Alma Adams, candidate for US House District 12 in NC, answers our questions
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Candidates for US House District 12
Democratic Rep. Alma Adams is being challenged by Republican Addul Ali. District 12 covers parts of Mecklenburg County. Get to know the 2024 candidates with our voter guide.
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To help inform voters in the Nov. 5, 2024, election, this candidate questionnaire is available to be republished by local publications in North Carolina without any cost. Please consider subscribing to The Charlotte Observer to help make this coverage possible.
Name: Alma Adams
District/seat: Congressional District 12
Political party: Democrat
Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 78
Campaign website: almaadamsforcongress.com
Current occupation: United States Representative
Professional experience: For 40 years, I was a professor at Bennett College. I served in the N.C. General Assembly before spending the past ten years in Congress representing the 12th District of North Carolina.
Education: B.A. & M.A., North Carolina A&T State University; Ph.D., The Ohio State University
Please list any notable government or civic involvement. I am currently serving my 5th term representing the 12th District of North Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives. I began my civic career in the 1980s by becoming the first African American woman ever elected to the Greensboro City School Board. I then served 9 years on the Greensboro City Council, followed by 10 terms in the N.C. General Assembly. After winning a special election in 2014, I was sworn in as the 100th woman elected to the 113th Congress.
What would be your top priority if elected?
I will continue to advocate for access to higher education, with funding for HBCUs and the IGNITE infrastructure bill. I will prioritize the Child Tax Credit and programs aimed at eliminating hunger and poverty. Ensuring access to affordable housing and healthcare is a priority, which includes addressing our maternal health crisis through the Momnibus Act. I will always fight for a woman’s right to choose. Reproductive issues are between a woman and her doctor. Abortion is healthcare.
How would you describe the state of the economy and what would you do to improve it?
Our country has come a long way since President Biden took office. At that time, millions were out of work and we were facing one of the worst economic crises in modern history. We have since created 16 million new jobs and the inflation rate has come down to under 3%. By virtually every measure, our economy is the strongest in the world. However, the cost of food is still too high, and I will work with the Harris administration to pass the first-ever federal ban on food price gouging.
What should Congress do to ensure that it meets its deadline to fund the government?
When it comes to funding the government, we must prioritize our work and our time. Keeping the government open is Washington’s most basic responsibility. Congress should work with the administration to ensure that, if they can’t agree on funding bills, the government would automatically fund at the previous year’s levels, adjusting for inflation. That way, Congress can continue working on policy issues while the government stays open, and our citizens would not have to suffer.
Will you certify the results of the presidential election?
Yes.
Is there an issue on which you disagree with your party? What is your position on that issue?
The Democratic Party is a big tent, being inclusive and collaborative, with room enough for everybody. It wholly embraces the four “Hs” that I deem essential to live a quality life: affordable and accessible healthcare, access to healthy and nutritious food, affordable and safe housing, and access to a quality higher education. I look forward to working with Kamala Harris when she is in the White House, and I fully endorse and proudly support her candidacy for President of the United States.
This story was originally published October 3, 2024 at 11:09 AM with the headline "Alma Adams, candidate for US House District 12 in NC, answers our questions."