2020 election: 5 key elements of the Biden/Harris platform

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are fighting to defeat Donald Trump in the next U.S. presidential election. Here are five key elements of their platform you should know.

Do the American people really want to elect Donald Trump for a second term? Judging by his approval ratings, maybe not. Many believe it is time for a change, with Joe Biden becoming the next president and commander-in-chief.

There are so many policies that Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, would fight to bring about if they were successful in their bid for the White House. In fact, according to Joe Biden’s official website, he has a whole list of policies he would like to bring about should he and Harris be elected.

Here are five of the biggest focal points of the Biden/Harris platform.

A Better Future for All of America’s Women

Biden is a presidential candidate who has many women in his life, and he sees women as equals. His stances on the issues make that apparent. The former vice president has witnessed the struggles women have endured to make ends meet and to support their loved ones, especially through the pandemic.

The Biden/Harris campaign believes that women should have access to the same education, health, and national security as their male counterparts. On Biden’s campaign website, it states:

"“For Biden, it’s a simple proposition: his daughter is entitled to the same rights and opportunities as his sons. He believes every issue is a women’s issue — health care, the economy, education, national security — but women are also uniquely and disproportionately impacted by many policies.”"

The pair also wants to stamp out violence against women, and Biden has been working toward that since he created the Violence Against Women Act in 1994. Additionally, by selecting a woman to be his running mate, he proves it’s massively important to him that he appoints people who look like the country they serve.

Combating the Pandemic

It’s no secret that America has some of the highest COVID numbers in the world. It is Biden and Harris’ view that the American people deserve a response that will focus on lowering the already-high fatality numbers. They want the U.S. to get back to some form of normalcy, and they believe the only way to do that to have free testing and a more efficient way of tracking new cases. They also plan on eliminating the costs of preventive care and treatment for people with COVID-19.

Biden and Harris also propose emergency paid leave for everyone impacted by the pandemic, as well as families and small businesses suffering due to the health crisis. The page on Biden’s website that’s dedicated to fighting COVID-19 cautions that, if they’re going to get small businesses up and running again, they need to set “progressive economic measures.”

They also promise to meet public health needs in order to counteract the suffering economy, and they will listen to and collaborate with health officials in ways the current administration has been criticized for not doing.

Helping Essential Workers With a Four-Point Plan

Without essential workers, America (and any country, really) would be on the brink of collapse. Biden has a four-point plan to help them through this tough time. His steps include:

Provide all frontline workers with access to personnel protective equipment (PPE) and coronavirus testing.
Expand access essential workers have to all PPE equipment through the DPA or Defense Production Act.
Ensure there are safety and health standards in all places of work.
Giving all workers on the frontline a raise or premium pay as part of the Senate Democrats’ proposed “Heroes Fund.”

Assisting Military Families, Caregivers, and Survivors

Biden and his wife Jill are the parents of a returning serviceman, and they want to give back. Alongside Kamala, Biden wants to say thank you for all the men and women who service America without a second thought. According to statistics, under one percent of Americans sign up to join the military.

Dr. Jill Biden joined forces with Michelle Obama to create Joining Forces, an initiative that focuses on the issues that surrounding military families. Joining Forces has enabled opportunities to arise for the training of over 1.5 million military veterans. The program has also helped the spouses of military personnel find jobs via the Military Spouse Employment Partnership.

If Biden and Harris were to get into office they would fight for the following:

Paying servicemen and women a competitive wage.
Providing veterans with better health care and addressing mental health.
Allowing the spouses, caregivers, and survivors of the military access to resources.
Putting support for the children of service personnel first.

Putting an End to Gun Violence

The Biden/Harris campaign is all about helping the people of America, and together, they’re looking to answer the call of Americans pleading for an end to gun violence. The U.S. saw nearly 40,000 people die from gun violence in 2018, and that number only increased in 2019. There have been more than enough shootings to make a point, and Joe and Kamala want to do what previous presidents have tried and failed: make the laws around firearms tougher.

Biden has a history of taking on the National Rifle Association and winning on the national stage. In 1993, he bought about the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, which has prevented 3 million firearms from falling into the wrong hands. A year later in 1994, Biden and Senator Dianne Feinstein were able to secure a 10-year ban on the use of assault weapons.

After the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Vice President Biden was tasked by President Barack Obama to come up with a way to narrow the “gun show loophole” by creating legislation and proposals for gun store business owners to perform background checks on all people buying weapons.

Next. A non-American's take on the 2020 election. dark

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