Amanda Howland: Candidate Profile

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Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: Lake ZurichWebsite: http://amandahowlandforcongress.com/Twitter: @amandahowland06Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/howlandforcongress/Office sought: 6th District U.S. Representative Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: Candidate did not respond.Occupation: Civil rights attorney, self-employed former educator and elementary school principalEducation: B.S. in Special Education, Central Michigan M.A. in Psychology Michigan State M.S. in Educational Administration Northern Illinois Doctor of Jurisprudence, Chicago-Kent College of LawCivic involvement: Gymnastics judge for Illinois Special Olympics State Meet, 2000 to present IHSA gymnastics judge, 32 years to 37 years to date Member, Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce, 2006 to present Lake County Court Appointed Special Advocate, 2008 to present Member, Caring Women's Connection (a 501(c)(3) dedicated to helping women and children in Lake County), 2000 to presentElected offices held: Elected Trustee, College of Lake County, 2008 to present Committee Person, Ela Township Precinct 84, 2011 to present Committee Person, Ela Township Precinct 83, 2004-2011 Marketing Chair, Hawthorn Woods Women's Charity 501(c)(3), 2005-2009 Appointed member, Illinois State Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Council, 2004 to present Appointed chairperson, Illinois State Bar Association Intellectual Property Council, 2003-2004Questions Answers What do you think is the government's responsibility in assuring that citizens have health care? To what extent does the Affordable Care Act address this responsibility? What, if any, changes are needed in the act.The U.S. is the only industrialized country in the world that does not provide basic health care for all. Countries around the world spend less to provide more health care to their citizens the United States has the most expensive health care in the world, but is not the best nor most efficient. I believe that we need single payer healthcare. I would absolutely co-sponsor HR 676, which would abolish private insurance and expand Medicare to cover in full all medically necessary treatments and services to be paid for by existing Medicare and Medicaid money plus new progressive taxes. While we cannot get to a single payer system overnight because of opposition from Roskam and Republicans, I support improving the Affordable Care Act immediately to respond to rising health care costs. We should take lessons from states that have managed these issues, for instance by adopting reinsurance pools to cover higher costs patients, allowing Medicare to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies, by re-importing drugs from Canada. I believe that no person should go bankrupt when a family member gets sick, no person should be shackled to a job just to keep their health insurance, and the emergency room should not be anyone's primary medical provider.What immigration policies do you support? Where, if at all, do you see room for compromise to produce an effective policy on immigration? What, if any, responsibility does the government have toward immigrants referred to as Dreamers who were brought to the United States illegally as children and are now adults? How will these policies affect your district?We are a nation of immigrants. I support comprehensive immigration reform that provides a path to citizenship for the millions of immigrants in the United States who contribute to our society and economy. As a college trustee, I see DACA students, firsthand, who are vitally important members of our community. It rips my heart out to think of telling any of these students that they're not wanted here. I strongly oppose elimination of DACA and support legislation to provide DACA recipients with United States citizenship.What military or diplomatic roles should the United States play to promote peace and stability in the Mideast? Under what circumstances should we have military forces actively operating?Conflict in the Middle East is complex. Any U.S. military intervention requires an extended nuanced discussion. If Congress thinks that the United States military is the only group that can provide stability in the region, we may have no choice but to act. On a broader level, my goal is for peace in the region. If there's peace that can be achieved, it won't come from a politician. It'll come from the people who live there. While the Constitution says that the President doesn't have to seek approval unless he declares war, I believe that any president should work with Congress all the way along in any situation that could become militaristic. No human being can know everything - including the President - and no human being should make decisions in isolation. Dialogue with Congress is important before, during, and after any proposed military intervention. As a nation, we also need to do much more to help displaced refugees from the Middle East. This includes allowing more refugees into our country than we are currently. It also includes working proactively with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to find new solutions to protect displaced persons. The refugee crisis is a humanitarian crisis and as Americans we have a moral obligation to seek solutions.What should the United States be doing to reduce the threat of potential nuclear conflict from North Korea?I believe that we should be doing everything we can to broker a diplomatic solution in North Korea. It certainly isn't in our interest for North Korea to have nuclear weapons, but we're not going to prevent an arms race with Trump's inflammatory tactics. Tweeting incendiary remarks at leaders abroad is not an effective strategy. Working with our allies to reach a solution to keep North Korea from becoming nuclear will bring us increased success in the future.How would you describe the effectiveness of Congress today? If you think Congress needs to be more effective, what would you do to promote that?Like many Americans, I am very concerned about the increased party polarization in Congress. Inability to listen to and work with those who hold different views doesn't help anyone. My legal training and my experience at the College of Lake County require me to negotiate with people all the time. For example, Lake County is known to be a Republican stronghold, yet at the College, we have invested in projects and programs that are more progressive than conservative. During my tenure on the Board, we have invested in geothermal HVAC, solar panels, green roofs and LEEDs certified buildings. My ability to work with people was recognized when my fellow Trustees voted me Chairman of the Board twice. I'll bring these same negotiation skills to Congress. In my law practice, I spend the majority of time mediating issues and have completed over sixty hours of mediation training. I prefer to bring people together to work out differences rather that work as adversaries against each other.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Healthcare and education reform are my two biggest priorities. I'll fight tirelessly to make sure that all Americans have access to quality healthcare and public education. My uncle, Dr. Quentin Young, founder of Physicians for a National Healthcare Plan and personal doctor to the Obama family, instilled in me the importance of healthcare for all. Following my first run against Roskam in 2016, I was diagnosed with kidney cancer. I could have used this event as a reason not to run against him a second time. But, the experience only reminded me how lucky I was to have health insurance and how I need to fight for this same right for others. My career in education taught me that there is no stronger force for change than an educated populace. Free public education for kindergarten through the first two years of community college or technical school would transform our nation.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Justice Ginsburg for all she's done on the Supreme Court. She is tough, smart, and I admire her ability to work with both sides.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Be polite, honest, work hard and never let anyone tell you that you can't be all that you want to be.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I wouldn't "do-over" anything because I learned from every experience, but I wish I'd worked with the Peace Corps and/or taught in an underprivileged country.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Literature. It made me an inquisitive learner and allowed me to explore new ideas, history, and the world.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Be honest and empathetic.