FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 21, 2016
WOODBRIDGE, VA – Take Action Virginia, an alliance of community and labor organizations focused on improving the lives of working and immigrant families, announced today its endorsement of LuAnn Bennett for Congress and Hillary Clinton for President, two candidates who vow to work toward a more progressive agenda in Virginia and nationwide.
In Virginia’s District 10, Take Action is supporting LuAnn Bennett in light of her unwavering support of comprehensive immigration reform. Bennett has said that if elected, she would be in favor of a comprehensive, bipartisan approach to immigration legislation. We believe Bennett is the kind of fair candidate Virginia’s District 10 deserves.
A cosmopolitan, racially diverse district deserves a candidate who supports raising the minimum wage and investing in badly needed infrastructure and transportation projects, has supported a woman’s right to choose, and equal pay. As opposed to her opponent Rep. Barbara Comstock who has repeatedly sided with the far right-wing of Republicans in the House, Bennett has stood with working moms and favors access to quality health care.
Comstock has also refused to condemn Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump for this attack on Mexican immigrants, an American born judge of Latino descent, and a Muslim Gold Star family.
“Comstock has refused to condemn Donald Trump for his racist attacks, to us, not surprisingly given that Trump has hosted fundraisers to support her candidacy,” said CASA in Action President Gustavo Torres. “Comstock shares many of the beliefs Donald Trump shares and we think they both would be very dangerous for this country.”
Bennett has repeatedly stated she will work to end the partisan Washington gridlock that has stalled progress in such important issues as infrastructure repair and job creation. Virginia’s 10th congressional district includes all of Clarke County, Frederick County, and Loudoun County, and the cities of Manassas, Manassas Park, and Winchester, with portions of Fairfax and Prince William Counties.
Take Action is also endorsing Hillary Clinton for President. Clinton has promised she will make immigration reform one of her top priorities if she is elected. We are encouraged that she listed immigration reform as her number one task during her first 100 days in office.
“If Congress won’t act, I’ll defend President Obama’s executive actions and I’ll go even further to keep families together. I’ll end family detention centers, and help more people become naturalized.”
Clinton has fought for quality, affordable care for more than 25 years and has vowed to defend the Affordable Care Act. Additionally, she plans to crack down on drug companies that charge outrageous prices, slow the growth of out-of-pocket costs and provide new credit to those facing high health expenses. She is a pro-choice candidate who has promised to protect Planned Parenthood.
“We believe that Hillary Clinton is the right choice for Virginia and the right choice for the United States,” said Mark Federici, President of UFCW Local 400.
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Take Action Virginia is an electoral collaboration of community and labor organizations that share concerns about issues impacting working families in Virginia. Our members are SEIU 32BJ, SEIU Virginia 512, CASA in Action,LiUNA! Mid-Atlantic, NAKASEC Action Fund, UNITE HERE Local 23, UNITE HERE Local 25, and UFCW Local 400.