Bernie Sanders Legislative Proposals On Healthcare Education And Economic Justice

The provided source material outlines several legislative proposals and policy positions advocated by Senator Bernie Sanders. These proposals focus on reducing healthcare costs, reforming higher education funding, strengthening worker protections, and addressing economic inequality. The information is drawn from official Senate communications and an editorial commentary. This article synthesizes the details regarding these specific policy areas without introducing external knowledge or speculation.

Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Reform

Senator Sanders has been a prominent figure in advocating for reduced pharmaceutical industry influence and lower prescription drug prices for consumers. His legislative record and voting history reflect a consistent effort to hold drug manufacturers accountable and expand access to affordable medications.

One significant aspect of his platform involves addressing the opioid crisis. Sanders introduced S.1584, the Opioid Crisis Accountability and Results Act. This legislation would require manufacturers of opioids to reimburse the country for the negative economic impact caused by their products. In a related effort to shift how drug innovation is incentivized, he introduced S.495, the Medical Innovation Prize Fund Act. This bill proposes establishing a multi-billion-dollar fund to reward drug innovation through cash prizes rather than through the current system of monopoly rights, which often leads to high consumer prices.

Furthermore, Sanders has introduced S.1681, a bill designed to ensure that drugs developed with the aid of federally funded research are sold at reasonable prices. This measure seeks to prevent situations where publicly funded research results in prohibitively expensive private consumer products.

Sanders has also used his position in the Senate to vote against legislation he deemed too favorable to the pharmaceutical industry. In 2012, he was the sole senator to vote against the Food and Drug Administration user fee bill, citing its failure to adequately address high prescription drug prices. Similarly, in 2016, he opposed the 21st Century Cures Act, arguing that it funded corporate giveaways to the pharmaceutical industry by cutting funds from Medicare and Medicaid.

Beyond legislation, Sanders has actively promoted the importation of lower-cost drugs. In 1999, he became the first member of Congress to organize trips for his constituents to cross the Canadian border to purchase prescription drugs at a fraction of the U.S. price. Looking toward broader systemic change, Sanders continues to advocate for a Medicare for All, single-payer system, framing health care as a fundamental human right.

Higher Education and Student Debt

Addressing the "crisis" of student debt and the high cost of college is a central pillar of Sanders' platform. He has introduced legislation aimed at making public higher education tuition-free for a wide range of students.

The proposed legislation would allocate at least $48 billion per year to states and tribes to eliminate undergraduate tuition and fees at public colleges, universities, and tribally controlled institutions. Under this plan, students from families of all income levels would be eligible to attend public four-year colleges, four-year tribal colleges, and community colleges tuition-free. The proposal also extends to trade schools and apprenticeship programs.

In addition to tuition-free initiatives, Sanders has worked to expand existing financial aid programs. He was an original co-sponsor and key supporter of the Post 9/11 GI Bill, which authorized the most significant expansion of Veterans’ education benefits in over 50 years. He also advocates for "dual enrollment" programs, allowing high school students to take courses that count toward both high school and college graduation requirements. These programs are noted as particularly beneficial for low-income and first-generation college students by introducing them to higher education early.

Worker Protections and Economic Justice

Senator Sanders promotes policies intended to increase worker income and protect economic security. He advocates for raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, a measure he states would provide a raise to nearly 40 million Americans.

Regarding worker retirement security, Sanders is an original cosponsor of the Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act, also known as the Butch Lewis Act. This bill would offer federal loans to multiemployer pension plans at risk of bankruptcy. He also introduced the CEO and Worker Pension Fairness Act, which aims to strengthen the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and the multiemployer pension system by eliminating special CEO pension plans. Sanders argues that if the government can bail out Wall Street and foreign banks, it should also protect the pensions of American workers.

During the pandemic, Sanders defended a $600 extra weekly unemployment benefit, arguing for its necessity to protect American workers. He has also focused on Wall Street reform, calling for legislation to tax financial speculation and cap credit card interest rates to curb what he describes as "greed."

Taxation and Corporate Accountability

A recurring theme in the provided material is the need to reform the U.S. tax code, which Sanders argues is rigged in favor of the wealthy and corporations. He points out that many large corporations, including Amazon, General Motors, Netflix, and Chevron, have made billions in profits while paying zero federal income taxes in certain years.

Sanders highlights a disparity in tax rates, noting that the wealthiest 400 Americans often pay a lower tax rate on average than the middle class. He further asserts that billionaires sometimes pay a lower tax rate than their secretaries or may pay nothing at all. To address these issues, Sanders advocates for a tax system that requires the wealthiest families and largest corporations to pay their "fair share." The revenue from such reforms is intended to support workers and fund social programs.

Media Consolidation and Public Information

Sanders has also taken a stance against media consolidation. Citing Supreme Court rulings on the importance of a free and diverse press, he argues that the consolidation of media ownership into a few multinational conglomerates has reduced the diversity of information sources.

In the Senate, he works to strengthen public interest obligations of broadcasters and opposes attempts to weaken regulations, such as the FCC ban on corporations owning a local newspaper, TV station, and radio station in the same market. His goal is to hold media companies accountable for providing diverse opinions and content that serves the public.

Conclusion

Based on the provided sources, Senator Bernie Sanders’ legislative agenda focuses on substantial structural changes to the U.S. economy and social safety net. Key proposals include government-mandated reductions in the work week without pay reduction, significant expansion of government-funded tuition-free higher education, and a shift toward single-payer healthcare. His pharmaceutical reform efforts aim to lower drug prices through importation, price controls on federally funded research, and accountability measures for opioid manufacturers. Regarding taxation and corporate accountability, he advocates for higher taxes on wealthy individuals and corporations to fund social programs and reduce inequality.

Sources

1. American opinion: More free stuff, this time suggested by Bernie Sanders
2. Bernie Sanders - Issues