Debbie Dingell

Dingell was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1953. Dingell earned a bachelor's degree in foreign service from Georgetown University in 1975 and a master's degree in liberal studies in 1996.[1][2] Dingell worked for General Motors Corporation (GM) for over 30 years, serving as president of the GM Foundation and as a senior executive handing public affairs. She also served as chairwoman of the Manufacturing Initiative at the American Automotive Policy Council. She also served on the Wayne State University Board of Governors from 2007 to 2014.[3][1]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My activism started at a young age and took root in my passion for working on issues important to women and children. Early in my career, I advocated for greater awareness of women's health issues. During my career in Congress, I am a leader on protecting the Great Lakes, fighting for quality healthcare for every American, lowering prescription drug costs, reducing gun violence, and stopping climate change.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Debbie Dingell will never stop fighting to guarantee quality healthcare for all Americans and lowering the cost of prescription drugs.Debbie Dingell is working to close unfair loopholes that reward companies for shipping jobs overseas, create manufacturing jobs and ensure the recovery helps everyone. Debbie Dingell is helping clean our Great Lakes and is leading the fight against PFAS chemical contamination.   Featured local question

How would you foster a more bipartisan, cooperative atmosphere in Congress?

Compromise is not a dirty word and more needs to be done to foster a spirit of bipartisan cooperation in Congress. This starts by putting more of an emphasis on civility. Some of my best friends in Congress are Republicans, including my colleague from Michigan Rep. Fred Upton. While I may have disagreements at times on policy matters with my colleagues from the other side of the aisle, I always make it about the issues and do not engage in personal attacks. We can disagree with each other in a civil and respectful manner. That is what the American people expect from their legislators.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

My advocacy for women and children is what brought me into public policy. If every child born in this country is given the same chance to succeed, then we will go a long way towards eliminating the inequalities in our society. Early in my career, I founded the National Women's Health Research Center when I discovered that women weren't included in federally funded research and advocated for greater awareness of women's health issues, including breast cancer and women's heart health. I also chaired the Michigan Infant Mortality Task Force and served as co-chair of the Children's Leadership Council, working to reduce infant mortality rates and improve investment in public education.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I believe that every American should be able to go to the doctor when they need to and afford their medicine. And in the last few years, through hands-on learning recognizes how broken long-term care is in America. These are my passions and I will not stop until we address them. During my time in Congress, I also want to be known for good stewardship of our natural resources, protecting our water, air, and ground as well as many endangered species. And seek to be known as fair and honest and one who builds coalitions to get the job done - whether it is protecting our environment from PFAS chemical contamination, supporting innovation and jobs in the auto industry, or tackling climate change.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I will never forget when as a young girl the nuns took me to hear Dr. Martin Luther King speak in Grosse Pointe in 1968. His words of hope and reconciliations were so powerful and have stuck with me to this day. Hearing Dr. King's word is something that I go back to often in my life and is a source of inspiration and strength. While it is not my first political memory, it is the most significant historical memory of my youth.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

I know it's corny but John's and my song is "You are the Sunshine of my Life." I miss him every day.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The House of Representatives is the institution of our federal government that is the closest to the people it represents, which makes it stand out in our form of government. With each district representing approximately the same number of people and with elections every two years, the structure of the House forces you to intimately know the people you represent. With 435 members, getting anything done in the House is a team effort and requires working together. It is not always easy, but the structure of the institution does require you to roll up your sleeves and do the hard work that is needed to find common ground and advance a bill through the legislative process.

If you are a current representative, why did you join your current committees?

I am a proud member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, as well as the House Committee on Natural Resources. The Energy and Commerce Committee has the broadest jurisdiction of any committee in the Congress - ranging from healthcare, public health programs, communications and technology, environmental protection, energy development and consumer protections, among others. Serving on the committee has allowed me to advance critical priorities for Michigan, including protecting the Great Lakes, supporting innovation in the auto industry, advancing consumer protections by cracking down on robocalls, and lowering the costs of prescription drugs. I'm also pleased to serve on the Natural Resources Committee where I have focused on advancing the Recovering America's Wildlife Act to give states more resources to work on species protection and conservation.

The following issues were listed on Dingell's campaign website. For a full list of campaign themes, click here.

Jobs and the Economy: The financial crisis that began in 2008 was the worst economic downturn our country has experienced since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Michigan families who were hit particularly hard are still reeling from its effects. Although our economy has started to improve, we must continue to fight hard to create jobs and stabilize the economy in our region.

Education – Pre-K to College: Every American deserves the opportunity to have a quality and affordable education. Our commitment to education must begin at birth and continue throughout life with access to higher education and job re-training. Recent years have witnessed devastating cuts by the Congress in our investment in education. We must have a real commitment to education; our nation’s young people are 25 percent of our population but they are 100 percent of our future.

Health Care: I believe that if you live in America you have a right to affordable, quality healthcare. Since 2003 employer sponsored healthcare premiums have risen 80 percent, three times faster than wages or inflation. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) these cost increases have slowed dramatically.

Environment and Energy: Our nation’s increasing need for energy must be addressed in ways that balance our economy with the stewardship of our environment. Striking this balance is one of the most vital issues facing the United States.

Equality: Everyone deserves the same rights and protections under the law regardless of who they are or who they love. Discrimination in housing, employment, and other facets of American life is immoral, hurts of nation’s fragile economy, and must be stopped. I support policies to end discrimination and expand opportunity for all Americans regardless of race, gender, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity & expression, and disability.

[11]

—Debbie Dingell's campaign website, http://debbiedingellforcongress.com/issues/

Dingell's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[12]

Jobs and the Economy

Excerpt: "The financial crisis that began in 2008 was the worst economic downturn our country has experienced since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Michigan families who were hit particularly hard are still reeling from its effects. Although our economy has started to improve, we must continue to fight hard to create jobs and stabilize the economy in our region."

Education

Excerpt: "Every American deserves the opportunity to have a quality and affordable education. Our commitment to education must begin at birth and continue throughout life with access to higher education and job re-training. Recent years have witnessed devastating cuts by the Congress in our investment in education. We must have a real commitment to education; our nation’s young people are 25 percent of our population but they are 100 percent of our future."

Health Care

Excerpt: "I believe that if you live in America you have a right to affordable, quality healthcare. Since 2003 employer sponsored healthcare premiums have risen 80 percent, three times faster than wages or inflation. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) these cost increases have slowed dramatically."

Environment and Energy

Excerpt: "I will seek out and support appropriate solutions that put our country on a realistic and sustainable path to address this challenge. We need to increase funding for research & development of sustainable energy sources, support tax credits for the development and production of renewable energy like solar, wind, and more efficient and electric vehicles, explore user fees to reduce pollution, and increase funding for mass transit."

Equality

Excerpt: "Everyone deserves the same rights and protections under the law regardless of who they are or who they love. Discrimination in housing, employment, and other facets of American life is immoral, hurts of nation’s fragile economy, and must be stopped. I support policies to end discrimination and expand opportunity for all Americans regardless of race, gender, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity & expression, and disability."

Immigration

Excerpt: "The United States is a land of opportunity. Our history has been written by generations of immigrants who have come to our borders looking for the promise of a better life. They have shaped our culture, our economy, and our national story, helping to make us the greatest of nations. Unfortunately, our nation’s immigration system has many flaws that hinder economic growth and tear families apart. I support comprehensive immigration reform that is both fair and humane while ensuring our nation’s security."