SDNYC 2014 Federal Candidate Questionnaire Responses

2014 Federal Candidate Questionnaire Yes / No Section
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Espaillat Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y O Y Y
Israel Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Maloney Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y *1 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y O Y Y
Meeks Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N *2 O Y Y
Meng Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Nadler Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y *3 Y Y Y Y Y N Y O Y Y
Recchia Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y *4 Y S *5 Y Y

SEE FLOWING PAGE FOR * NOTES

2014 Federal Candidate Questionnaire Yes / No Section

* NOTES FROM ABOVE CHART:

*1: Note: HIV Organ Policy Equity Act became Public Law 113-51 on 11/21/2013. Three of the bills on your list have not been reintroduced in the 113th Congress, but Rep. Maloney has a
record of supporting two of them: Early Treatment for HIV (Engel was the sole sponsor in the 112th; in the 111th there were 187 co-sponsors and Rep. Maloney was one of them) Reconnecting
Youth to Prevent Homelessness Act (Shelly Berkley co-sponsored it in the 110th Congress (2008). It has never been re-introduced and it had only 8 co-sponsors. Maloney wasnt one of them.
Equal Access to COBRA Maloney was a co-sponsor in the last Congress (112th) when Weiner introduced it.

*2: we do not support this as therapist should have a host of opinions to meet the physical and psychological needs of the LGBT

*3: Respect of Marriage Act and Uniting American Families Act, is my legislation that I have authored and introduced.

*4: The policy of using condoms as evidence of prostitution may have had the unintended and dangerous effect of discouraging sexually active individuals from using and carrying condoms for
protection from sexually transmitted diseases. I understand this policy has been discontinued (as of a week ago) and applaud the NYPD's decision.

*5: In my council district, many of the religious institutions were devastated by Superstorm Sandy and in the wake of the storm were unable to reopen their doors for many months or sadly at all.
In times of need, these institutions provide our communities not only with faith services that offer hope, encouragement, and community bonding, but also important social and organizational
relief. I understand the importance of separating church and state, but in certain instances, I think that faith-based organizations should be able to use public school buildings. I know my
community would have benefited from that greatly in the wake of the storm.

SEE BELOW FOR CANDIDATE RESPONSES TO LONG FORM QUESTIONS

2014 Federal Candidate Questionnaire

Full Name: Eliot Engel

Section 1: CAMPAIGN INFORMATION

Office Sought (including district number if applicable): United States Congressman NY16

From which parties are you seeking nomination(s): Democratic Party and Working Families

Full Name of Campaign Committees: Engel for Congress

Campaign Website: www.engelforcongress.com

Campaign Twitter Account:

Campaign Facebook Page:

List here the union, organizations (community, civic, media, issue groups), and elected officials that have
endorsed you:

Please list any LGBT candidates you have endorsed:

If endorsed will you display the endorsement of the Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC in your literature
whenever you list other endorsements and will you display the endorsement on your website?: Yes

Section 2: CANDIDATE EXPERIENCE (Short Answer)

Please explain any activities and/or experiences that demonstrate your commitment to the LGBT civil
rights movement: Every year I sponsor the National Day of Silence in the United States House of
Representatives to stand in solidarity with LGBT youth who are bullied or harassed as a result of their real or
perceived sexual identity. In addition to introducing the yearly resolution, I organize and lead a moment of
silence on the Floor of the House in honor of those students. Additionally, I am a vocal supporter of marriage
equality, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and other efforts that seek to bring full equality to the
LGBT community, and strongly opposed Dont Ask, Dont Tell. I was also one of 67 who voted against the
Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 1996, and have sought to repeal it ever since.

What experience do you have to demonstrate you are the best person to represent the office you seek? For
more than 25 years in the United States Congress, and my entire career in the New York State Assembly, I have
fought for the rights of the LGBT community. I have used my senior position in Congress to press the current
and former Administrations to end discriminatory practices like Dont Ask, Dont Tell, and to push for full
federal marriage equality.


Please detail any specific policy proposals you may have that will affect the LGBT community: Every year
I write the National Day of Silence resolution in the U.S. House. Last year, I authored the PEPFAR
reauthorization which is an international HIV/AIDS relief bill which was signed into law by President Obama.
I wrote the Early Treatment for HIV/AIDS Act during health care reform. A three-year ETHA program was
part of the House passed health reform bill. I have also been deeply involved in the Ryan White CARE Act
throughout its creation and over the years to make sure it is funded.


Full Name: Adriano Espaillat


Office Sought (including district number if applicable): Congress, NY-13

From which parties are you seeking nomination(s): Democratic

Full Name of Campaign Committees: Espaillat for Congress

Campaign Website:

Campaign Twitter Account: espaillatforcongress.com

Campaign Facebook Page: EspaillatNY

endorsed you: www.facebook.com/SenAdrianoEspaillat

Please list any LGBT candidates you have endorsed: I have been endorsed by elected officials including
NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, NYC Council Speaker Melissa-Mark Viverito, Bronx Borough President
Ruben Diaz Jr., State Senators Gustavo Rivera and Brad Hoylman, Assemblymembers Gabriela Rosa, Robert
Rodriguez, Victor Pichardo, and Karim Camara, and Council Members Ydanis Rodriguez, Mark Levine,
Ritchie Torres and Andy Cohen.

Within the labor movement, I have been endorsed by the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), Hotel Trades
Council (HTC) Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), Workers United SEIU, Transport
Workers Union Local 100 (TWU) and New York State District Council 9 (DC9).

I also have the support of the Bronx Democratic Party, the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club, the
Barack Obama Democratic Club of Upper Manhattan, Northwest Bronx Democrats, and the Democratic Club
of El Barrio/ East Harlem.

whenever you list other endorsements and will you display the endorsement on your website?: In 2013, I
endorsed Council Member Ritchie Torres.


rights movement: Yes

What experience do you have to demonstrate you are the best person to represent the office you seek? I
have been a proud supporter of the LGBTQ movement, and first voted for full marriage in 2007. I am
committed to passing GENDA, banning conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth, and expanding the rights of all
New Yorkers.

Please detail any specific policy proposals you may have that will affect the LGBT community: I am a
community organizer at heart and I am excited to bring this diverse district together to fight for change.


Full Name: Steve Israel


Office Sought (including district number if applicable): Member of Congress, 3rd District

From which parties are you seeking nomination(s): Democratic, Working Families, Independence
(Unopposed for all nominations)

Full Name of Campaign Committees: Israel for Congress

Campaign Website: www.israelforcongress.com/


Campaign Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/israelforcongress

endorsed you: In my career, I have been endorsed by nearly every local union, the Suffolk County Democrats,
Nassau County Democrats, and the Democratic Organizations of Queens County. I expect their full support
once again this year and am proud of that support.

Please list any LGBT candidates you have endorsed: Under my leadership as Chairman of the Democratic
Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), House Democrats in Congress have elected the most diverse
caucus in the history of the country. This includes a record number of LGBT members from across the country
and I could not be prouder of this accomplishment.



rights movement: "I have been a proud supporter of the LGBT community and Human Rights Agenda
throughout my career. I consider one of my proudest moments in Congress to be the day we voted for full
repeal of the discriminatory Dont Ask

What experience do you have to demonstrate you are the best person to represent the office you seek?
Dont Tell policy which was enacted into law."

Please detail any specific policy proposals you may have that will affect the LGBT community: I am
honored to represent northeast Queens and Long Island in Congress. I never forget whose side I am on - New
York's middle-class families. I am proud of specific successful efforts like securing more than $7 million in
back pay and benefits for local veterans, pushing for tax legislation that would recognize the high cost of living
in New York and working to get New York help when it needs it most like in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
Also, as a member of House Democratic Leadership I am in a unique position to fight for New York in
Congress and for the interests of New York families.


Full Name: Carolyn Maloney


Office Sought (including district number if applicable): 12th Congressional District of NY

From which parties are you seeking nomination(s): Democratic Party, Working Families Party

Full Name of Campaign Committees: Maloney for Congress

Campaign Website: carolynmaloney.com

Campaign Twitter Account: CarolynBMaloney

Campaign Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/CarolynMaloney

endorsed you: Working Families Party, Village Independent Democrats, Chelsea Reform Democratic Club,
Four Freedoms Democratic Club, Lenox Hill Democratic Club, Lexington Democratic Club, Gramercy
Stuyvesant Independent Democrats, Coalition for a District Alternative, Downtown Independent Democrats,
Tilden Democratic Club, as well as the Democratic members of the New York City Congressional delegation
and city and state elected officials too numerous to list.

Please list any LGBT candidates you have endorsed: In the course of my career I have endorsed dozens of
LGBT candidates, including Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, Councilman Corey Johnson, State Senator Brad
Hoylman, State Senator Tom Duane, Senator Tammy Baldwin, Congressman Barney Frank, Congressman Sean
Patrick Maloney, Congressman Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, Speaker Christine Quinn (for Councilwoman
and for Mayor), Councilwoman Rosie Mendez, Councilman Daniel Dromm, Councilwoman Margarita Lopez,
Councilman Phil Reed, Karen Burstein and many judges, state committee members and district leaders.



rights movement: I was the first person to introduce a domestic partnership bill in the New York City Council.
At the time it was considered so controversial that I had to fight even to get the City Council to print the bill. I
voted against DOMA, worked to overturn it and support ENDA. I have protested anti-LGBT laws in Uganda
and elsewhere. I have worked with LGBT constituents to ensure that spouses receive appropriate Social

Security and other benefits, and I have tried to help committed partners separated by immigration laws, both
before and after New York adopted marriage equality and the Supreme Court overturned key elements of
DOMA. I have written to the Social Security Administration asking them to stop treating transgender
individuals as special cases that need to be referred to DC, but to recognize them as the gender with which they
identify.

am an effective legislator who has authored and passed more than 60 pieces of legislation, including the Credit
CARD Act, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination
(SaVE) Act, Sexual Assault Forensic Reporting (SAFER) Act and the Hate Crime Statistics Improvement Act.
I have passed legislation both when Democrats are in control of the House and as a member of the minority. I
have also worked hard to improve the quality of life in the City of New York: I have helped fund construction
of numerous affordable senior housing developments; I created task forces that led to the creation of Eleanor
Roosevelt High School and several elementary schools to relieve overcrowding; I worked to create a new park
along the esplanade and provided seed money; I created a task force to repair the Upper East Side Esplanade. I
fought to provide banks in areas of my district that were unbanked and I brought health care facilities into
underserved communities in Queens.

Please detail any specific policy proposals you may have that will affect the LGBT community: Along
with Senator Richard Durbin, the Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act, which would allow employees to
take unpaid leave to care for a same-sex spouse or partner, parent-in-law, adult child, sibling, grandchild or
grandparent. I appreciate your including the bill as one of the ones you are scoring in this questionnaire.


Full Name: Gregory W. Meeks


Office Sought (including district number if applicable): Congressional Seat for New York Congressioanl
DIstrict 5

From which parties are you seeking nomination(s): Democratic

Full Name of Campaign Committees: Friends For Gregory W. Meeks

Campaign Website: www.congressmangregorymeeks.com


Campaign Facebook Page:

endorsed you:

Please list any LGBT candidates you have endorsed: Christine Quinn

whenever you list other endorsements and will you display the endorsement on your website?:


rights movement: There is the No Hate campaign that the Congressman participated in

What experience do you have to demonstrate you are the best person to represent the office you seek?
Congressman Meeks has one of the best voting records on LGBT issues, rights and non discrimination issues
with regards to the LGBT community

Please detail any specific policy proposals you may have that will affect the LGBT community: There are
not any


Full Name: Grace Meng


Office Sought (including district number if applicable): House of Representatives(NY-6)

From which parties are you seeking nomination(s): Democratic Party

Full Name of Campaign Committees: Grace for New York

Campaign Website:

Campaign Twitter Account: gracefornewyork.com

Campaign Facebook Page: Grace4NY

endorsed you: www.facebook.com/repgracemeng

Please list any LGBT candidates you have endorsed: Democratic Organization of Queens, Lesbian and Gay
Democratic Club of Queens, Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, ASAAL

whenever you list other endorsements and will you display the endorsement on your website?: Rep. Sean
Patrick Maloney, Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, Sean Eldridge for Congress, CM Daniel Dromm, CM Jimmy Van
Bramer, CM Carlos Menchaca


rights movement: Yes

believe that discrimination - whether on the basis of religion, gender-identity, sexual orientation, marital status -
is antithetical to our nation's values, hurtful to our communities, and at the very least should not be ingrained in
our legal system. In addition to already being a cosponsor for many of the previously mentioned bills, I have
also joined my colleagues in letters to Administration officials to remedy specific grievances related to LGBT
community on a Federal level, such as encouraging the Social Security Administration to provide the same
benefits for same-sex partners that they do for spouses, which is particularly important for those that live in
states that have not yet achieved formal recognition of their marriage. As a member of the New York State

Assembly, I authored legislation that requires judges to compel sensitivity training measures and education to
those convicted of hate crimes.

Please detail any specific policy proposals you may have that will affect the LGBT community: Since
being elected to Congress in 2012, I have fought for the needs of children, seniors, veterans, small businesses,
and groups that have been historically underrepresented. I serve on the Foreign Affairs and Small Business
Committees and have co-founded the Congressional Kids Safety Caucus, which focuses on best practices
regarding child safety for parents and caregivers. I have also passed three pieces of legislation through the
House in my first term.


Full Name: Jerrold Nadler


Office Sought (including district number if applicable): Representative in Congress, 10th Congressional
District of New York State

From which parties are you seeking nomination(s): Democratic, Working Families Party

Full Name of Campaign Committees: Nadler for Congress

Campaign Website: www.jerrynadler.com

Campaign Twitter Account: JerryNadler

Campaign Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/JerryNadler

endorsed you: I have or expect to get the endorsements of Democratic Clubs, political organizations,
community organizations and unions throughout my Congressional District.

Please list any LGBT candidates you have endorsed: There have been many. Corey Johnson, Tom Duane,
Christine Quinn, Deborah Glick, Ken Sherrill.



rights movement: For my 40 years in public life, I have worked tirelessly in pursuit of equal rights for all
Americans, fighting daily against legal discrimination and bigotry.

As the LGBT communitys struggle for equality has taken center stage, I have been a leading champion of
LGBT rights, and have received awards from nearly every national and local LGBT organization. Since joining
the House of Representatives, I have been an original co-sponsor of every major piece of LGBT rights
legislation, and an unyielding opponent of every piece of discriminatory legislation aimed at the LGBT
community, including leading the House effort to stop the so-called Federal Marriage Amendment. I am a
founding member and Vice Chair of the House LGBT Equality Caucus, a leading national supporter of
marriage equality, and fought from the start against Dont Ask, Dont Tell.


I spearheaded a congressional amicus brief submitted to the Supreme Court in Edie Windsors case, in which
the Supreme Court struck down, section of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). That brief, joined by 211 of
Congressman Nadlers House and Senate colleagues, argued that there is no legitimate federal interest in
denying married same-sex couples the same security and responsibility that federal law provides to all other
couples who are married under state law.

I personally have authored the Respect for Marriage Act, to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act; the Uniting
American Families Act, to allow people in committed same-sex couples to sponsor partners for immigration
purposes; the Mychal Judge Act (signed into law in 2002), to allow same-sex partners to receive public safety
officer death benefits after 9/11; and, the Equal Access to Social Security Act.

What experience do you have to demonstrate you are the best person to represent the office you seek? See
above.

Please detail any specific policy proposals you may have that will affect the LGBT community: See above.


Full Name: Domenic Recchia


Office Sought (including district number if applicable): New York's 11th congressional district

From which parties are you seeking nomination(s): Democratic, Working Families

Full Name of Campaign Committees: Recchia for Congress

Campaign Website: www.recchiaforcongress.com

Campaign Twitter Account: domenicrecchia

Campaign Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/domenicrecchia

endorsed you: Staten Island Democratic Party
Brooklyn Democratic Party
DCCC
Planned Parenthood
NOW
NARAL
UFCW Local 1500
RWDSU
(more union endorsements to be announced publicly in the coming days and weeks)
Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club
Stars & Stripes
Bay Ridge Dems
Brooklyn Democrats for Change
Shorefront Democratic Club
SIDA
North Shore Democrats
South Shore Democrats
DORC
Island Democratic Civic Committee
(more issue and community organizations to be announced in the coming days and weeks)

Please list any LGBT candidates you have endorsed: Christine Quinn
Matthew Titone




rights movement: - I have been a big supporter of marriage equality in New York and around the country.

- I voted multiple times in support of City Council resolutions to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

- I voted multiple times in support of City Council resolutions t

What experience do you have to demonstrate you are the best person to represent the office you seek? On
October 29, 2012, Superstorm Sandy hit New York City, devastating many communities in Staten Island and
South Brooklyn and changing the lives of thousands of New Yorkers overnight, my own included. Since the
storm, the recovery and rebuilding efforts have been all consuming. As a Council Member who represents a
district hit hard by Sandy, I spent the days before the storm urging residents to evacuate and I have spent the
months after the storm on the ground making sure that people have access to food, water, shelter, and the tools
they needed to rebuild.

After months of seeing neighbors helping neighbors get back on their feet, I was devastated to watch the
extremists in Congress hold hostage the vote for Sandy relief for nearly 80 days. Knowing that after Hurricane
Katrina Congress acted in just 10 days, I realized that politics in Washington was broken and that we needed
new leadership.

I decided to run for Congress because I want to make a difference for the people of New York and I believe that
in order to do that we need leaders who are willing to do what's necessary, not what's easy. Now, more than
ever, we need leadership in Congress that can get results, leadership that can be trusted, and leadership that is
willing to fight for a better future for the people of Staten Island and South Brooklyn. From my years in public
service, I have a record of tackling big issues and working across party lines to get results, and that is the type of
leadership I'm going to bring to Washington.

For the past four years, I served as Chairman of the City Council Finance Committee. In this role it has been my
responsibility to manage and negotiate the Citys $70 billion dollar budget with the Speaker and the Mayor each
year. While Chair, Im proud that the Council has passed 4 on-time budgets, that have paid down debt, made
responsible decisions about spending, protected core services, and not raised taxes. Weve done this all while
prioritizing the needs of working families, children, and the publics safety and while promoting economic
development and job creation. Through what has been a difficult economic climate for the country and the
world, New York City has done well compared to most regions because of the smart but difficult financial
decisions weve made. Im going to bring that experience to Washington, but Im also going to fight to make
sure we get our fair share.


As a nation, I cant think of a more important time to have representation in Congress that knows how to come
to the table, work with both sides, and get things done. I am a parent to three wonderful daughters and like a lot
of parents out there I worry about what will happen if Congress continues to kick the can down the road on the
major challenges facing our country. Whether it's the federal deficit, or transforming America's competitive
advantage in the world, or rebuilding the middle class, I will use my experience and skillset to be part of the
solutions that will shape our future. I hope you will join our team and help bring new leadership to Washington.

Please detail any specific policy proposals you may have that will affect the LGBT community: In
Congress, I will continue to be an advocate for the LGBT community by supporting workplace fairness,
benefits for LGBT partners, marriage equality, bullying prevention and safety in our schools, and equal
treatment for LGBT families in our nations immigration policies.

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