ion , ou r sch ools w ou ld be pr oblem -fr ee.

Mor e m on ey a lon e does n ot n ecessa r ily equ a l better per for m a n ce. A fter y ea r s of tr ia l a n d er r or , w e kn ow w h a t does w or k, w h a t h a s

a ctu a lly m a de a differ en ce in stu den t a dv a n cem en t, a n d w h a t is pow er in g edu ca t ion r efor m a t th e loca l lev el a ll a cr oss A m er ica :

a ccou n ta bility on th e pa r t of a dm in istr a tor s, pa r en ts a n d tea ch er s; h ig h er a ca dem ic sta n da r ds; pr og r a m s th a t su ppor t th e

dev elopm en t of ch a r a cter a n d fin a n cia l liter a cy ; per iodic r ig or ou s a ssessm en ts on th e fu n da m en ta ls, especia lly m a th , scien ce,

r ea din g , h istor y , a n d g eog r a ph y ; r en ew ed focu s on th e Con st itu t ion a n d th e w r it in g s of th e Fou n din g Fa th er s, a n d a n a ccu r a te

a ccou n t of A m er ica n h istor y th a t celebr a tes th e bir th of th is g r ea t n a t ion ; tr a n spa r en cy , so pa r en ts a n d th e pu blic ca n discov er

w h ich sch ools best ser v e th eir pu pils; flex ibility a n d fr eedom to in n ov a te, so sch ools ca n a da pt to th e specia l n eeds of th eir stu den ts

a n d h old tea ch er s a n d a dm in istr a tor s r espon sible for stu den t per for m a n ce. We su ppor t th e in n ov a t ion s in edu ca t ion r efor m

occu r r in g a t th e Sta te lev el ba sed u pon pr ov en r esu lts. Repu blica n Gov er n or s h a v e led in th e effor t to r efor m ou r cou n tr y 's

u n der per for m in g edu ca t ion sy stem , a n d w e a ppla u d th ese a dv a n cem en ts.

We a dv oca te th e policies a n d m eth ods th a t h a v e pr ov en effect iv e: bu ildin g on th e ba sics, especia lly STEM su bjects (scien ce,

tech n olog y , en g in eer in g , a n d m a th ) a n d ph on ics; en din g socia l pr om otion s; m er it pa y for g ood tea ch er s; cla ssr oom disciplin e;

pa r en ta l in v olv em en t; a n d str on g lea der sh ip by pr in cipa ls, su per in ten den ts, a n d loca lly elected sch ool boa r ds. Beca u se tech n olog y

h a s becom e a n essen t ia l tool of lea r n in g , pr oper im plem en ta t ion of tech n olog y is a key fa ctor in pr ov idin g ev er y ch ild equ a l a ccess

a n d oppor tu n ity .

Consum er Choice in Education

Th e Repu blica n Pa r ty is th e pa r ty of fr esh a n d in n ov a t iv e idea s in edu ca t ion . We su ppor t opt ion s for lea r n in g , in clu din g h om e

sch oolin g a n d loca l in n ov a t ion s like sin g le-sex cla sses, fu ll-da y sch ool h ou r s, a n d y ea r -r ou n d sch ools. Sch ool ch oice—w h eth er

th r ou g h ch a r ter sch ools, open en r ollm en t r equ ests, colleg e la b sch ools, v ir tu a l sch ools, ca r eer a n d tech n ica l edu ca t ion pr og r a m s,

v ou ch er s, or ta x cr edits—is im por ta n t for a ll ch ildr en , especia lly for fa m ilies w ith ch ildr en tr a pped in fa ilin g sch ools. Gett in g th ose

y ou n g ster s in to decen t lea r n in g en v ir on m en ts a n d h elpin g th em to r ea lize th eir fu ll poten t ia l is th e g r ea test civ il r ig h ts ch a llen g e

of ou r t im e. We su ppor t th e pr om otion of loca l ca r eer a n d tech n ica l edu ca t ion a l pr og r a m s a n d en tr epr en eu r ia l pr og r a m s th a t

h a v e been su ppor ted by lea der s in in du str y a n d w ill r etr a in a n d r etool th e A m er ica n w or kfor ce, w h ich is th e best in th e w or ld. A

y ou n g per son 's a bility to a ch iev e in sch ool m u st be ba sed on h is or h er God-g iv en ta len t a n d m otiv a t ion , n ot a n a ddr ess, zip code, or

econ om ic sta tu s.

In su m , on th e on e h a n d en or m ou s a m ou n ts of m on ey a r e bein g spen t for K-1 2 pu blic edu ca t ion w ith ov er a ll r esu lts th a t do n ot

ju st ify th a t spen din g . On th e oth er h a n d, th e com m on ex per ien ce of fa m ilies, tea ch er s, a n d a dm in istr a tor s for m s th e ba sis of w h a t

does w or k in edu ca t ion . We believ e th e g a p betw een th ose tw o r ea lit ies ca n be su ccessfu lly br idg ed, a n d Con g r ession a l Repu blica n s

a r e poin t in g a n ew w a y for w a r d w ith m a jor r efor m leg isla t ion . We su ppor t its con cept of block g r a n ts a n d th e r epea l of n u m er ou s

feder a l r eg u la t ion s w h ich in ter fer e w ith Sta te a n d loca l con tr ol of pu blic sch ools.

Th e bu lk of th e feder a l m on ey th r ou g h Tit le I for low -in com e ch ildr en a n d th r ou g h IDEA for disa bled y ou n g ster s sh ou ld follow th e

stu den ts to w h a tev er sch ool th ey ch oose so th a t elig ible pu pils, th r ou g h open en r ollm en t , ca n br in g th eir sh a r e of th e fu n din g w ith

th em . Th e Repu blica n -fou n ded D.C. Oppor tu n ity Sch ola r sh ip Pr og r a m sh ou ld be ex pa n ded a s a m odel for th e r est of th e cou n tr y .

We deplor e th e effor ts by Con g r ession a l Dem ocr a ts a n d th e cu r r en t Pr esiden t to kill th is su ccessfu l pr og r a m for disa dv a n ta g ed

stu den ts in or der to pla ca te th e lea der s of th e tea ch er s' u n ion s. We su ppor t pu tt in g th e n eeds of stu den ts befor e th e specia l in ter ests

of u n ion s w h en a ppr oa ch in g elem en ta r y a n d secon da r y edu ca t ion r efor m .

Beca u se pa r en ts a r e a ch ild's fir st tea ch er s, w e su ppor t fa m ily liter a cy pr og r a m s, w h ich im pr ov e th e r ea din g , la n g u a g e, a n d life

skills of both pa r en ts a n d ch ildr en fr om low -in com e fa m ilies. To en su r e th a t a ll stu den ts h a v e a ccess to th e m a in str ea m of

A m er ica n life, w e su ppor t th e En g lish Fir st a ppr oa ch a n d oppose div isiv e pr og r a m s th a t lim it stu den ts' a bility to a dv a n ce in

A m er ica n society . We r en ew ou r ca ll for r epla cin g "fa m ily pla n n in g " pr og r a m s for teen s w ith a bst in en ce edu ca t ion w h ich tea ch es

a bst in en ce u n til m a r r ia g e a s th e r espon sible a n d r espected sta n da r d of beh a v ior . A bst in en ce fr om sex u a l a ct iv ity is th e on ly

pr otect ion th a t is 1 00 per cen t effect iv e a g a in st ou t-of-w edlock pr eg n a n cies a n d sex u a lly -tr a n sm itted disea ses in clu din g HIV /A IDS

w h en tr a n sm itted sex u a lly . It is effect iv e, scien ce-ba sed, a n d em pow er s teen s to a ch iev e opt im a l h ea lth ou tcom es a n d a v oid r isks

of sex u a l a ct iv ity . We oppose sch ool-ba sed clin ics th a t pr ov ide r efer r a ls, cou n selin g , a n d r ela ted ser v ices for a bor t ion a n d

con tr a cept ion . We su ppor t keepin g feder a l fu n ds fr om bein g u sed in m a n da tor y or u n iv er sa l m en ta l h ea lth , psy ch ia tr ic, or

socioem otion a l scr een in g pr og r a m s.

We a ppla u d A m er ica 's g r ea t tea ch er s, w h o sh ou ld be pr otected a g a in st fr iv olou s lit ig a t ion a n d sh ou ld be a ble to ta ke r ea son a ble

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a ct ion s to m a in ta in disciplin e a n d or der in th e cla ssr oom . We su ppor t leg isla t ion th a t w ill cor r ect th e cu r r en t la w pr ov ision w h ich

defin es a "Hig h ly Qu a lified Tea ch er " m er ely by h is or h er cr eden tia ls, n ot r esu lts in th e cla ssr oom . We u r g e sch ool distr icts to m a ke

u se of tea ch in g ta len t in bu sin ess, STEM fields, a n d in th e m ilita r y , especia lly a m on g ou r r etu r n in g v eter a n s. Rig id ten u r e sy stem s

ba sed on th e "la st in , fir st ou t" policy sh ou ld be r epla ced w ith a m er it-ba sed a ppr oa ch th a t ca n a ttr a ct fr esh ta len t a n d dedica t ion

to th e cla ssr oom . A ll per son n el w h o in ter a ct w ith sch ool ch ildr en sh ou ld pa ss ba ckg r ou n d ch ecks a n d be h eld to th e h ig h est

sta n da r ds of per son a l con du ct .

Im proving Our Nation's Classroom s

Hig h er edu ca t ion fa ces its ow n ch a llen g es, m a n y of w h ich stem fr om th e poor pr epa r a t ion of stu den ts befor e th ey r ea ch colleg e.

On e con sequ en ce h a s been th e m u lt iply in g n u m ber of r em edia l cou r ses for fr esh m en . Ev en so, ou r u n iv er sit ies, la r g e a n d sm a ll,

pu blic or pr iv a te, for m th e w or ld's g r ea test a ssem bla g e of lea r n in g . Th ey dr iv e m u ch of th e r esea r ch th a t keeps A m er ica

com petit iv e a n d, by a dm itt in g la r g e n u m ber s of for eig n stu den ts, con v ey ou r v a lu es a n d cu ltu r e to th e w or ld.

Ideolog ica l bia s is deeply en tr en ch ed w ith in th e cu r r en t u n iv er sity sy stem . Wh a tev er th e solu t ion in pr iv a te in st itu t ion s m a y be,

in Sta te in st itu t ion s th e tr u stees h a v e a r espon sibility to th e pu blic to en su r e th a t th eir en or m ou s in v estm en t is n ot a bu sed for

polit ica l in doctr in a t ion . We ca ll on Sta te officia ls to en su r e th a t ou r pu blic colleg es a n d u n iv er sit ies be pla ces of lea r n in g a n d th e

ex ch a n g e of idea s, n ot zon es of in tellectu a l in toler a n ce fa v or in g th e Left .

Addressing Rising College Costs

Colleg e costs, h ow ev er , a r e on a n u n su sta in a ble tr a jector y , r isin g y ea r by y ea r fa r a h ea d of ov er a ll in fla t ion . Na t ion w ide, stu den t

loa n debt n ow ex ceeds cr edit ca r d debt , r ou g h ly $2 3 ,3 00 for ea ch of th e 3 5 ,000,000 debtor s, ta kin g y ea r s to pa y off. Ov er 5 0

per cen t of r ecen t colleg e g r a ds a r e u n em ploy ed or u n der em ploy ed, w or kin g a t jobs for w h ich th eir ex pen siv e edu ca t ion s g a v e

th em n o tr a in in g . It is t im e to g et ba ck to ba sics a n d to h ig h er edu ca t ion pr og r a m s dir ect ly r ela ted to job oppor tu n it ies.

Th e fir st step is to a ckn ow ledg e th e n eed for ch a n g e w h en th e sta tu s qu o is n ot w or kin g . New sy stem s of lea r n in g a r e n eeded to

com pete w ith tr a dit ion a l fou r -y ea r colleg es: ex pa n ded com m u n ity colleg es a n d tech n ica l in st itu t ion s, pr iv a te tr a in in g sch ools,

on lin e u n iv er sit ies, life-lon g lea r n in g , a n d w or k-ba sed lea r n in g in th e pr iv a te sector . New m odels for a cqu ir in g a dv a n ced skills w ill

be ev er m or e im por ta n t in th e r a pidly ch a n g in g econ om y of th e tw en ty -fir st cen tu r y , especia lly in scien ce, tech n olog y ,

en g in eer in g , a n d m a th . Pu blic policy sh ou ld a dv a n ce th e a ffor da bility , in n ov a t ion , a n d tr a n spa r en cy n eeded to a ddr ess a ll th ese

ch a llen g es a n d to m a ke a ccessible to ev er y on e th e em er g in g a lter n a t iv es, w ith th eir low er cost deg r ees, to tr a dit ion a l colleg e

a tten da n ce.

Feder a l stu den t a id is on a n u n su sta in a ble pa th , a n d effor ts sh ou ld be ta ken to pr ov ide fa m ilies w ith g r ea ter tr a n spa r en cy a n d th e

in for m a tion th ey n eed to m a ke pr u den t ch oices a bou t a stu den t 's fu tu r e: com plet ion r a tes, r epa y m en t r a tes, fu tu r e ea r n in g s, a n d

oth er fa ctor s th a t m a y a ffect th eir decision s. Th e feder a l g ov er n m en t sh ou ld n ot be in th e bu sin ess of or ig in a t in g stu den t loa n s;

h ow ev er , it sh ou ld ser v e a s a n in su r a n ce g u a r a n tor for th e pr iv a te sector a s th ey offer loa n s to stu den ts. Pr iv a te sector

pa r t icipa t ion in stu den t fin a n cin g sh ou ld be w elcom ed. A n y r eg u la t ion th a t dr iv es tu it ion costs h ig h er m u st be r eev a lu a ted to

ba la n ce its w or th a g a in st its n eg a t iv e im pa ct on stu den ts a n d th eir pa r en ts.

Justice for All: Safe Neighborhoods and Prison Reform

Th e m ost effect iv e for ces in r edu cin g cr im e a n d oth er socia l ills a r e str on g fa m ilies a n d ca r in g com m u n it ies su ppor ted by ex cellen t

la w en for cem en t. Both r ein for ce con str u ct iv e con du ct a n d eth ica l sta n da r ds by sett in g ex a m ples a n d pr ov idin g sa fe h a v en s fr om

da n g er ou s a n d destr u ct iv e beh a v ior s. Bu t ev en u n der th e best socia l cir cu m sta n ces, str on g , w elltr a in ed la w en for cem en t is

n ecessa r y to pr otect u s a ll, a n d especia lly th e w ea k a n d v u ln er a ble, fr om pr eda tor s. Ou r n a t ion a l ex per ien ce ov er th e la st sev er a l

deca des h a s sh ow n th a t cit izen v ig ila n ce, tou g h bu t fa ir pr osecu tor s, m ea n in g fu l sen ten ces, pr otect ion of v ict im s' r ig h ts, a n d

lim its on ju dicia l discr et ion ca n pr eser v e pu blic sa fety by keepin g cr im in a ls off th e str eets.

Liber a ls do n ot u n der sta n d th is sim ple a x iom : cr im in a ls beh in d ba r s ca n n ot h a r m th e g en er a l pu blic. To th a t en d, w e su ppor t

m a n da tor y pr ison sen ten cin g for g a n g cr im es, v iolen t or sex u a l offen ses a g a in st ch ildr en , r epea t dr u g dea ler s, r a pe, r obber y a n d

m u r der . We su ppor t a n a t ion a l r eg istr y for con v icted ch ild m u r der er s. We oppose pa r ole for da n g er ou s or r epea t felon s. Cou r ts

sh ou ld h a v e th e opt ion of im posin g th e dea th pen a lty in ca pita l m u r der ca ses.

In solida r ity w ith th ose w h o pr otect u s, w e ca ll for m a n da tor y pr ison t im e for a ll a ssa u lts in v olv in g ser iou s in ju r y to la w

en for cem en t officer s. Cr im in a ls in ju r ed in th e cou r se of th eir cr im es sh ou ld n ot be a ble to seek m on eta r y da m a g es fr om th eir

in ten ded v ict im s or fr om th e pu blic.

Wh ile g ett in g cr im in a ls off th e str eet is essen t ia l, m or e a tten t ion m u st be pa id to th e pr ocess of r estor in g th ose in div idu a ls to th e

com m u n ity . Pr ison s sh ou ld do m or e th a n pu n ish ; th ey sh ou ld a ttem pt to r eh a bilita te a n d in st itu te pr ov en pr ison er r een tr y

sy stem s to r edu ce r ecidiv ism a n d fu tu r e v ict im iza t ion . We en dor se Sta te a n d loca l in it ia t iv es th a t a r e tr y in g n ew a ppr oa ch es,

often ca lled a ccou n ta bility cou r ts.

Gov er n m en t a t a ll lev els sh ou ld w or k w ith fa ith ba sed in st itu t ion s th a t h a v e pr ov en tr a ck r ecor ds in div er t in g y ou n g a n d fir st

t im e, n on -v iolen t offen der s fr om cr im in a l ca r eer s, for w h ich w e sa lu te th em . Th eir em ph a sis on r estor a t iv e ju st ice, to m a ke th e

v ict im w h ole a n d pu t th e offen der on th e r ig h t pa th , ca n g iv e la w en for cem en t th e flex ibility it n eeds in dea lin g w ith differ en t

lev els of cr im in a l beh a v ior . We en dor se Sta te a n d loca l in it ia t iv es th a t a r e tr y in g n ew a ppr oa ch es to cu r bin g dr u g a bu se a n d

div er t in g fir st t im e offen der s to r eh a bilita t ion .

Pu blic a u th or it ies m u st r eg a in con tr ol of th eir cor r ect ion a l in st itu t ion s, for w e ca n n ot a llow pr ison s to becom e eth n ic or r a cia l

ba tt leg r ou n ds. Per son s ja iled for w h a tev er ca u se sh ou ld be pr otected a g a in st cr u el or deg r a din g tr ea tm en t by oth er in m a tes. In

som e ca ses, th e in st itu t ion of fa m ily -fr ien dly policies m a y cu r ta il pr ison v iolen ce a n d r edu ce th e r a te of r ecidiv ism , th u s r edu cin g

th e en or m ou s fisca l a n d socia l costs of in ca r cer a t ion . Br ea kin g th e cy cle of cr im e beg in s w ith th e ch ildr en of th ose w h o a r e

pr ison er s. Depr iv ed of a pa r en t th r ou g h n o fa u lt of th eir ow n , th ese y ou n g ster s sh ou ld be a specia l con cer n of ou r sch ools, socia l

ser v ices, a n d r elig iou s in st itu t ion s.

Th ir ty y ea r s a g o, Pr esiden t Rea g a n 's Ta sk For ce on V ict im s of Cr im e, ca llin g th e n eg lect of cr im e v ict im s a "n a t ion a l disg r a ce,"

pr oposed a Con st itu t ion a l a m en dm en t to secu r e th eir for m a l r ig h ts. Wh ile som e pr og r ess h a s been m a de to r ect ify th a t situ a t ion ,

th e n eed for n a t ion a l a ct ion st ill per sists in th e u n a ccepta ble tr ea tm en t of in n ocen t v ict im s. We ca ll on th e Sta tes to m a ke it a

bipa r t isa n pr ior ity to pr otect th e r ig h ts of cr im e v ict im s, w h o sh ou ld a lso be a ssu r ed of a ccess to socia l a n d leg a l ser v ices; a n d w e

ca ll on th e Con g r ess to m a ke th e feder a l cou r ts a m odel in th is r eg a r d for th e r est of th e cou n tr y .

Th e r esou r ces of th e feder a l g ov er n m en t 's la w en for cem en t a n d ju dicia l sy stem s h a v e been str a in ed by tw o u n for tu n a te

ex pa n sion s: th e ov er cr im in a liza t ion of beh a v ior a n d th e ov er -feder a liza t ion of offen ses. Th e n u m ber of cr im in a l offen ses in th e U.S.

Code in cr ea sed fr om 3 ,000 in th e ea r ly 1 9 8 0s to ov er 4 ,4 5 0 by 2 008 . Feder a l cr im in a l la w sh ou ld focu s on a cts by feder a l

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Code in cr ea sed fr om 3 ,000 in th e ea r ly 1 9 8 0s to ov er 4 ,4 5 0 by 2 008 . Feder a l cr im in a l la w sh ou ld focu s on a cts by feder a l

em ploy ees or a cts com m itted on feder a l pr oper ty — a n d lea v e th e r est to th e Sta tes. Th en Con g r ess sh ou ld w ith dr a w fr om feder a l

depa r tm en ts a n d a g en cies th e pow er to cr im in a lize beh a v ior , a pr a ct ice w h ich , a ccor din g to th e Con g r ession a l Resea r ch Ser v ice,

h a s cr ea ted "ten s of th ou sa n ds" of cr im in a l offen ses. No on e oth er th a n a n elected r epr esen ta t iv e sh ou ld h a v e th e a u th or ity to

defin e a cr im in a l a ct a n d set cr im in a l pen a lt ies. In th e sa m e w a y , Con g r ess sh ou ld r econ sider th e ex ten t to w h ich it h a s feder a lized

offen ses tr a dit ion a lly h a n dled on th e Sta te or loca l lev el.

American Exceptionalism

We a r e th e pa r ty of pea ce th r ou g h str en g th . Pr ofessin g A m er ica n ex cept ion a lism —th e con v ict ion th a t ou r cou n tr y h olds a u n iqu e

pla ce a n d r ole in h u m a n h istor y —w e pr ou dly a ssocia te ou r selv es w ith th ose A m er ica n s of a ll polit ica l str ipes w h o, m or e th a n th r ee

deca des a g o in a w or ld a s da n g er ou s a s toda y 's, ca m e tog eth er to a dv a n ce th e ca u se of fr eedom . Repu dia t in g th e folly of a n a m a teu r

for eig n policy a n d defy in g a w or ldw ide Ma r x ist a dv a n ce, th ey a n n ou n ced th eir str a teg y in th e t im eless slog a n w e r epea t toda y :

pea ce th r ou g h str en g th —a n en du r in g pea ce ba sed on fr eedom a n d th e w ill to defen d it , a n d A m er ica n dem ocr a t ic v a lu es a n d th e

w ill to pr om ote th em . Wh ile th e tw en tieth cen tu r y w a s u n den ia bly a n A m er ica n cen tu r y —w ith str on g lea der sh ip, a dh er en ce to

th e pr in ciples of fr eedom a n d dem ocr a cy ou r Fou n der s' en sh r in ed in ou r n a t ion 's Decla r a t ion of In depen den ce a n d Con st itu t ion ,

a n d a con tin u ed r elia n ce on Div in e Pr ov iden ce—th e tw en ty -fir st cen tu r y w ill be on e of A m er ica n g r ea tn ess a s w ell.

Toda y 's a dv er sa r ies a r e differ en t , a s a r e th eir w ea pon s a n d th eir ideolog y , bu t th is r em a in s th e sa m e: th e u n ity of A m er ica n s,

bey on d pa r ty , in g r a t itu de to th ose w h o h a v e defen ded ou r cou n tr y , pu r su ed its a t ta cker s to th e en ds of th e ea r th , a n d toda y sta n d

v ig ila n t g u a r d in ou r cit ies, on ou r coa sts, a n d in a lien la n ds. We pledg e to ou r ser v icem en a n d w om en th e a u th or ity a n d r esou r ces

th ey n eed to pr otect th e n a t ion a n d defen d A m er ica 's fr eedom . Con tin u ed v ig ila n ce, especia lly in tr a v el a n d com m er ce, is

n ecessa r y to pr ev en t bioter r or ism , cy ber ter r or ism , a n d oth er a sy m m etr ic or n on -tr a dit ion a l w a r fa r e a tta cks a n d to en su r e th a t

th e h or r or of Septem ber 1 1 , 2 001 is n ev er r epea ted on ou r soil.

Ou r cou n tr y a n d its w a y of life h a v e en em ies both a br oa d a n d w ith in ou r sh or es. We a ffir m th e n eed for ou r m ilita r y to pr otect th e

n a t ion by fin din g a n d ca ptu r in g ou r en em ies a n d th e n ecessity for th e Pr esiden t to h a v e th e tools to dea l w ith th ese th r ea ts. A s

h istor y h a s sa dly sh ow n , ev en ou r fellow cit izen s m a y r a r ely becom e en em ies of th eir cou n tr y . Nev er th eless, ou r g ov er n m en t

m u st con tin u e to en su r e th e pr otect ion s u n der ou r Con st itu t ion to a ll cit izen s, pa r t icu la r ly th e r ig h ts of h a bea s cor pu s a n d du e

pr ocess of la w .

Histor y pr ov es th a t th e best w a y to pr om ote pea ce a n d pr ev en t cost ly w a r s is to en su r e th a t w e con sta n t ly r en ew A m er ica 's

econ om ic str en g th . A h ea lth y A m er ica n econ om y is w h a t u n der w r ites a n d su sta in s A m er ica n pow er . Th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion

is w ea ken in g A m er ica a t h om e th r ou g h a n em ic g r ow th , h ig h u n em ploy m en t, a n d r ecor d-sett in g debt . We m u st th er efor e r ebu ild

ou r econ om y a n d solv e ou r fisca l cr isis. In a n A m er ica n cen tu r y , A m er ica w ill h a v e th e str on g est econ om y a n d th e str on g est

m ilita r y in th e w or ld.

T he Current Adm inistration's Failure: Leading From Behind

Th e Repu blica n Pa r ty is th e a dv oca te for a str on g n a t ion a l defen se a s th e pa th w a y to pea ce, econ om ic pr osper ity , a n d th e

pr otect ion of th ose y ea r n in g to be fr ee. Sin ce th e en d of Wor ld Wa r II, A m er ica n m ilita r y su per ior ity h a s been th e cor n er ston e of a

str a teg y th a t seeks to deter a g g r ession or defea t th ose w h o th r ea ten ou r n a t ion a l secu r ity in ter ests. In 1 9 8 1 , Pr esiden t Rea g a n

ca m e to office w ith a n a g en da of str on g A m er ica n lea der sh ip, beg in n in g w ith a r estor a t ion of ou r cou n tr y 's m ilita r y str en g th . Th e

r est is h istor y , w r it ten in th e r u bble of th e Ber lin Wa ll a n d th e Ir on Cu r ta in .

We fa ce a sim ila r ch a llen g e toda y . Th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion h a s r espon ded w ith w ea kn ess to som e of th e g r a v est th r ea ts to ou r

n a t ion a l secu r ity th is cou n tr y h a s fa ced, in clu din g th e pr olifer a t ion of tr a n sn a t ion a l ter r or ism , con tin u ed bellig er en ce by a

n u clea r -a r m ed Nor th Kor ea , a n Ir a n in pu r su it of n u clea r w ea pon s, r isin g Ch in ese h eg em on y in th e A sia Pa cific r eg ion , Ru ssia n

a ct iv ism , a n d th r ea ts fr om cy ber espion a g e a n d ter r or ism . In r espon se to th ese g r ow in g th r ea ts, Pr esiden t Oba m a h a s r edu ced th e

defen se bu dg et by ov er $4 8 7 billion ov er th e n ex t deca de a n d fou g h t Repu blica n effor ts to a v oid a n oth er $5 00 billion in a u tom a tic

bu dg et cu ts th r ou g h a sequ estr a t ion in ea r ly 2 01 3 th a t w ill ta ke a m ea t a x to a ll m a jor defen se pr og r a m s.

T he Dangers of A Hollow Force: T he Loom ing Sequestration

Sequ estr a t ion —w h ich is sev er e, a u tom a tic, a cr oss-th e-boa r d cu ts in defen se spen din g ov er th e n ex t deca de—of th e n a t ion 's m ilita r y

bu dg et w ou ld be a disa ster for n a t ion a l secu r ity , im per ilin g th e sa fety of ou r ser v icem en a n d w om en , a cceler a t in g th e declin e of

ou r n a t ion 's defen se in du str ia l ba se, a n d r esu lt in g in th e la y off of m or e th a n 1 m illion skilled w or ker s. Opposit ion to sequ ester is

bipa r t isa n ; ev en th e cu r r en t Secr eta r y of Defen se h a s sa id th e cu ts w ill be "dev a sta t in g " to A m er ica 's m ilita r y . Yet th e cu r r en t

Pr esiden t su ppor ted sequ estr a t ion , sig n ed it in to la w , a n d h a s th r ea ten ed to v eto Repu blica n effor ts to pr ev en t it . If h e a llow s a n

a ddit ion a l h a lf tr illion dolla r s to be cu t fr om th e defen se bu dg et , A m er ica w ill be left w ith th e sm a llest g r ou n d for ce sin ce 1 9 4 0,

th e sm a llest n u m ber of sh ips sin ce 1 9 1 5 , a n d th e sm a llest A ir For ce in its h istor y —a t a t im e w h en ou r Na tion fa ces a g r ow in g

r a n g e of th r ea ts to ou r n a t ion a l secu r ity a n d a str u g g lin g econ om y th a t ca n ill a ffor d to lose 1 .5 m illion defen se-r ela ted jobs.

Leaks for Political Purposes

Th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion 's lea ks of cla ssified in for m a tion h a v e im per iled in tellig en ce a ssets w h ich a r e v ita l to A m er ica n

secu r ity . Th is con du ct is con tem ptible. It betr a y s ou r n a t ion a l in ter est . It com pr om ises ou r m en a n d w om en in th e field. A n d it

dem a n ds a fu ll a n d pr om pt in v est ig a t ion by a specia l cou n sel. Equ a lly th r ea ten in g to th e lon g -ter m str en g th a n d sa fety of ou r

A r m ed For ces a r e th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion 's effor ts to sa cr ifice ou r n a t ion a l secu r ity for polit ica l g a in a n d a pa r t isa n a g en da .

We g iv e th e cu r r en t Pr esiden t cr edit for m a in ta in in g h is pr edecessor 's qu iet deter m in a t ion a n d pla n n in g to br in g to ju st ice th e

m a n beh in d th e 9 /1 1 a t ta ck on A m er ica , bu t h e h a s toler a ted pu blicizin g th e deta ils of th e oper a t ion to kill th e lea der of A l Qa eda ;

th ose lea ks ex posed th e ta ct ics a n d tech n iqu es of ou r Specia l Oper a t ion s for ces a n d den ied ou r n a t ion a n u n pr eceden ted in tellig en ce

oppor tu n ity . Su bsequ en t lea ks by sen ior A dm in istr a t ion officia ls r eg a r din g cy ber w a r fa r e, th e u se of dr on es a g a in st A l Qa eda a n d

its oper a t iv es, a n d th e ta r g et in g of ou r en em ies—u n pr eceden ted lea ks th a t com pr om ised key sou r ces a n d m eth ods a n d da m a g ed

ou r n a t ion a l secu r ity —ser v ed th e sin g le pu r pose of pr oppin g u p th e im a g e of a w ea k Pr esiden t .

A Failed National Security Strategy

Th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion 's m ost r ecen t Na tion a l Secu r ity Str a teg y r eflects th e ex tr em e elem en ts in its liber a l dom est ic

coa lit ion . It is a bu dg et-con str a in ed blu epr in t th a t , if fu lly im plem en ted, w ill dim in ish th e ca pa bilit ies of ou r A r m ed For ces. Th e

str a teg y sig n ifica n t ly in cr ea ses th e r isk of fu tu r e con flict by decla r in g to ou r a dv er sa r ies th a t w e w ill n o lon g er m a in ta in th e

for ces n ecessa r y to fig h t a n d w in m or e th a n on e con flict a t a t im e. It r elies on th e g ood in ten t ion s a n d ca pa bilit ies of in ter n a t ion a l

or g a n iza t ion s to ju st ify con str a in in g A m er ica n m ilita r y r ea din ess. Fin a lly , th e str a teg y su bor din a tes ou r n a t ion a l secu r ity

in ter ests to en v ir on m en ta l, en er g y , a n d in ter n a t ion a l h ea lth issu es, a n d elev a tes "clim a te ch a n g e" to th e lev el of a "sev er e th r ea t"

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equ iv a len t to for eig n a g g r ession . Th e w or d "clim a te," in fa ct , a ppea r s in th e cu r r en t Pr esiden t 's str a teg y m or e often th a n A l Qa eda ,

n u clea r pr olifer a t ion , r a dica l Isla m , or w ea pon s of m a ss destr u ct ion . Th e ph r a se "g loba l w a r on ter r or " does n ot a ppea r a t a ll, a n d

h a s been pu r posely a v oided a n d ch a n g ed by h is A dm in istr a t ion to "ov er sea s con tin g en cy oper a t ion s."

Conventional Forces in Decline

Mor e th a n a cen tu r y a g o, Repu blica n Pr esiden t Th eodor e Roosev elt pr edicted th a t A m er ica 's fu tu r e w a s in th e Pa cific. Th a t fu tu r e

is h er e toda y , bu t it ca n dev elop pea cefu lly on ly u n der th e sh ield of A m er ica n Na v a l a n d A ir pow er . Yet th e cu r r en t

A dm in istr a t ion pla n s to sig n ifica n t ly cu r ta il pr odu ct ion of ou r m ost a dv a n ced com ba t a ir cr a ft , decom m ission 6 of 6 0 A ir For ce

ta ct ica l squ a dr on s, a n d elim in a te cr it ica l a ir m obility a ssets, in clu din g 2 7 g ia n t C-5 A s a n d 6 5 C-1 3 0s, w h ile div est in g th e n a t ion

of th e br a n d n ew C-2 7 .

Th e Pr esiden t pla n s to r edu ce ou r n a v a l for ces by r et ir in g sev en cr u iser s a n d slow in g w or k on a m ph ibiou s sh ips a n d a tta ck

su bm a r in es, fu r th er r edu cin g th e Na v y th a t a lr ea dy h a s th e sm a llest fleet sin ce th e ea r ly y ea r s of th e tw en tieth cen tu r y . A n d h e

w ill r edu ce g r ou n d for ces by sepa r a t in g 1 00,000 soldier s a n d Ma r in es—m a n y of w h om w ill be disch a r g ed a fter r ecen t ly r etu r n in g

fr om com ba t—a n d a n oth er 1 00,000 u n der th e sequ ester .

Th ese pla n s lim it ou r str a teg ic flex ibility in a n in cr ea sin g ly da n g er ou s w or ld. Th e cu r r en t Pr esiden t is r epea t in g th e disa str ou s

cu ts of th e post-V ietn a m w a r er a , pu tt in g ou r n a t ion in da n g er of r etu r n in g to th e "h ollow for ce" of th e Ca r ter A dm in istr a t ion ,

w h en th e U.S. m ilita r y w a s n ot r espected in th e w or ld.

Nuclear Forces and Missile Defense Im periled

We r ecog n ize th a t th e g r a v est ter r or th r ea t w e fa ce—a n u clea r a tta ck m a de possible by n u clea r pr olifer a t ion —r equ ir es a

com pr eh en siv e str a teg y for r edu cin g th e w or ld's n u clea r stockpiles a n d pr ev en tin g th e spr ea d of th ose a r m a m en ts. Bu t th e U.S.

ca n lea d th a t effor t on ly if it m a in ta in s a n effect iv e str a teg ic a r sen a l a t a lev el su fficien t to fu lfill its deter r en t pu r poses, a n ota ble

fa ilu r e of th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion .

Th e Un ited Sta tes is th e on ly n u clea r pow er n ot m oder n izin g its n u clea r stockpile. It took th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion ju st on e y ea r

to r en eg e on th e Pr esiden t 's com m itm en t to m oder n ize th e n eg lected in fr a str u ctu r e of th e n u clea r w ea pon s com plex —a

com m itm en t m a de in ex ch a n g e for a ppr ov a l of th e New STA RT tr ea ty . In ta n dem w ith th is, th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion h a s

sy stem a tica lly u n der m in ed A m er ica 's m issile defen se, a ba n don in g th e m issile defen se ba ses in Pola n d a n d th e Czech Repu blic,

r edu cin g th e n u m ber of pla n n ed in ter ceptor s in A la ska , a n d cu tt in g th e bu dg et for m issile defen se. In a n em ba r r a ssin g open

m icr oph on e discu ssion w ith for m er Ru ssia n Pr esiden t Medv edev , th e cu r r en t Pr esiden t m a de clea r th a t , if h e w in s a secon d ter m ,

h e in ten ds to ex er cise "m or e flex ibility " to a ppea se Ru ssia , w h ich m ea n s fu r th er u n der m in in g ou r m issile defen se ca pa bilit ies. A

Repu blica n Pr esiden t w ill be h on est a n d for th r ig h t w ith th e A m er ica n people a bou t h is policies a n d pla n s a n d n ot w h isper pr om ises

to a u th or ita r ia n lea der s.

A str on g a n d effect iv e str a teg ic a r sen a l is st ill n ecessa r y a s a deter r en t a g a in st com petitor s like Ru ssia or Ch in a . Bu t th e da n g er in

th is a g e of a sy m m etr ic or n on -tr a dit ion a l w a r fa r e com es fr om oth er qu a r ter s a s w ell. With u n sta ble r eg im es in Ir a n a n d Nor th

Kor ea deter m in ed to dev elop n u clea r -t ipped m issiles ca pa ble of r ea ch in g th e Un ited Sta tes, w ith th e possibility th a t a ter r or ist

g r ou p cou ld g a in con tr ol of a n u clea r w ea pon , it is folly to a ba n don a m issile sh ield for th e cou n tr y .

A T wenty -First Century T hreat: T he Cy bersecurity Danger

Th e fr equ en cy , soph ist ica t ion , a n d in ten sity of cy ber -r ela ted in ciden ts w ith in th e Un ited Sta tes h a v e in cr ea sed stea dily ov er th e

pa st deca de a n d w ill con t in u e to do so u n til it is m a de clea r th a t a cy ber a tta ck a g a in st th e Un ited Sta tes w ill n ot be toler a ted. Th e

cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion 's cy ber secu r ity policies h a v e fa iled to cu r b m a liciou s a ct ion s by ou r a dv er sa r ies, a n d n o w on der , for th er e

is n o a ct iv e deter r en ce pr otocol. Th e cu r r en t deter r en ce fr a m ew or k is ov er ly r elia n t on th e dev elopm en t of defen siv e ca pa bilit ies

a n d h a s been u n su ccessfu l in dissu a din g cy ber -r ela ted a g g r ession . Th e U.S. ca n n ot a ffor d to r isk th e cy ber equ iv a len t of Pea r l

Ha r bor .

Th e g ov er n m en t a n d pr iv a te sector m u st w or k tog eth er to a ddr ess th e cy ber th r ea ts posed to th e Un ited Sta tes, h elp th e fr ee flow of

in for m a tion betw een n etw or k m a n a g er s, a n d en cou r a g e in n ov a t ion a n d in v estm en t in cy ber secu r ity . Th e g ov er n m en t m u st do a

better job of pr otect in g its ow n sy stem s, w h ich con ta in som e of th e m ost sen sit iv e da ta a n d con tr ol som e of ou r m ost im por ta n t

fa cilit ies. A s su ch , w e en cou r a g e a n im m edia te u pda te of th e la w th a t w a s dr a fted a deca de a g o to im pr ov e th e secu r ity of

g ov er n m en t in for m a tion sy stem s. A ddit ion a lly , w e m u st in v est in con tin u in g r esea r ch to dev elop cu tt in g -edg e cy ber secu r ity

tech n olog ies to pr otect th e U.S. How ev er , w e a ckn ow ledg e th a t th e m ost effect iv e w a y of com ba tin g poten t ia l cy ber secu r ity

th r ea ts is sh a r in g cy ber th r ea t in for m a tion betw een th e g ov er n m en t a n d in du str y , a s w ell a s pr otect in g th e fr ee flow of

in for m a tion w ith in th e pr iv a te sector .

Th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion 's la w s a n d policies u n der m in e w h a t sh ou ld be a colla bor a t iv e r ela t ion sh ip a n d pu t both th e

g ov er n m en t a n d pr iv a te en t it ies a t a sev er e disa dv a n ta g e in pr oa ct iv ely iden tify in g poten t ia l cy ber th r ea ts. Th e cost ly a n d

h ea v y -h a n ded r eg u la tor y a ppr oa ch by th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion w ill in cr ea se th e size a n d cost of th e feder a l bu r ea u cr a cy a n d

h a r m in n ov a t ion in cy ber secu r ity . Th e g ov er n m en t collects v a lu a ble in for m a tion a bou t poten t ia l th r ea ts th a t ca n a n d sh ou ld be

sh a r ed w ith pr iv a te en t it ies w ith ou t com pr om isin g n a t ion a l secu r ity . We believ e th a t com pa n ies sh ou ld be fr ee fr om leg a l a n d

r eg u la tor y ba r r ier s th a t pr ev en t or deter th em fr om v olu n ta r ily sh a r in g cy ber th r ea t in for m a tion w ith th eir g ov er n m en t

pa r tn er s.

An Am erica T hat Leads: T he Republican National Security Strategy for the Future

We w ill h on or Pr esiden t Rea g a n 's leg a cy of pea ce th r ou g h str en g th by a dv a n cin g th e m ost costeffect iv e pr og r a m s a n d policies

cr u cia l to ou r n a t ion a l secu r ity , in clu din g ou r econ om ic secu r ity a n d fisca l solv en cy . To do th a t , w e m u st h on est ly a ssess th e

th r ea ts fa cin g th is cou n tr y , a n d w e m u st be a ble to a r t icu la te ca n didly to th e A m er ica n people ou r pr ior it ies for th e u se of

ta x pa y er dolla r s to a ddr ess th ose th r ea ts.

We m u st deter a n y a dv er sa r y w h o w ou ld a tta ck u s or u se ter r or a s a tool of g ov er n m en t. Ev er y poten t ia l en em y m u st h a v e n o

dou bt th a t ou r ca pa bilit ies, ou r com m itm en t, a n d ou r w ill to defea t th em a r e clea r , u n w a v er in g , a n d u n equ iv oca l. We m u st

im m edia tely em ploy a n ew blu epr in t for a Na t ion a l Milita r y Str a teg y th a t is ba sed on a n in for m ed a n d v a lida ted a ssessm en t of th e

poten t ia l th r ea ts w e fa ce, on e th a t r estor es a s a pr in cipa l object iv e th e deter r en ce u sin g th e fu ll spectr u m of ou r m ilita r y

ca pa bilit ies. A s Ron a ld Rea g a n pr ov ed by th e v ictor iou s con clu sion of th e Cold Wa r , on ly ou r ca pa bility to w ield ov er w h elm in g

m ilita r y pow er ca n tr u ly deter th e en em ies of th e Un ited Sta tes fr om th r ea ten in g ou r people a n d ou r n a t ion a l in ter ests.

In or der to deter a g g r ession fr om n a t ion -sta tes, w e m u st m a in ta in m ilita r y a n d tech n ica l su per ior ity th r ou g h in n ov a t ion w h ile

u pg r a din g leg a cy sy stem s in clu din g a ir cr a ft a n d a r m or ed v eh icles. We m u st deter th e th r ea t posed by r og u e a g g r essor s w ith th e

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u pg r a din g leg a cy sy stem s in clu din g a ir cr a ft a n d a r m or ed v eh icles. We m u st deter th e th r ea t posed by r og u e a g g r essor s w ith th e

a ssu r a n ce th a t ju st ice w ill be ser v ed th r ou g h sta te-ofth e-a r t su r v eilla n ce, en h a n ced specia l oper a t ion s ca pa bilit ies, a n d u n m a n n ed

a er ia l sy stem s.

We w ill em ploy th e fu ll r a n g e of m ilita r y a n d in tellig en ce opt ion s to defea t A l Qa eda a n d its a ffilia tes w h o th r ea ten n ot ju st th e

West bu t th e com m u n ity of n a t ion s. We w ill h a v e a com pr eh en siv e a n d ju st deta in ee policy th a t tr ea ts th ose w h o w ou ld a tta ck ou r

n a t ion a s en em y com ba ta n ts. We w ill a ccept n o a r m s con tr ol a g r eem en t th a t lim its ou r r ig h t to self-defen se; a n d w e w ill fu lly

deploy a m issile defen se sh ield for th e people of th e Un ited Sta tes a n d for ou r a llies.

We w ill pu r su e a n effect iv e cy ber secu r ity str a teg y , su ppor ted by th e n ecessa r y r esou r ces, th a t r ecog n izes th e im por ta n ce of

offen siv e ca pa bilit ies. Wh eth er it is a n a t ion -sta te a ct iv ely pr obin g ou r n a t ion a l secu r ity n etw or ks, a ter r or or g a n iza t ion seekin g to

obta in destr u ct iv e cy ber ca pa bilit ies, or a cr im in a l n etw or k's th eft of in tellectu a l pr oper ty , m or e m u st be don e to deter , defea t , a n d

r espon d to cy ber th r ea ts.

We w ill r estor e th e m or a le a n d a dv a n ce th e ca pa bilit ies of ou r in tellig en ce com m u n ity to en su r e th a t th e Pr esiden t a n d ou r

m ilita r y lea der s a r e fu lly in for m ed in a n u n cer ta in a n d in cr ea sin g ly da n g er ou s w or ld. We w ill r estor e a ccou n ta bility to en su r e

th a t ou r n a t ion 's m ost sen sit iv e in for m a tion a n d a ct iv it ies a r e pr otected a ppr opr ia tely .

Th e Depa r tm en t of Defen se, like a ll g ov er n m en t a g en cies, n eeds to be ca r efu l to spen d ta x pa y er s' dolla r s w isely . We w ill im plem en t

sou n d m a n a g em en t policies to en su r e th e t im ely , cost-effect iv e deliv er y of th e tools ou r tr oops n eed to fig h t . We r eject

Con g r ession a l ea r m a r ks th a t pu t per son a l a n d pa r och ia l in ter ests a h ea d of m ilita r y effect iv en ess a n d th e best in ter ests of th e

n a t ion . We r ecog n ize th e n eed for , a n d v a lu e of, com petit ion w ith in a r obu st in du str ia l ba se to m ost effect iv ely m a x im ize qu a lity

a n d dr iv e dow n costs in ev er y th in g th e Depa r tm en t bu y s.

Supporting our T roops, Standing By Our Heroes

Th e fou n da tion of ou r m ilita r y lies in th e m en a n d w om en w h o w ea r ou r cou n tr y 's u n ifor m , w h eth er on a ct iv e du ty or in th e

Reser v es a n d Na tion a l Gu a r d, a n d th e fa m ilies w h o su ppor t th em . Un der n o cir cu m sta n ces w ill w e r ev ea l a n y secr et or deta il of a

m ilita r y oper a t ion th a t cou ld pu t ou r people in to a ddit ion a l h a r m 's w a y . Th e m em ber s of ou r m ilita r y sh ou ld be tr ea ted w ith th e

u tm ost r espect a n d dig n ity . We r eject th e u se of th e m ilita r y a s a pla t for m for socia l ex per im en ta t ion a n d w ill n ot a ccept a t tem pts

to u n der m in e m ilita r y pr ior it ies a n d m ission r ea din ess.

Con sisten t w ith th is com m itm en t, w e believ e com pen sa t ion a n d con dit ion s for ou r A r m ed For ces in pla ce a t th e t im e m ilita r y

ser v ice is in it ia ted sh ou ld be su fficien t to a t tr a ct a n d r eta in qu a lity m en a n d w om en a s w e h on or ou r pr om ises a n d com m itm en ts

to v eter a n s, r et ir ees, a n d th eir fa m ilies. Th ese sh a ll con t in u e a n d n ot be r edu ced or oth er w ise dim in ish ed w h ile in ser v ice, or u pon

sepa r a t ion , or r et ir em en t. Th e com ba t r ea din ess of ou r A r m ed For ces is th e fou n da tion of str en g th a n d deter r en ce. Rea din ess

r equ ir es a con sisten t a n d su sta in ed in v estm en t in th e tr a in in g a n d r e-equ ippin g of ou r m ilita r y per son n el. We w ill n ev er a ssu m e

th e r isk of r edu ced r ea din ess, a n d w e ca n n ev er r etu r n to th e "h ollow " for ces of th e 1 9 7 0s. Com ba t r ea din ess a lso r equ ir es th a t w e

r eser v e tr oops for tr u ly n ecessa r y oper a t ion s by n ot ov er ex ten din g th em a r ou n d th e w or ld.

We r ecog n ize th a t dr a st ic cu ts to ou r m ilita r y 's en d str en g th pose sev er e n a t ion a l secu r ity ch a llen g es. To a v oid th e ov er ex ten sion

of ou r for ces, w e su ppor t a la r g er a ct iv e for ce a n d oppose cu ts to th e Na tion a l Gu a r d a n d Reser v es.

Th e a ll-v olu n teer for ce, beg u n on th e w a tch of Repu blica n Pr esiden ts, h a s ca r r ied A m er ica to v ictor y fr om th e Ca r ibbea n a n d

Cen tr a l A m er ica to th e Ba lka n s a n d Sou th w est A sia . We oppose th e r ein sta tem en t of th e dr a ft w h eth er dir ect ly or th r ou g h

com pu lsor y n a t ion a l ser v ice. We su ppor t th e a dv a n cem en t of w om en in th e m ilita r y , w h ich h a s n ot on ly open ed door s of

oppor tu n ity for in div idu a ls bu t h a s a lso m a de possible th e dev oted, a n d often h er oic, ser v ices of a ddit ion a l m em ber s of ev er y

br a n ch of th e A r m ed For ces. We su ppor t m ilita r y w om en 's ex em ption fr om dir ect g r ou n d com ba t u n its a n d in fa n tr y ba tta lion s.

We a ffir m th e cu ltu r a l v a lu es th a t en cou r a g e selfless ser v ice a n d su per ior ity in ba tt le, a n d w e oppose a n y th in g w h ich m ig h t

div ide or w ea ken tea m coh esion , in clu din g in tr a -m ilita r y specia l in ter est dem on str a t ion s. We w ill su ppor t a n object iv e a n d open -

m in ded r ev iew of th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion 's m a n a g em en t of m ilita r y per son n el policies a n d w ill cor r ect pr oblem s w ith

a ppr opr ia te a dm in istr a t iv e, leg a l, or leg isla t iv e a ct ion .

Th e Na tion a l Gu a r d a n d Reser v es a r e a fu lly oper a t ion a l a n d ba tt le-tested com pon en t of ou r A r m ed For ces. Ma n y of th em h a v e

h er oica lly ser v ed for m u lt iple deploy m en ts r esu lt in g in in a dequ a te t im e betw een deploy m en ts, a lso kn ow n a s dw ell t im e. We

pledg e to m a in ta in th eir m a n pow er a n d equ ipm en t str en g th a n d to en su r e th eir m em ber s r eceiv e th e pa y , ben efits, a n d a dequ a te

tr a in in g to con tin u e th eir ser v ice a n d m a in ta in m ission r ea din ess th r ou g h Pr esiden tia l lea der sh ip a n d Con g r ession a l bu dg et

su ppor t . Th eir h istor ic a n d con tin u in g r ole a s cit izen soldier s is a pr ou d tr a dit ion lin kin g ev er y com m u n ity a cr oss A m er ica to th e

ca u se of fr eedom . We a ffir m ser v ice m em ber s' leg a l r ig h t to r etu r n to th eir civ ilia n jobs, w h eth er in g ov er n m en t or th e pr iv a te

sector , a n d w e u r g e g r ea ter tr a n sit ion a ssista n ce to a n d fr om em ploy er s a s th ey r etu r n to th e civ ilia n w or ld. Especia lly in lig h t of

th e h ig h u n em ploy m en t r a tes fa ced by y ou n g er Reser v e a n d Gu a r d m em ber s, w e sa lu te th ose em ploy er s w h o h a v e w isely decided

th a t it is a sm a r t a n d pa tr iot ic bu sin ess decision to h ir e th ose w h o h a v e ser v ed a bov e a n d bey on d th e ca ll of du ty .

Th e spir itu a l w elfa r e of ou r tr oops a n d r et ir ed ser v ice m em ber s sh ou ld be a pr ior ity of ou r n a t ion a l lea der sh ip. With m ilita r y

su icides r u n n in g a t th e r a te of on e a da y , w ith post-ser v ice m edica l con dit ion s, in clu din g a ddict ion a n d m en ta l illn ess, a n d w ith

th e fin a n cia l str ess a n d h om elessn ess th a t is often r ela ted to th ese fa ctor s, th er e is a n u r g en t n eed for th e kin d of cou n selin g th a t

fa ith -ba sed in st itu t ion s ca n best pr ov ide. We su ppor t r ig h ts of con scien ce a n d r elig iou s fr eedom for m ilita r y ch a pla in s a n d people of

fa ith . A Repu blica n Com m a n der in Ch ief w ill pr otect r elig iou s in depen den ce of m ilita r y ch a pla in s a n d w ill n ot toler a te a ttem pts to

ba n Bibles or r elig iou s sy m bols fr om m ilita r y fa cilit ies. We w ill en for ce a n d defen d in cou r t th e Defen se of Ma r r ia g e A ct (DOMA ) in

th e A r m ed For ces a s w ell a s in th e civ ilia n w or ld.

We ca ll u pon th e en t ir e ch a in of com m a n d—fr om th e Pr esiden t a n d th e Secr eta r y of Defen se, to ba se a n d u n it com m a n der s—to

en su r e th a t ou r tr oops a n d r et ir ed ser v ice m em ber s, w h er ev er sta t ion ed, h a v e th e oppor tu n ity to v ote in th e Nov em ber elect ion s,

a n d th a t th eir ba llots w ill be r etu r n ed in t im e to be pr oper ly cou n ted. Th ose w h o fig h t for a n d defen d fr eedom a r ou n d th e w or ld

m u st n ot be disen fr a n ch ised.

Recognizing and Supporting Military Fam ilies

Th e fa m ilies of ou r m ilita r y per son n el cu r r en t ly ser v in g , r et ir ed ser v ice m em ber s, a n d v eter a n s m u st a lso be a ssu r ed of th e pa y ,

h ea lth ca r e, h ou sin g , edu ca t ion , a n d ov er a ll su ppor t th ey h a v e ea r n ed. We w ill en su r e th a t th e feder a l g ov er n m en t keeps its

com m itm en ts to th ose w h o sig n ed on th e dotted lin e of en listm en t w ith th e a ssu r a n ce th a t th ose pr om ises w ou ld be kept . We m u st

a lso do m or e to r eta in th e ser v ices of th ose ser v ice m em ber s w h o h a v e bor n e th e fig h t sin ce 2 001 .

We m u st a ckn ow ledg e th a t a s ou r tr oops h a v e ex per ien ced r epea ted deploy m en ts, so h a v e th eir fa m ilies. We a r e com m itted to

pr ov idin g pr og r a m s th a t offer r ea dju stm en t in for m a tion a n d cou n selin g to ou r m ilita r y fa m ilies, a n d u r g e Sta tes to offer su ppor t

for job pr og r a m s, licen se r ecipr ocity , on e-stop ser v ice cen ter s, a n d edu ca t ion pr og r a m s to su ppor t th ese fa m ilies. Th e n a t ion m u st

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for job pr og r a m s, licen se r ecipr ocity , on e-stop ser v ice cen ter s, a n d edu ca t ion pr og r a m s to su ppor t th ese fa m ilies. Th e n a t ion m u st

a lso r ecog n ize th e u lt im a te sa cr ifice of su r v iv or s a n d pr otect th eir ben efits. We w ill w or k to pr otect ser v ice m em ber s a n d th eir

fa m ilies by n ot ov er ex ten din g th eir deploy m en ts.

Honoring and Supporting Our Veterans: A Sacred Obligation

A m er ica h a s a sa cr ed tr u st w ith ou r v eter a n s, a n d w e a r e com m itted to pr ov idin g th em a n d th eir fa m ilies w ith ca r e a n d dig n ity .

Th is is pa r t icu la r ly tr u e beca u se ou r n a t ion 's w a r r ior s a r e v olu n teer s, w h o ser v ed fr om a sen se of du ty . Th e w or k of th e

Depa r tm en t of V eter a n s A ffa ir s—w ith a sta ff of 3 00,000—is essen t ia l to m eet ou r oblig a t ion s to th em : pr ov idin g h ea lth , edu ca t ion ,

disa bility , su r v iv or , a n d h om e loa n ben efit ser v ices a n d a r r a n g in g m em or ia l ser v ices u pon dea th . A ll its br a n ch es in th ose v a r iou s

fields m u st be m a de m or e r espon siv e, m ov in g fr om a n a dv er sa r ia l to a n a dv oca cy r ela t ion sh ip w ith v eter a n s. To th a t en d w e w ill

con sider a fu n da m en ta l ch a n g e in str u ctu r e to m a ke th e r eg ion a l dir ector s of th e Depa r tm en t pr esiden tia l a ppoin tees r a th er th a n

ca r eer ists.

Ou r w ou n ded w a r r ior s, w h eth er st ill in ser v ice or disch a r g ed, deser v e th e best m edica l ca r e ou r cou n tr y ca n pr ov ide. Th e n a tu r e

of th e fig h t in g in Ir a q a n d A fg h a n ista n h a s r esu lted in a n u n pr eceden ted in ciden ce of tr a u m a tic br a in in ju r y , loss of lim bs, a n d

post-tr a u m a tic str ess disor der w h ich ca lls for a n ew com m itm en t of r esou r ces a n d per son n el for its tr ea tm en t a n d ca r e to pr om ote

r ecov er y . We m u st m a ke m ilita r y a n d v eter a n s' m edicin e th e g old sta n da r d for m en ta l h ea lth ca r e, a dv a n ces in pr osth et ics, a n d

tr ea tm en t of tr a u m a a n d ey e in ju r ies. We m u st h eed A br a h a m Lin coln 's com m a n d "to ca r e for h im w h o bor e th e ba tt le." To ca r e,

a s w ell, for th e fa m ilies of th ose w h o h a v e m a de th e u lt im a te sa cr ifice, w h o m u st be a ssu r ed of m ea n in g fu l fin a n cia l a ssista n ce,

r em a in s ou r solem n du ty .

Beca u se th e con dit ion s of w a r fa r e h a v e ch a n g ed dr a m a tica lly sin ce th e w a r on ter r or beg a n , toda y 's v eter a n s fa ce n ew ch a llen g es.

A sy m m etr ica l or n on -tr a dit ion a l w a r fa r e r esu lts in a h ig h in ciden ce of sev er e con dit ion s th a t m u st r eceiv e h ig h pr ior ity a n d ca ll

for con tin u ed r esea r ch in to pr ev en tion a n d tr ea tm en t.

We a r e com m itted to en din g h om elessn ess for ou r v eter a n s. On e key is to a ssist th eir r een tr y in to th e job m a r ket a s soon a s possible

a fter m ilita r y ser v ice en ds. A job for a v eter a n is m or e th a n a sou r ce of in com e. It is a n ew m ission , w ith a n ew sta tu s, a n d th e

tr a n sit ion ca n be difficu lt . It is a n a t ion a l sca n da l th a t v eter a n s a r e on e of th e g r ou ps w ith th e h ig h est u n em ploy m en t r a tes. We

u r g e th e pr iv a te sector to m a ke h ir in g v ets a com pa n y policy a n d com m en d th e m a n y or g a n iza t ion s th a t h a v e specific pr og r a m s

to a ccom plish th is. Bu t th e feder a l g ov er n m en t m u st ta ke th e lea d by sim plify in g th e pa per w or k r equ ir ed for a ta x br ea k for

h ir in g a v eter a n a n d by g iv in g v ets th eir a ssu r ed pla ce a t th e h ea d of th e tr a in in g a n d em ploy m en t lin e.

Ev er y Sta te h a s a n office dea lin g w ith v eter a n s. Th e feder a l Depa r tm en t n eeds to con sider th ese a s pa r tn er s in a ssist in g v ets,

r ecog n izin g th a t th ose closest to th e in div idu a l ca n best dia g n ose a pr oblem a n d a pply a r em edy . Th is is especia lly im por ta n t w ith

r eg a r d to th e deter m in a t ion of v eter a n s' disa bility cla im s. If pr iv a te in su r a n ce com pa n ies ca n dea l w ith ca r w r ecks a n d h u r r ica n es

w ith in w eeks or m on th s, it is in ex plica ble th a t th e feder a l g ov er n m en t ta kes, on a v er a g e, a y ea r to pr ocess a v eter a n 's cla im . We

u r g e im m edia te a ct ion to r ev iew th e a u tom a tic den ia l of g u n ow n er sh ip to r etu r n in g m em ber s of ou r A r m ed For ces w h o h a v e h a d

r epr esen ta t iv es a ppoin ted to m a n a g e th eir fin a n cia l a ffa ir s.

Sovereign Am erican Leadership in International Organizations

Sin ce th e en d of Wor ld Wa r II, th e Un ited Sta tes, th r ou g h th e fou n din g of th e Un ited Na tion s a n d NA TO, h a s pa r t icipa ted in a w ide

r a n g e of in ter n a t ion a l or g a n iza t ion s w h ich ca n , bu t som etim es do n ot , ser v e th e ca u se of pea ce a n d pr osper ity . Wh ile a ct in g

th r ou g h th em , ou r cou n tr y m u st a lw a y s r eser v e th e r ig h t to g o its ow n w a y . Th er e ca n be n o su bst itu te for pr in cipled A m er ica n

lea der sh ip.

Th e Un ited Na tion s r em a in s in dir e n eed of r efor m , sta r t in g w ith fu ll t r a n spa r en cy in th e fin a n cia l oper a t ion s of its ov er pa id

bu r ea u cr a ts. A s lon g a s its sca n da l-r idden m a n a g em en t con tin u es, a s lon g a s som e of th e w or ld's w or st ty r a n ts h old sea ts on its

Hu m a n Rig h ts Cou n cil, a n d a s lon g a s Isr a el is tr ea ted a s a pa r ia h sta te, th e U.N. ca n n ot ex pect th e fu ll su ppor t of th e A m er ica n

people.

Th e Un ited Na tion s Popu la t ion Fu n d h a s a sh a m efu l r ecor d of colla bor a t ion w ith Ch in a 's pr og r a m of com pu lsor y a bor t ion . We

a ffir m th e Repu blica n Pa r ty 's lon g -h eld posit ion kn ow n a s th e Mex ico City Policy , fir st a n n ou n ced by Pr esiden t Rea g a n in 1 9 8 4 ,

w h ich pr oh ibits th e g r a n tin g of feder a l m on ies to n on -g ov er n m en ta l or g a n iza t ion th a t pr ov ide or pr om ote a bor t ion .

Un der ou r Con st itu t ion , tr ea t ies becom e th e la w of th e la n d. So it is a ll th e m or e im por ta n t th a t th e Con g r ess—th e Sen a te th r ou g h

its r a t ify in g pow er a n d th e Hou se th r ou g h its a ppr opr ia t in g pow er —sh a ll r eject a g r eem en ts w h ose lon g -r a n g e im pa ct on th e

A m er ica n fa m ily is om in ou s or u n clea r . Th ese in clu de th e U.N. Con v en tion on Wom en 's Rig h ts, th e Con v en tion on th e Rig h ts of

th e Ch ild, th e Con v en tion on th e Rig h ts of Per son s w ith Disa bilit ies, a n d th e U.N. A r m s Tr a de Tr ea ty a s w ell a s th e v a r iou s

decla r a t ion s fr om th e U.N. Con fer en ce on En v ir on m en t a n d Dev elopm en t. Beca u se of ou r con cer n for A m er ica n sov er eig n ty ,

dom est ic m a n a g em en t of ou r fish er ies, a n d ou r cou n tr y 's lon g -ter m en er g y n eeds, w e h a v e deep r eser v a t ion s a bou t th e

r eg u la tor y , leg a l, a n d ta x r eg im es in h er en t in th e La w of th e Sea Tr ea ty a n d con g r a tu la te Sen a te Repu blica n s for blockin g its

r a t ifica t ion . We str on g ly r eject th e U.N. A g en da 2 1 a s er osiv e of A m er ica n sov er eig n ty , a n d w e oppose a n y for m of U.N. Globa l

Ta x . We oppose a n y diplom a tic effor ts th a t cou ld r esu lt in g iv in g th e Un ited Na tion s u n pr eceden ted con tr ol ov er th e In ter n et .

In ter n a t ion a l r eg u la tor y con tr ol ov er th e open a n d fr ee In ter n et w ou ld h a v e disa str ou s con sequ en ces for th e Un ited Sta tes a n d th e

w or ld.

To sh ield m em ber s of ou r A r m ed For ces a n d oth er s in ser v ice to A m er ica fr om ideolog ica l pr osecu t ion s ov er sea s, th e Repu blica n

Pa r ty does n ot a ccept th e ju r isdict ion of th e In ter n a t ion a l Cr im in a l Cou r t . We su ppor t sta tu tor y pr otect ion for U.S. per son n el a n d

officia ls a s th ey a ct a br oa d to m eet ou r g loba l secu r ity r equ ir em en ts.

Protecting Hum an Rights

To th ose w h o sta n d in th e da r kn ess of ty r a n n y , A m er ica h a s a lw a y s been a bea con of h ope, a n d so it m u st r em a in . Th a t is w h y w e

str on g ly su ppor t th e w or k of th e U.S. Com m ission on In ter n a t ion a l Relig iou s Fr eedom , esta blish ed by Con g r ession a l Repu blica n s to

a dv a n ce th e r ig h ts of per secu ted peoples ev er y w h er e. It h a s been sh u n ted a side by th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion a t a t im e w h en its

v oice m or e th a n ev er n eeds to be h ea r d. Relig iou s m in or it ies a cr oss th e Middle Ea st a r e bein g dr iv en fr om th eir a n cien t h om ela n ds,

fa n a t icism lea v es its bloody m a r k on both West a n d Ea st A fr ica , a n d ev en a m on g A m er ica 's Wester n fr ien ds a n d a llies, pa stor s a n d

fa m ilies a r e pen a lized for th eir r elig iou s con v ict ion s. A Repu blica n A dm in istr a t ion w ill r etu r n th e a dv oca cy of r elig iou s liber ty to

a cen tr a l pla ce in ou r diplom a cy .

Am erica's Generosity : International Assistance that Makes a Difference

A m er ica n s a r e th e m ost g en er ou s people in th e w or ld. A pa r t fr om th e ta x pa y er dolla r s ou r g ov er n m en t don a tes a br oa d, ou r

fou n da tion s, edu ca t ion a l in st itu t ion s, fa ith -ba sed g r ou ps, a n d com m itted m en a n d w om en of ch a r ity dev ote billion s of dolla r s a n d

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fou n da tion s, edu ca t ion a l in st itu t ion s, fa ith -ba sed g r ou ps, a n d com m itted m en a n d w om en of ch a r ity dev ote billion s of dolla r s a n d

v olu n teer h ou r s ev er y y ea r to h elp th e poor a n d n eedy a r ou n d th e w or ld. Th is effor t , a lon g w ith com m er cia l in v estm en t fr om th e

pr iv a te sector , dw a r fs th e r esu lts fr om officia l dev elopm en t a ssista n ce, m ost of w h ich is ba sed on a n ou tda ted, sta t ist , g ov er n m en t-

tog ov er n m en t m odel, th e pr ov en br eedin g g r ou n d for cor r u ption a n d m ism a n a g em en t by for eig n kleptocr a ts. Lim it in g for eig n a id

spen din g h elps keep ta x es low er , w h ich fr ees m or e r esou r ces in th e pr iv a te a n d ch a r ita ble sector s, w h ose g iv in g ten ds to be m or e

effect iv e a n d efficien t .

For eig n a id sh ou ld ser v e ou r n a t ion a l in ter est , a n essen t ia l pa r t of w h ich is th e pea cefu l dev elopm en t of less a dv a n ced a n d

v u ln er a ble societ ies in cr it ica l pa r ts of th e w or ld. A ssista n ce sh ou ld be seen a s a n a lter n a t iv e m ea n s of keepin g th e pea ce, fa r less

cost ly in both dolla r s a n d h u m a n liv es th a n m ilita r y en g a g em en t. Th e econ om ic su ccess a n d polit ica l pr og r ess of for m er a id

r ecipien ts, fr om La t in A m er ica to Ea st A sia , h a s ju st ified ou r in v estm en t in th eir fu tu r e. U.S. a id sh ou ld be ba sed on th e m odel of

th e Millen n iu m Ch a llen g e Cor por a t ion , for w h ich for eig n g ov er n m en ts m u st , in effect , com pete for th e dolla r s by sh ow in g r espect

for th e r u le of la w , fr ee en ter pr ise, a n d m ea su r a ble r esu lts. In sh or t , a id m on ey sh ou ld follow posit iv e ou tcom es, n ot plea s for m or e

ca sh in th e sa m e cor r u pt officia l pockets.

Th e effect iv en ess of ou r for eig n a id h a s been lim ited by th e cu ltu r a l a g en da of th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion , a t tem ptin g to im pose

on for eig n cou n tr ies, especia lly th e peoples of A fr ica , leg a lized a bor t ion a n d th e h om osex u a l r ig h ts a g en da . A t th e sa m e t im e, fa ith -

ba sed g r ou ps—th e sector th a t h a s h a d th e best tr a ck r ecor d in pr om otin g la st in g dev elopm en t—h a v e been ex clu ded fr om g r a n ts

beca u se th ey w ill n ot con for m to th e a dm in istr a t ion 's socia l a g en da . We w ill r ev er se th is tr a g ic cou r se, en cou r a g e m or e

in v olv em en t by th e m ost effect iv e a id or g a n iza t ion s, a n d tr u st dev elopin g peoples to bu ild th eir fu tu r e fr om th e g r ou n d u p.

Com bating Hum an T rafficking

A s w e a ppr oa ch th e 1 5 0th a n n iv er sa r y of th e Em a n cipa t ion Pr ocla m a tion , issu ed by th e fir st Repu blica n Pr esiden t A br a h a m

Lin coln , w e a r e r em in ded to be v ig ila n t a g a in st h u m a n bon da g e in w h a tev er for m it a ppea r s. We w ill u se th e fu ll for ce of th e la w

a g a in st th ose w h o en g a g e in m oder n -da y for m s of sla v er y , in clu din g th e com m er cia l sex u a l ex ploita t ion of ch ildr en a n d th e for ced

la bor of m en , w om en , a n d ch ildr en . Bu ildin g on th e a ccom plish m en ts of th e la st Repu blica n A dm in istr a t ion in im plem en tin g th e

Tr a ffickin g V ict im s Pr otect ion A ct of 2 000, w e ca ll for in cr ea sed diplom a tic effor ts w ith for eig n g ov er n m en ts to r oot ou t com plicit

pu blic officia ls w h o fa cilita te or per petr a te th is ev il. We h ig h lig h t th e n eed for g r ea ter scr u t in y of ov er sea s la bor con tr a ctor s to

pr ev en t th e im posit ion of u su r iou s ter m s on tem por a r y for eig n w or ker s br ou g h t to th e Un ited Sta tes. Ou r g ov er n m en t m u st

a ddr ess th e in cr ea sin g r ole of v iciou s dr u g ca r tels a n d oth er g a n g s in con tr ollin g h u m a n sm u g g lin g a cr oss ou r sou th er n bor der .

Th e pr in ciple u n der ly in g ou r Meg a n 's La w —pu blicizin g th e iden tit ies of kn ow n offen der s—sh ou ld be ex ten ded to in ter n a t ion a l

tr a v el in or der to pr otect in n ocen t ch ildr en ev er y w h er e.

We a ffir m ou r cou n tr y 's h istor ic tr a dit ion of w elcom in g r efu g ees fr om tr ou bled la n ds. In som e ca ses, th ey a r e people w h o stood w ith

u s du r in g da n g er ou s t im es, a n d th ey h a v e fir st ca ll on ou r h ospita lity .

Prom oting a Free Marketplace of Ideas: Public Diplom acy

In ter n a t ion a l br oa dca st in g of fr ee a n d im pa r t ia l in for m a tion du r in g th e Cold Wa r kept tr u th a n d h ope a liv e in th e Ca ptiv e

Na tion s. Toda y , Ra dio Fr ee Eu r ope/Ra dio Liber ty a n d Ra dio/TV Ma r t i do th e sa m e in oth er la n ds w h er e fr eedom is u n kn ow n or

en da n g er ed. We su ppor t th ese essen t ia l ex ten sion s of A m er ica n v a lu es a n d cu ltu r e a n d u r g e th eir ex pa n sion in th e Middle Ea st .

Recog n izin g th e v ita l r ole of socia l m edia in r ecen t effor ts to pr om ote dem ocr a cy , w e su ppor t u n r estr icted a ccess to th e In ter n et

th r ou g h ou t th e w or ld to a dv a n ce th e fr ee m a r ketpla ce of idea s.

Strengthening T ies in the Am ericas

We w ill r esist for eig n in flu en ce in ou r h em isph er e. We th er eby seek n ot on ly to pr ov ide for ou r ow n secu r ity , bu t a lso to cr ea te a

clim a te for dem ocr a cy a n d self-deter m in a t ion th r ou g h ou t th e A m er ica s.

Th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion h a s tu r n ed its ba ck on La t in A m er ica , w ith pr edicta ble r esu lts. Ra th er th a n su ppor t in g ou r

dem ocr a t ic a llies in th e r eg ion , th e Pr esiden t h a s pr ior it ized en g a g em en t w ith ou r en em ies in th e r eg ion . V en ezu ela r epr esen ts a n

in cr ea sin g th r ea t to U.S. secu r ity , a th r ea t w h ich h a s g r ow n m u ch w or se on th e cu r r en t Pr esiden t 's w a tch . In th e la st th r ee y ea r s,

V en ezu ela h a s becom e a n a r coter r or ist sta te, tu r n in g it in to a n Ir a n ia n ou tpost in th e Wester n h em isph er e. Th e cu r r en t r eg im e

issu es V en ezu ela n pa sspor ts or v isa s to th ou sa n ds of Middle Ea ster n ter r or ists offer in g sa fe h a v en to Hezbolla h tr a in er s, oper a t iv es,

r ecr u iter s a n d fu n dr a iser s.

A lter n a t iv ely , w e w ill sta n d w ith th e tr u e dem ocr a cies of th e r eg ion a g a in st both Ma r x ist su bv er sion a n d th e dr u g lor ds, h elpin g

th em to becom e pr osper ou s a lter n a t iv es to th e colla psin g m odel of V en ezu ela a n d Cu ba .

We a ffir m ou r fr ien dsh ip w ith th e People of Cu ba a n d look tow a r d th eir r eu n ion w ith th e r est of ou r h em isph er ic fa m ily . Th e

a n a ch r on ist ic r eg im e in Ha v a n a w h ich r u les th em is a m u m m ified r elic of th e a g e of tota lita r ia n ism , a sta te-spon sor of ter r or ism .

We r eject a n y dy n a st ic su ccession of pow er w ith in th e Ca str o fa m ily a n d a ffir m th e pr in ciples codified in U.S. la w a s con dit ion s for

th e lift in g of tr a de, tr a v el, a n d fin a n cia l sa n ct ion s: th e leg a liza t ion of polit ica l pa r t ies, a n in depen den t m edia , a n d fr ee a n d fa ir

in ter n a t ion a lly -su per v ised elect ion s. We r en ew ou r com m itm en t to Cu ba 's cou r a g eou s pr o-dem ocr a cy m ov em en t a s th e

pr ota g on ists of Cu ba 's in ev ita ble liber a t ion a n d dem ocr a t ic fu tu r e. We ca ll for a dedica ted pla t for m for th e tr a n sm ission of Ra dio

a n d TV Ma r t i a n d for th e pr om otion of In ter n et a ccess a n d cir cu m v en tion tech n olog y a s tools to str en g th en th e pr o-dem ocr a cy

m ov em en t. We su ppor t th e w or k of th e Com m ission for A ssista n ce to a Fr ee Cu ba a n d a ffir m th e pr in ciples of th e Cu ba n

A dju stm en t A ct of 1 9 6 6 , r ecog n izin g th e r ig h ts of Cu ba n s fleein g Com m u n ism .

Th e w a r on dr u g s a n d th e w a r on ter r or h a v e becom e a sin g le en ter pr ise. We sa lu te ou r a llies in th is fig h t , especia lly th e people of

Mex ico a n d Colom bia . We pr opose a u n ified effor t on cr im e a n d ter r or ism to coor din a te in tellig en ce a n d en for cem en t a m on g ou r

r eg ion a l a llies, a s w ell a s m ilita r y -to-m ilita r y tr a in in g a n d in tellig en ce sh a r in g w ith Mex ico, w h ose people a r e bea r in g th e br u n t

of th e dr u g ca r tels' sa v a g e a ssa u lt .

Ou r Ca n a dia n n eig h bor s ca n cou n t on ou r close cooper a t ion a n d r espect . A s soon a s possible, w e w ill r ev er se th e cu r r en t

A dm in istr a t ion 's blockin g of th e Key ston e XL Pipelin e so th a t both ou r cou n tr ies ca n pr ofit fr om th is v ita l v en tu r e a n d th er e w ill

n o n eed for h em isph er ic oil to be sh ipped to Ch in a .

Advancing Hope and Prosperity in Africa

PEPFA R, Pr esiden t Geor g e W. Bu sh 's Pla n for A IDS Relief, is on e of th e m ost su ccessfu l g loba l h ea lth pr og r a m s in h istor y . It h a s

sa v ed liter a lly m illion s of liv es. A lon g w ith th e Globa l Fu n d to fig h t A IDS, Tu ber cu losis a n d Ma la r ia , a n oth er in it ia t iv e of Pr esiden t

Bu sh , it r epr esen ts A m er ica 's h u m a n ita r ia n com m itm en t to th e peoples of A fr ica , th ou g h th ese a r e on ly on e a spect of ou r

a ssista n ce to th e n a t ion s of th a t con tin en t . Fr om Pea ce Cor ps v olu n teer s tea ch in g in on e-r oom sch ools to U.S. Sea bees bu ildin g

v illa g e pr ojects, w e w ill con t in u e to str en g th en th e per son a l a n d com m er cia l t ies betw een ou r cou n tr y a n d A fr ica n n a t ion s.

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v illa g e pr ojects, w e w ill con t in u e to str en g th en th e per son a l a n d com m er cia l t ies betw een ou r cou n tr y a n d A fr ica n n a t ion s.

We sta n d in solida r ity w ith th ose A fr ica n cou n tr ies n ow u n der a ssa u lt by th e for ces of r a dica l Isla m a n d u r g e oth er g ov er n m en ts

th r ou g h ou t th e con tin en t to r ecog n ize th is th r ea t to th em a s w ell. We su ppor t closer cooper a t ion in both m ilita r y a n d econ om ic

m a tter s w ith th ose w h o a r e u n der a tta ck by for ces w h ich seek ou r destr u ct ion .

U.S. Leadership in the Asian-Pacific Com m unity

We a r e a Pa cific n a t ion w ith econ om ic, m ilita r y , a n d cu ltu r a l t ies to a ll th e cou n tr ies of th e ocea n ic r im , fr om A u str a lia , th e

Ph ilippin es, a n d ou r Fr eely A ssocia ted Sta tes in th e Pa cific Isla n ds to Ja pa n a n d th e Repu blic of Kor ea . With th em , w e look tow a r d

th e r estor a t ion of h u m a n r ig h ts to th e su ffer in g people of Nor th Kor ea a n d th e fu lfillm en t of th eir w ish to be on e in pea ce a n d

fr eedom . Th e U.S. w ill con t in u e to dem a n d th e com plete, v er ifia ble, a n d ir r ev er sible dism a n tlem en t of Nor th Kor ea 's n u clea r

w ea pon s pr og r a m s w ith a fu ll a ccou n tin g of its pr olifer a t ion a ct iv it ies.

We celebr a te th e polit ica l a n d econ om ic dev elopm en t of m ost of th e n a t ion s of Sou th ea st A sia . Th eir ex a m ple of m a ter ia l pr og r ess

th r ou g h h a r d w or k a n d fr ee en ter pr ise, in ta n dem w ith g r ea ter dem ocr a cy sh ou ld en cou r a g e th eir less for tu n a te n eig h bor s to set

a side cr ipplin g ideolog ies a n d em br a ce a m or e h u m a n e fu tu r e. Wh ile ou r r ela t ion s w ith V ietn a m h a v e im pr ov ed, a n d U.S.

in v estm en t is w elcom ed, w e n eed u n cea sin g effor ts to obta in a n a ccou n tin g for , a n d r epa tr ia t ion of th e r em a in s of, A m er ica n s w h o

g a v e th eir liv es in th e ca u se of V ietn a m ese fr eedom . We ca n n ot ov er look th e con tin u ed r epr ession of h u m a n r ig h ts a n d r elig iou s

fr eedom , a s w ell a s r etr ibu t ion a g a in st eth n ic m in or it ies a n d oth er s w h o a ssisted U.S. for ces du r in g th e con flict th er e.

South Asia

We w elcom e a str on g er r ela t ion sh ip w ith th e w or ld's la r g est dem ocr a cy , In dia , both econ om ic a n d cu ltu r a l, a s w ell a s in ter m s of

n a t ion a l secu r ity . We h er eby a ffir m a n d decla r e th a t In dia is ou r g eopolit ica l a lly a n d a str a teg ic tr a din g pa r tn er . We en cou r a g e

In dia to per m it g r ea ter for eig n in v estm en t a n d tr a de. We u r g e pr otect ion for a dh er en ts of a ll In dia 's r elig ion s. Both a s Repu blica n s

a n d a s A m er ica n s, w e n ote w ith pr ide th e con tr ibu t ion s to th is cou n tr y th a t a r e bein g m a de by ou r fellow cit izen s of In dia n

a n cestr y .

Th e a fter m a th of th e la st deca de's con flicts in Ir a q a n d A fg h a n ista n h a s pu t en or m ou s pr essu r e on th e polit ica l a n d m ilita r y

in fr a str u ctu r e of Pa kista n , w h ich fa ces both in ter n a l ter r or ism a n d ex ter n a l da n g er s. Th e w or kin g r ela t ion sh ip betw een ou r tw o

cou n tr ies is a n ecessa r y , th ou g h som etim es difficu lt , ben efit to both , a n d w e look tow a r d th e r en ew a l of h istor ic t ies th a t h a v e

fr a y ed u n der th e w eig h t of in ter n a t ion a l con flict .

Th e im m in en t w ith dr a w a l fr om A fg h a n ista n of th e 3 0,000 "su r g e" tr oops sen t th er e tw o y ea r s a g o com es w eeks befor e th is y ea r 's

pr esiden tia l elect ion a n d a g a in st th e a dv ice of th e cu r r en t Pr esiden t 's top m ilita r y com m a n der s. Fu tu r e decision s by a Repu blica n

Pr esiden t w ill n ev er su bor din a te m ilita r y n ecessity to dom est ic polit ics or a n a r t ificia l t im eta ble. A fg h a n s, Pa kista n is, a n d

A m er ica n s h a v e a com m on in ter est in r iddin g th e r eg ion of th e Ta liba n a n d oth er in su r g en t g r ou ps, bu t w e ca n n ot ex pect oth er s

to r em a in r esolu te u n less w e sh ow th e sa m e deter m in a t ion ou r selv es. We w ill ex pect th e A fg h a n g ov er n m en t to cr a ckdow n on

cor r u ption , r espect fr ee elect ion s, a n d a ssist ou r fig h t a g a in st th e n a r cot ic tr a de th a t fu els th e in su r g en cy . We m u st likew ise ex pect

th e Pa kista n g ov er n m en t to sev er a n y con n ect ion betw een its secu r ity a n d in tellig en ce for ces a n d th e in su r g en ts. No Pa kista n i

cit izen sh ou ld be pu n ish ed for h elpin g th e Un ited Sta tes a g a in st th e ter r or ists.

T aiwan

We sa lu te th e people of Ta iw a n , a sou n d dem ocr a cy a n d econ om ic m odel for m a in la n d Ch in a . Ou r r ela t ion s m u st con tin u e to be

ba sed u pon th e pr ov ision s of th e Ta iw a n Rela t ion s A ct . A m er ica a n d Ta iw a n a r e u n ited in ou r sh a r ed belief in fa ir elect ion s,

per son a l liber ty , a n d fr ee en ter pr ise. We oppose a n y u n ila ter a l steps by eith er side to a lter th e sta tu s qu o in th e Ta iw a n Str a its on

th e pr in ciple th a t a ll issu es r eg a r din g th e isla n d's fu tu r e m u st be r esolv ed pea cefu lly , th r ou g h dia log u e, a n d be a g r eea ble to th e

people of Ta iw a n . If Ch in a w er e to v iola te th ose pr in ciples, th e U.S., in a ccor d w ith th e Ta iw a n Rela t ion s A ct , w ill h elp Ta iw a n

defen d itself. We pr a ise steps ta ken by both sides of th e Ta iw a n Str a it to r edu ce ten sion a n d str en g th en econ om ic t ies. A s a loy a l

fr ien d of A m er ica , Ta iw a n h a s m er ited ou r str on g su ppor t , in clu din g fr ee tr a de a g r eem en ts sta tu s, a s w ell a s th e t im ely sa le of

defen siv e a r m s a n d fu ll pa r t icipa t ion in th e Wor ld Hea lth Or g a n iza t ion , In ter n a t ion a l Civ il A v ia t ion Or g a n iza t ion , a n d oth er

m u lt ila ter a l in st itu t ion s.

China

We w ill w elcom e th e em er g en ce of a pea cefu l a n d pr osper ou s Ch in a , a n d w e w ill w elcom e ev en m or e th e dev elopm en t of a

dem ocr a t ic Ch in a . Its r u ler s h a v e discov er ed th a t econ om ic fr eedom lea ds to n a t ion a l w ea lth . Th e n ex t lesson is th a t polit ica l a n d

r elig iou s fr eedom lea ds to n a t ion a l g r ea tn ess. Th e ex posu r e of th e Ch in ese people to ou r w a y of life ca n be th e g r ea test for ce for

ch a n g e in th eir cou n tr y . We sh ou ld m a ke it ea sier for th e people of Ch in a to ex per ien ce ou r v ibr a n t dem ocr a cy a n d to see for

th em selv es h ow fr eedom w or ks. We w elcom e th e in cr ea se in tr a de a n d edu ca t ion a llia n ces w ith th e U.S. a n d th e open in g of Ch in ese

m a r kets to A m er ica n com pa n ies.

Th e Ch in ese g ov er n m en t h a s en g a g ed in a n u m ber of a ct iv it ies th a t w e con dem n : Ch in a 's pu r su it of a dv a n ced m ilita r y

ca pa bilit ies w ith ou t a n y a ppa r en t n eed; su ppr ession of h u m a n r ig h ts in Tibet , Xin jia n g , a n d oth er a r ea s; r elig iou s per secu t ion ; a

ba r ba r ic on e-ch ild policy in v olv in g for ced a bor t ion ; th e er osion of dem ocr a cy in Hon g Kon g ; a n d its desta bilizin g cla im s in th e

Sou th Ch in a Sea . Ou r ser iou s tr a de dispu tes, especia lly Ch in a 's fa ilu r e to en for ce in ter n a t ion a l sta n da r ds for th e pr otect ion of

in tellectu a l pr oper ty a n d copy r ig h ts, a s w ell a s its m a n ipu la t ion of its cu r r en cy , ca ll for a fir m r espon se fr om a n ew Repu blica n

A dm in istr a t ion .

Europe

Th e West h a s been th e bu lw a r k of dem ocr a cy a n d fr eedom , pr ov idin g h ope a n d fa ith to th e oppr essed a r ou n d th e g lobe. Ou r

h istor ic t ies to th e peoples of Eu r ope h a v e been ba sed on sh a r ed cu ltu r e a n d v a lu es, com m on in ter ests a n d g oa ls. Th eir en du r a n ce

ca n n ot be ta ken for g r a n ted, especia lly in lig h t of th e con tin en t 's econ om ic u ph ea v a l a n d dem og r a ph ic ch a n g es. En su r in g th e

con tin u ed v ita lity of ou r polit ica l a llia n ce w ith Eu r ope th r ou g h NA TO w ill r equ ir e effor t a n d u n der sta n din g on both sides of th e

A tla n t ic. We h on or ou r specia l r ela t ion sh ip w ith th e Un ited Kin g dom a n d a ppr ecia te its sta u n ch su ppor t for ou r fig h t a g a in st

ter r or ism w or ldw ide. We th a n k th e sev er a l oth er n a t ion s of Eu r ope w h ich h a v e con tr ibu ted to a u n ited effor t in Ir a q, A fg h a n ista n ,

a n d Liby a . Th eir sa cr ifice w ill n ot soon be for g otten . We a r e h ea r ten ed by th e on g oin g r econ cilia t ion in Nor th er n Ir ela n d a n d

h opefu l th a t its su ccess m ig h t be r eplica ted in Cy pr u s.

Russia

Th e h er oism —a n d th e su ffer in g —of th e people of Ru ssia ov er th e la st cen tu r y dem a n d th e w or ld's r espect . A s ou r a llies in th eir

Gr ea t Pa tr iot ic Wa r , th ey lost 2 8 m illion fig h t in g Na zism . A s ou r a llies in spir it , th ey en ded th e Sov iet ter r or th a t h a d con su m ed so

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Gr ea t Pa tr iot ic Wa r , th ey lost 2 8 m illion fig h t in g Na zism . A s ou r a llies in spir it , th ey en ded th e Sov iet ter r or th a t h a d con su m ed so

m a n y m illion s m or e. Th ey deser v e ou r a dm ir a t ion a n d su ppor t a s th ey n ow seek to r eesta blish th eir r ich n a t ion a l iden t ity . We do

h a v e com m on im per a t iv es: en din g ter r or ism , com ba tin g n u clea r pr olifer a t ion , pr om otin g tr a de, a n d m or e. To a dv a n ce th ose

ca u ses, w e u r g e th e lea der s of th eir g ov er n m en t to r econ sider th e pa th th ey h a v e been follow in g : su ppr ession of opposit ion pa r t ies,

th e pr ess, a n d in st itu t ion s of civ il society ; u n pr ov oked in v a sion of th e Repu blic of Geor g ia , a lig n m en t w ith ty r a n ts in th e Middle

Ea st ; a n d bu lly in g th eir n eig h bor s w h ile pr otect in g th e la st Sta lin ist r eg im e in Bela r u s. Th e Ru ssia n people deser v e better , a s w e

look to th eir fu ll pa r t icipa t ion in th e r a n ks of m oder n dem ocr a cies.

Ru ssia sh ou ld be g r a n ted Per m a n en t Nor m a l Tr a de Rela t ion s, bu t n ot w ith ou t sa n ct ion s on Ru ssia n officia ls w h o h a v e u sed th e

g ov er n m en t to v iola te h u m a n r ig h ts. We su ppor t en a ctm en t of th e Ma g n itsky Ru le of La w A ccou n ta bility A ct a s a con dit ion of

ex pa n ded tr a de r ela t ion s w ith Ru ssia .

Our Unequivocal Support of Israel

Isr a el a n d th e Un ited Sta tes a r e pa r t of th e g r ea t fellow sh ip of dem ocr a cies w h o spea k th e sa m e la n g u a g e of fr eedom a n d ju st ice,

a n d th e r ig h t of ev er y per son to liv e in pea ce. Th e secu r ity of Isr a el is in th e v ita l n a t ion a l secu r ity in ter est of th e Un ited Sta tes;

ou r a llia n ce is ba sed n ot on ly on sh a r ed in ter ests, bu t a lso sh a r ed v a lu es. We a ffir m ou r u n equ iv oca l com m itm en t to Isr a el's

secu r ity a n d w ill en su r e th a t it m a in ta in s a qu a lita t iv e edg e in m ilita r y tech n olog y ov er a n y poten t ia l a dv er sa r ies. We su ppor t

Isr a el's r ig h t to ex ist a s a Jew ish sta te w ith secu r e, defen sible bor der s; a n d w e en v ision tw o dem ocr a t ic sta tes—Isr a el w ith

Jer u sa lem a s its ca pita l a n d Pa lest in e—liv in g in pea ce a n d secu r ity . For th a t to h a ppen , th e Pa lest in ia n people m u st su ppor t

lea der s w h o r eject ter r or , em br a ce th e in st itu t ion s a n d eth os of dem ocr a cy , a n d r espect th e r u le of la w . We ca ll on A r a b

g ov er n m en ts th r ou g h ou t th e r eg ion to h elp a dv a n ce th a t g oa l. Isr a el sh ou ld n ot be ex pected to n eg ot ia te w ith en t it ies pledg ed to

h er destr u ct ion . We ca ll on th e n ew g ov er n m en t in Eg y pt to fu lly u ph old its pea ce tr ea ty w ith Isr a el.

Th e U.S. seeks a com pr eh en siv e a n d la st in g pea ce in th e Middle Ea st , n eg ot ia ted betw een th e pa r t ies th em selv es w ith th e

a ssista n ce of th e U.S., w ith ou t th e im posit ion of a n a r t ificia l t im eta ble. Essen tia l to th a t pr ocess w ill be a ju st , fa ir , a n d r ea list ic

fr a m ew or k for dea lin g w ith th e issu es th a t ca n be sett led on th e ba sis of m u tu a lly a g r eed ch a n g es r eflect in g toda y 's r ea lit ies a s w ell

a s tom or r ow 's h opes.

T he Challenges of a Changing Middle East

We r ecog n ize th e h istor ic n a tu r e of th e ev en ts of th e pa st tw o y ea r s—th e A r a b Spr in g —th a t h a v e u n lea sh ed dem ocr a t ic m ov em en ts

lea din g to th e ov er th r ow of dicta tor s w h o h a v e been m en a ces to g loba l secu r ity for deca des. In a sea son of u ph ea v a l, it is n ecessa r y

to be pr epa r ed for a n y th in g . Th a t is tr u e on th e g r ou n d in th e Middle Ea st , a n d it w ill be equ a lly tr u e in th e n ex t A dm in istr a t ion ,

pa r t icu la r ly w ith a n ew Pr esiden t u n bou n d by th e fa ilu r es of th e pa st . We w elcom e th e a spir a t ion s of th e A r a b peoples a n d oth er s

for g r ea ter fr eedom , a n d w e h ope th a t g r ea ter liber ty —a n d w ith it , a g r ea ter ch a n ce for pea ce—w ill r esu lt fr om th e r ecen t tu r m oil.

Ma n y g ov er n m en ts in th e r eg ion h a v e g iv en su bsta n t ia l a ssista n ce to th e U.S. ov er th e la st deca de beca u se th ey u n der stood th a t

ou r str u g g le a g a in st ter r or is n ot a n eth n ic or r elig iou s fig h t , a n d th a t v iolen t ex tr em ists a r e a bu ser s of th eir fa ith , n ot its

ch a m pion s.

On th e oth er h a n d, r a dica l elem en ts like Ha m a s a n d Hezbolla h m u st be isola ted beca u se th ey do n ot m eet th e sta n da r ds of pea ce

a n d diplom a cy of th e in ter n a t ion a l com m u n ity . We ca ll for th e r estor a t ion of Leba n on 's in depen den ce, w h ich th ose g r ou ps h a v e

v ir tu a lly destr oy ed. We su ppor t th e tr a n sit ion to a post-A ssa d Sy r ia n g ov er n m en t th a t is r epr esen ta t iv e of its people, pr otects th e

r ig h ts of a ll m in or it ies a n d r elig ion s, r espects th e ter r itor ia l in teg r ity of its n eig h bor s, a n d con tr ibu tes to pea ce a n d sta bility in th e

r eg ion . We offer a con tin u in g pa r tn er sh ip w ith th e people of Ir a q, w h o h a v e en du r ed ex tr em ist ter r or to n ow h a v e a ch a n ce to

bu ild th eir ow n secu r ity a n d dem ocr a cy . We u r g e specia l effor ts to pr eser v e a n d pr otect th e eth n ic a n d r elig iou s div er sity of th eir

n a t ion .

Ir a n 's pu r su it of n u clea r w ea pon s ca pa bility th r ea ten s A m er ica , Isr a el, a n d th e w or ld. Th a t th r ea t h a s on ly becom e w or se du r in g

th e cu r r en t A dm in istr a t ion . A con tin u a t ion of its fa iled en g a g em en t policy w ith Ir a n w ill lea d to n u clea r ca sca de. In solida r ity

w ith th e in ter n a t ion a l com m u n ity , A m er ica m u st lea d th e effor t to pr ev en t Ir a n fr om bu ildin g a n d possessin g n u clea r w ea pon s

ca pa bility . We ex pr ess ou r r espect for th e people of Ir a n , w h o seek pea ce a n d a spir e to fr eedom . Th eir cu r r en t r eg im e is u n w or th y

of th em . It ex por ts ter r or a n d pr ov ided w ea pon s th a t killed ou r tr oops in Ir a q. We a ffir m th e u n a n im ou s r esolu t ion of th e U.S.

Sen a te ca llin g for "elect ion s th a t a r e fr ee, fa ir , a n d m eet in ter n a t ion a l sta n da r ds" a n d "a r epr esen ta t iv e a n d r espon siv e dem ocr a t ic

g ov er n m en t th a t r espects h u m a n r ig h ts, civ il liber t ies, a n d th e r u le of la w ." We u r g e th e n ex t Repu blica n Pr esiden t to

u n equ iv oca lly a sser t h is su ppor t for th e Ir a n ia n people a s th ey pr otest th eir despot ic r eg im e. We m u st r eta in a ll opt ion s in dea lin g

w ith a situ a t ion th a t g r a v ely th r ea ten s ou r secu r ity , ou r in ter ests, a n d th e sa fety of ou r fr ien ds.

The Platform Committee

Republican National Com m ittee Chairm an

Rein ce Pr iebu s

Chairm an

Gov er n or Bob McDon n ell

Co-Chairm en

Sen a tor Joh n Hoev en

Con g r essm a n Ma r sh a Bla ckbu r n

Subcom m ittee Chairs

Restoring the A merican Dream: Rebuilding the Economy and Creating Jobs

Co-Ch a ir m a n Jon a th a n Ba r n ett

Co-Ch a ir m a n Ly n n Fitch

Co-Ch a ir m a n A n dy Pu zder

We T he People: A Restoration of Constitutional Government

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Co-Ch a ir m a n Jim Bopp

Co-Ch a ir m a n Ja n e Tim ken

A merica's Natural Resources: Energy, A griculture and the Environment

Co-Ch a ir m a n Ma r y Dy e

Co-Ch a ir m a n Ed Wh itfield

Reforming Government to Serve the People

Co-Ch a ir m a n Jim Ca w ley

Co-Ch a ir m a n Ra ch el Kem p

Renewing A merican V alues to Build Healthy Families, Great Schools and Safe Neighborhoods

Co-Ch a ir m a n Tom Lu n a

Co-Ch a ir m a n Ca r oly n McLa r ty

Co-Ch a ir m a n Sa m Olen s

A merican Exceptionalism

Co-Ch a ir m a n Don n a Ca in

Co-Ch a ir m a n Jim Ta len t

Committee MembersA LA BA MA

Ja cqu elin e Cu r t iss

Ca m Wa r d

A LA SKA

Ric Da v idg e

Debbie Joslin

A MERICA N SA MOA

Sa lote Sch u ster

Br a n don Sm a r t

A RIZONA

Kip Kem pton

Hea th er Sa n dstr om

A RKA NSA S

Jon a th a n Ba r n ett

Ju lie Ha r r is

CA LIFORNIA

A n dr ew Pu zder

A u dr a Str ickla n d

COLORA DO

Su za n n e Sh a r key

Gu y Sh or t

CONNECTICUT

L. Scott Fr a n tz

Th em is Kla r ides

DELA WA RE

Ru th Br ig g s Kin g

Joh n Sig ler

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Ter i Ga lv ez

Edw a r d New ton

FLORIDA

A llen Ben se

Rem edios Dia z

GEORGIA

Su e Ev er h a r t

Sa m Olen s

GUA M

A r th u r Boy d Cla r k

Telo Ta ita g u e

HA WA II

Ly n n e Ha n sen

Ph ilip Hellr eich

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Ph ilip Hellr eich

IDA HO

Ga y a n n DeMor da u n t

Tom Lu n a

ILLINOIS

Stev e Kim

Sh a r ee La n g en stein

INDIA NA

Ja m es Bopp Jr .

Debor a h Flem in g

IOWA

Gopa l T.K. Kr ish n a

Kim ber ly Leh m a n

KA NSA S

Bev er ly Ca ley

Kr is Koba ch

KENTUCKY

Ed Wh itfield

Sh ir ley Wisem a n

LOUISIA NA

A m bia Ba ker

Ton y Per kin s

MA INE

Lin da Bea n

Mike Wa lla ce

MA RYLA ND

Ch r ist ia n Ca v ey

Ka th y Szelig a

MA SSA CHUSETTS

Ja y Ba r r ow s

Ra ch el Kem p

MICHIGA N

Kr ista Ha r ou tu n ia n

Nor m Sh in kle

MINNESOTA

Kev in Er ickson

Ju liet te Jor da l

MISSISSIPPI

Ly n n Fitch

Delber t Hosem a n n

MISSOURI

Ph y llis Sch la fly

Jim Ta len t

MONTA NA

Ma r k Ba ker

Ta m a r a Ha ll

NEBRA SKA

Br ia n Bu esch er

Da r len e Sta r m a n

NEV A DA

Cy n th ia Ken n edy

Pa t Ker by

NEW HA MPSHIRE

Da v id Bou tin

Bev er ly Br u ce

NEW JERSEY

A u br ey Fen ton

Ly n da Pa g liu g h i

NEW MEXICO

Ja m es Da m r on

Rocky Ga la ssin i

NEW YORK

Joh n Ca h ill

A dele Ma lpa ss

NORTH CA ROLINA

Wa y n e Kin g

Ma r y Su m m a

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Ma r y Su m m a

NORTH DA KOTA

Ky le Ha n deg a r d

Pa u l Hen der son

NORTHERN MA RIA NA ISLA NDS

Ellsbeth A lepu y o

Ju a n Dieg o Bla n co

OHIO

Cla r en ce Min g o

Ja n e Tim ken

OKLA HOMA

A n th on y La u in g er

Ca r oly n McLa r ty

OREGON

Don n a Ca in

Ru ss Wa lker

PENNSYLV A NIA

Jim Ca w ley

Joy ce Ha a s

PUERTO RICO

Jor g e Sa n Mig u el

V a n essa V ier a

RHODE ISLA ND

Ba r ba r a A n n Fen ton

Rich a r d For d

SOUTH CA ROLINA

Ra n dy Pa g e

La Don n a Ry g g s

SOUTH DA KOTA

Ma r y Jea n Jen sen

Da n a Ra n da ll

TENNESSEE

Ma r sh a Bla ckbu r n

Ch r is Dev a n ey

TEXA S

Da v id Ba r ton

Den ise McNa m a r a

UTA H

Ma r g a r et Da y ton

Br a d Dee

V ERMONT

Rick Coch r a n

Da r cie Joh n ston

V IRGINIA

Ch r is Stea r n s

Ka th y Ter r y

V IRGIN ISLA NDS

A pr il New la n d

Her ber t Sch oen boh m

WA SHINGTON

Ma r y Dy e

Lew Moor e

WEST V IRGINIA

Con r a d Lu ca s II

WISCONSIN

Da n iel Fey en

Su sa n Ly n ch

WYOMING

Cy n th ia Clou d

Da n Docksta der

Platform Staff

Ben Key , Ex ecu t iv e Dir ector

Elise Stefa n ik, Policy Dir ector

Bill Gr ibbin , Editor

Gr a cey Roska m , Ex ecu t iv e A ssista n t

Bob Dov e, Pa r lia m en ta r ia n

La u r a Dov e, Cler k

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La u r a Dov e, Cler k

Jeff Rosen , Cou n sel

Tim Fla n ig a n , Cou n sel

Kir sten Ku kow ski, Pr ess Secr eta r y

Ga r y How a r d, Pr ess Secr eta r y

Leslie Ru tledg e, RNC A ssocia te Cou n sel

Jon Wa cla w ski, RNC A dv isor a n d A ssocia te Cou n sel

Ka r en Por t ik, Gr a ph ic Desig n er

Ma r cia Br ow n , Pr odu ct ion

A dm in ist ra t iv e T ea m :

Gr eg g Edg a r , Br ia n O'Ma lley , Ma llor y Lor in g

Cou rt Report er:

Ra y m on d Heer III, A lder son Cou r t Repor t in g

Policy St a ff

Economy Subcomm ittee

A n dr ew Olm em

Ma tt Weidin g er

Restoring Constitutional Government

Ed Cor r ig a n

Willia m Hen der son

Billy Gr ibbin

Energy Subcommittee

Ton y Eber h a r d

Ma r y Neu m a y r

Government Reform Subcommittee

Geor g e Fish m a n

Jon a th a n Slem r od

Health, Education & Crime

Cy n th ia Her r le

Mike O'Rielly

Keith Stu dda r d

National Security Subcom mittee

Neil Br a dley

Rober t Wilkie

Specia l t h a n ks t o t h e followin g for t h eir v a lu a ble in sigh t s:

Form er Executive Directors:

A m ba ssa dor Joh n Bolton , 1 9 8 4 ; Willia m Ma r t in , 1 9 9 2 ; Ju dy V a n Rest , 1 9 9 6 ;

Mitch Ba in w ol, 2 000; A n n e Ph elps, 2 004 ; Stev en Du ffield, 2 008

Former Policy Director:

Ca n di Wolff, 2 000

Senior Advisors:

Ton y Fea th er , Ja m es Tobin , Br ia n Noy es

Specia l t h a n ks t o:

Betsy A n kn ey , Sa r a A r m str on g , Ju lia Biebig h a u ser , Ty ler Br ow n , Br it t Ca r ter , Br it ta n y Coh a n , Cesa r deGu zm a n , Sh a r on Da y ,

Dir k Ey m a n , Mike Gildin g , Wells Gr iffith , Bill Ha r r is, A n n e Ha th a w a y , Rebecca Heilig , A ly Hig g in s, Colleen Hou se, Ma r k Isa a cson ,

Bett in a In cla in , Jeff La r son , Jer em y Ken n ey , Tom Kise, Tor y Ma g u ir e, Ja m es Min , Joh a n n a Per sin g , Joe Pou n der , Ry a n Pr ice, Ma tt

Sa u v a g e, Tim Sch ig el, Sea n Spicer , Eliza beth Steil, Bill Stein er , Ch r ist in e Sa m u elia n , Ma tt Ter r ill, Jen n ifer V oldn ess, Rick Wiley ,

La r issa Ziem a n n a n d a ll ou r v olu n teer s

Citation: Republican Party Platforms: "2012 Republican Party Platform," August 27, 2012. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T.Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=101961.

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