from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions.

A major portion of those left uncovered reside in states whose governors and legislatures have refused to extend Medicaid coverage to those without insurance, even though the federal government picks up almost all of the additional costs. I am encouraged that some of those states are willing to use those federal funds instead to subsidize private health insurance for the uninsured.

Some people I’ve met during this campaign are experiencing sharply higher prices for their insurance premiums under the ACA. One way to address this issue is to encourage more young people, who are generally healthier than the wider population, to join the health insurance exchanges so that the costs of health insurance are spread across a larger pool of people. Thus, we must look at ways to entice these younger folks to join the exchanges.

Q. Will you uphold the international climate change treaty? If not, what alternative steps would you advocate? If so, what steps will you take to meet U.S. obligations under the accord?

DiCianni: Yes, I would uphold the international climate change treaty, which is intended to reduce global warming around the world. As the chairman of environment for DuPage County, I championed issues to reduce the carbon footprint of the County.

Simple things like better timing of streetlights which creates less idling cars in traffic, the push for flex fuel, hybrid and EV vehicles were all things that I championed as a policymaker.

Food composting is another very viable option that we have spearheaded to show both consumers and businesses how they can throw out less and compost more. This will remove food from our landfills, which eventually release methane, which is a green house gas that contributes to global warming. By partnering with schools, churches and businesses, we can be better stewards of the environment while saving money on refuse costs.

The use of renewable energy including wind and solar sources must be a part of our future to reduce our carbon footprint. I personally have driven a hybrid vehicle since my daughter’s diagnosis of autism, as there is a huge environmental link with today’s diseases including autism, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, cancer and many others.

Pushing for viable replacements for petroleum and solvents like alcohol, which were often used in manufacturing such as printing, are now being replaced with environmentally friendly products like soy and alcohol substitutes, which have a less VOC factor and thus reduce our burden on the environment.

Krishnamoorthi: As president of a small business that researches solar energy technology, I know that a cleaner environment and a stronger economy are not competing goals.

Instead, nations that lead the way in developing clean energy technology will gain a competitive advantage in creating the good jobs of the future. This is why I helped to establish a nonprofit program called InSPIRE, which works to educate and train inner-city students and returning veterans in solar technology.

Congress can aid in this effort by supporting green-tech education and training programs, many of which can be channeled through our existing network of community colleges, to produce workers with the skills and knowledge to hold these good-paying jobs.

The recent international climate change treaty (“Paris Agreement”) among 195 nations provides a framework for global action on the climate, and the U.S. is well positioned to lead the way. Unfortunately, the current Congress is attempting to block this progress, with many members claiming that the human contribution to climate change is unproven.

This is absurd, as the vast majority of scientists and experts agree that global climate change is man-made. It is also shortsighted, as it will hinder our nation’s ability to compete for the green-tech jobs of today and tomorrow. Now is the time to act to combat this global threat in a way that saves our environment while preserving and creating jobs.

Q: What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?

DiCianni: Reviving the American Dream

• Eliminate excessive government regulation crippling American business.

• Increase access to capital by reviving community banking.

• Increase opportunities for companies to invest & reinvest in their businesses.

Make America Safer, Stronger, more Secure

• Support our military and law enforcement by providing the tools necessary to best protect Americans including manpower and the latest in technology.

• Partner with allies to end ISIS and suppress local cells by giving our Federal Agencies the tools to surveil properly and communicate between agencies to keep Americans safe. Build a Better Nation

• Bring home vital infrastructure dollars to our communities specific to road, transportation, and stormwater.

• Fight for education dollars such as Perkins to help fund our local schools, and provide needed equipment, and hire and maintain good, experienced teachers.

People not Politics

• Protect Social Security and Medicare while enhancing benefits for our veterans.

• Reduce the financial burden of college education by making college tax deductible while offering better access to free or reduced community colleges.

• Advocate for women’s issues including equal pay, access to free or reduced public health, and free community college with child care for single mothers who dedicate themselves to pursue viable career paths.

• Amend or replace Obamacare with a better, lower cost, bipartisan solution to address health care that includes guaranteed issue, mental health and coverage for autism and all developmental disabilities, all while being mindful of the poor and underserved.

Krishnamoorthi: I believe that campaigns for office ought to be about ideas. In this campaign, I have proposed a Working Families Agenda that includes policies such as raising the federal minimum wage, providing paid sick and maternity leave, and mandating equal pay for equal work for the millions of women in our national workforce.

I have proposed a College Affordability Plan that will help more middle-class families pay for college while reducing the huge college loan burden affecting so many young graduates attempting to start their careers. I also have proposed a Federal Infrastructure Bank to help fund needed national improvements, including critical transportation projects affecting Chicago’s Northwest suburbs. In each case, I have provided specific ways to finance these initiatives or offset their costs without increasing the federal debt.

Meanwhile, the epidemic of gun violence is a threat to public health as well as a disgrace to our nation. No community is immune, as recent mass shootings have shown. We need members of Congress who are willing to put the safety of our families and communities first.

My agenda for common-sense gun laws includes: expanding background checks to all gun sales and building a better information system on those who should be blocked from weapons purchases such as convicted criminals, suspected terrorists, those subject to orders of protection, and those with severe mental health issues; reinstating the ban on semi-automatic weapons with no civilian or hunting purposes; and ending the congressional ban on research into gun safety and gun violence.