David Price
Date/place of birth: 1940, Erwin, Tennessee
Current occupation: Congressman
E-mail: info@priceforcongress.com
Campaign website/social media: priceforcongress.com
Family (names & ages, as of Election Day, of immediate family members): Lisa Price, spouse; Karen Price and Michael Price, children
Party affiliation: Democrat
Current and previous elected offices held or sought & terms of service: Member, U.S. House of Representatives, N.C. District 4, 1987-1995 & 1997-present
Campaign manager (if applicable): Anna Tilghman
Why are you seeking this office?: I filed for re-election in the newly drawn Fourth Congressional District to continue the fight for a bright future for all North Carolinians. While there are many continuing challenges facing our nation, my top issues are creating an economy that works for everyone, improved affordable housing and accessible, efficient transportation, and democratic reforms that give a voice to the people.
Give us three goals that are specific, measurable and attainable you would have if elected: As Chairman of the House Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, I’ll work on a bipartisan basis to pass forward-looking transportation and housing funding bills that prioritize affordable housing and meet our infrastructure challenges.
As Chairman of the bipartisan House Democracy Partnership, I’ll continue working to promote responsive, effective government and strengthen democratic institutions by assisting legislatures in emerging democracies.
And, as a leader on democratic reforms, I’ll continue pursuing efforts to strengthen our democracy by updating the ‘Stand by Your Ad’ campaign disclosure policy for the digital age, increase donor transparency for Super PACs, and establish public financing for campaigns to reduce the influence of special interests.
In your mind, what is the biggest issues facing the U.S. and what will you do in Congress to address those issues?: No American should have to declare bankruptcy in order to obtain necessary medical care. The Affordable Care Act was a major step forward in providing better coverage for every American, but too many people continue to be un- or under-insured. Without further delay, North Carolina must expand Medicaid to provide health care to hundreds of thousands of families stuck in the middle of a bitter Republican effort to block this coverage. We must work together to end the sabotage of the Affordable Care Act and enact policies that put us firmly on the path to more affordable, universal coverage.
If you were to win, what would your tenure mean for Chatham County and its residents?: As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, and in my Chairmanship of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee, I’ve been able to secure increased funding for a wide range of priorities, including transit and intercity rail, extra funding for states to repair structurally deficient bridges, new housing vouchers for vulnerable populations, and additional funding to create new housing for the elderly and disabled, and rural broadband grants. I will work to ensure that Chatham county has a voice in the federal appropriations process.
What differentiates you from your opponent which makes you the better candidate to represent your party?: As a Member of the House Democratic majority, I’ve fought for an ambitious agenda that expands opportunities for all Americans, reforms and strengthens our democracy, and advances our shared values of fairness, equality, and social justice. With an erratic President who threatens so much of what we stand for--and a craven Senate Republican Leadership that has enabled his worst tendencies--we need steady, experienced hands to lead us forward. If we are truly to secure a brighter future for all Americans, we must protect our House majority, reclaim the United States Senate, and take back the White House.
Describe how you see immigration and border security and how you will approach them if elected: For decades now, Congress has promised, yet failed, to reform our broken immigration laws to meet the needs of our economy and allow millions of otherwise law-abiding undocumented residents to become full members of society. During each of these attempts, there was an understanding from presidents of both parties that as a nation of immigrants, our enforcement priorities should be geared toward those who pose a threat to our communities. I support fact-based proposals to secure the border, including increased screening technology and well-staffed ports of entry, but I do not support dumping federal funds into an ineffective border wall or unneeded detention beds.
What is the role of the federal government in education and what legislation would you support to fulfill that role?: As a former professor, and the son of educators, education has always been my highest priority in Congress, specifically making higher education more affordable and accessible. I authored the Price Education Affordability Act, enacted in 1997, which gives parents and students a tax break on their education loans. On the House Appropriations Committee, I secured increased funding for Pell Grants and other programs designed to reduce the cost of college. Now more than ever, Americans need access to a quality education to keep our nation competitive in the global economy and create a better quality of life for future generations.
Describe what you think should be our foreign policy priorities. If elected, how would you advance those priorities? Be specific: By upending our alliances and eviscerating our diplomatic capabilities, President Trump has done grave damage to the U.S. standing on the world stage. Even still, the world looks to the U.S. as a leader in global efforts to promote democracy and the rule of law, combat poverty and disease, and protect people displaced by conflict and climate change. Diplomatic efforts like the bipartisan House Democracy Partnership (HDP), which I chair are often overlooked, but critical to shaping our foreign policy. I will continue to work to strengthen diplomacy and the rule of law.
Do you think citizens should have more control over the information collected about them by corporations through the use of companies’ products and services? If so, how would you make that happen?: The federal government has failed to keep pace with rapidly changing technologies that shape almost every aspect of our daily lives. I believe Congress should pass comprehensive legislation to ensure the privacy and security of individuals using these technologies, and ensure companies provide consumers with clear, simple explanations as to how their data is stored and utilized.
Describe what you think should be our country’s economic priorities. If elected, how would you advance those priorities? Be specific: Americans deserve a fair shot at achieving the American dream, but too many families are left behind by policies -- like the Republican tax giveaway -- that enrich the wealthiest among us, while burdening the middle class. Americans can’t get ahead while wages are stagnant, housing costs too much, public education is underfunded, college is out of reach, child care is unaffordable, and health care costs are on the rise. In Congress, I’m working to invest in our future and in our people -- not just the wealthiest few, hoping it will trickle down one day.
What are the biggest challenges in Congress right now and how would you address them: Polarization is deep seeded in our politics today, and it’s manifested into a polarized and divided Congress. Today, there are not many places in the halls of Congress where Members of Congress from different sides of the aisle work closely together on big pieces of legislation -- but there are a few exceptions. In my Chairmanship of the T-HUD Subcommittee, I’ve found common ground with Ranking Republican Member Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida on a wide range of priorities, including significant increased investment in transit and intercity rail, extra funding for states to repair structurally deficient bridges, new housing vouchers for vulnerable populations, and additional funding to create new housing for the elderly and disabled. Outside of the appropriations process, I’ve worked on a bipartisan basis to enact my World Languages Advancement and Readiness Act (WLARA), which authorizes grants to school systems that will bolster our nation’s understanding of critical foreign languages. This has been a longstanding priority for me, and shows that even in a divided Washington we can advance legislation like WLARA that invests in our students and our nation’s long-term economic competitiveness and security.
Biographical Facts
Political/government hero(s): The pioneers of the civil rights movement, which decisively shaped me as a young person.
Favorite book: The Bible
Book most recently read: “Every Day is Extra” by John Kerry
Favorite film: “The Lives of Others,” a well-crafted movie set in East Germany about a fascinating time in history.
Hobbies: Jogging, yard work, reading, movies
Church/civic involvement: Member, Binkley Baptist Church, Chapel Hill
Personal motto or one-line philosophy: Not answered
Strongest childhood ambition: Start out as a baseball player, then a preacher.
Most significant life goal you’ve accomplished: Raising our family.
Goal you haven’t accomplished yet: Restoring America’s leadership at home and in the world.