Founded in 2001, the CHC BOLD PAC describes itself on its website as supporting “strong Hispanic candidates and candidates who embrace bold policies,” such as progressive Democrats.
“We know [President Donald] Trump is an existential threat to the health and economic well-being of our communities and all Americans and we cannot afford four more years of his reckless administration,” read a Friday statement from the committee. “CHC BOLD PAC is proud to support Vice President Joe Biden and we look forward to working alongside him to restore faith in our government and leadership in the White House.”
“From expanding access to affordable health care, to protecting Medicare and Social Security benefits for our seniors, and fighting for our nation’s DREAMers and 11 million undocumented people, Joe will fight for us,” CHC BOLD PAC chairman California Representative Tony Cardenas said.
Newsweek reached out to Biden’s campaign for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.
Cardenas gave Biden his personal endorsement in December 2019 saying Biden would “deliver bipartisan leadership, secure our international relationships, and make sure our economy provides for the safety and welfare of all Americans.”
Touting an immigration plan that is practically the antithesis of the policies set forth by Trump, Biden’s proposals include reinstating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which was introduced during the Obama administration. DACA allows people who entered the U.S. as children to be “lawfully present” without being deported.
DACA was ended in 2017 by the Trump administration. In a November 2017 letter from then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions to the Department of Homeland Security, Sessions said the program was unconstitutional.
“DACA was effectuated by the [Obama] administration through executive action, without proper statutory authority and with no established end-date,” Sessions wrote, “after Congress’ repeated rejection of proposed legislation that would have accomplished a similar result.”
Biden’s campaign has referred to the rescinding of DACA as “cruel and counterproductive,” saying that he would reinstate the program if elected president.
Biden has also implied that undocumented immigrants would be eligible for health care.
“You cannot let people who are sick, no matter where they come from, no matter what their status, go uncovered,” Biden said in a July 2019 interview with CNN. “You can’t do that. It’s just going to be taken care of. Period. You have to. It’s the humane thing to do.”
Trump has spoken against providing health care to undocumented immigrants. In his State of the Union address in February, Trump said that providing such benefits would “raid the Medicare benefits of our seniors and that our seniors depend on while acting as a powerful lure for illegal immigration.”
“If forcing American taxpayers to provide unlimited free healthcare to illegal aliens sounds fair to you, then stand with the radical left,” Trump added. “But if you believe that we should defend American patients and American seniors, then stand with me and pass legislation to prohibit free government health care for illegal aliens.”
