Ballotpedia, Madeleine Dean

Madeleine was born and raised in Glenside, Pennsylvania.  She and her husband PJ, live in Lower Merion Township, and have 3 grown sons.  She is a parishioner of St. Luke the Evangelist Church in Glenside.

Madeleine previously worked as a professor at La Salle University, practiced law in a Philadelphia firm, and served as executive director of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association.

Madeleine currently serves as the US Representative in Congressional District 4. She was elected in 2018 and is serving her 3rd term. She previously served in state house from 2012 to 2018.

Candidate website

Supports two years of tuition-free community college programs that lead to a degree or industry-recognized credential.

Said, "For students that choose to further their education — they should not be burdened by life-long debt... If you can buy a car at 3% interest, then there is no reason that anyone should have to pay more interest for an education."

Supports lower interest rates on student loans. 

Supports the Private Loan Disability Discharge Act, which would fill a gap in current law by allowing private student loan borrowers who become permanently disabled and will never work again to be relieved of their student loan debt.

- Supports two years of tuition-free community college programs that lead to a degree or industry-recognized credential.
- Supports lower interest rates on student loans. 
- Supports the Private Loan Disability Discharge Act, which would fill a gap in current law by allowing private student loan borrowers who become permanently disabled and will never work again to be relieved of their student loan debt.

Education

Supports grant and tax programs that support minority, disabled, and veteran owned businesses.

Supports addressing limited hiring and promotions of diverse populations and under-banking in minority communities.

Supports addressing limited hiring and promotions of diverse populations.

Supports a $15 minimum wage and organized labor.

Supports the right for unions to organize.

- Supports grant and tax programs that support minority, disabled, and veteran owned businesses.
- Supports addressing limited hiring and promotions of diverse populations.
- Supports a $15 minimum wage.
- Supports the right for unions to organize.

Economy

Supports abortion access and believes reproductive health care is a fundamental right.

Supports increasing funding for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, treatment programs for pregnant and postpartum women, and expanding access to medicated assisted treatment.

Supports increasing funding for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Supports protecting and expanding Social Security and Medicare.

- Supports abortion access and believes reproductive health care is a fundamental right.
- Supports increasing funding for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- Supports protecting and expanding Social Security and Medicare.

Healthcare

Believes in addressing issues that disproportionately impact Black and Brown populations, including ensuring safe access to voting.

- Believes in addressing issues that disproportionately impact Black and Brown populations, including ensuring safe access to voting.

Voting & Elections

Supports the United States Export Finance Agency Act, which seeks to promote the competitiveness of the United States and to reform and reauthorize the U.S. Export Finance Agency.

Supports the United-States Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act, which authorizes various joint research and cooperation programs between the U.S. and Israel and reauthorizes security assistance to Israel.

- Supports the United States Export Finance Agency Act, which seeks to promote the competitiveness of the United States and to reform and reauthorize the U.S. Export Finance Agency.
- Supports the United-States Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act, which authorizes various joint research and cooperation programs between the U.S. and Israel and reauthorizes security assistance to Israel.

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Believes in prioritizing conservation over exploitation of natural resources and supports robustly funding organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to oversee regulatory practices.

Supports funding organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to oversee regulatory practices.

Believes the U.S. should be a global leader in environmental preservation.

Supports EPA funding to detect and eliminate PFAS from state water supply.

Supports H.R. 9, which would require the President to re-enter the United States into the Paris Climate Accords and formulate a strategy to implement and achieve the climate targets.

- Supports funding organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to oversee regulatory practices.
- Believes the U.S. should be a global leader in environmental preservation.
- Supports EPA funding to detect and eliminate PFAS from state water supply.
- Supports H.R. 9, which would require the President to re-enter the United States into the Paris Climate Accords and formulate a strategy to implement and achieve the climate targets.

Energy & the Environment

Supports gun control and co-founded the gun safety group PA SAFE Caucus, advocating for universal background checks, extreme risk protection orders, and a ban on “bump stocks.”

Supports legislation for universal background checks, extreme risk protection orders, and a ban on “bump stocks.”

Supports criminal justice reform such as ending cash bail, limiting imprisonment for non-violent crimes, and rolling back mandatory minimum sentencing.

Supports criminal justice reform, including ending cash bail, limiting imprisonment for non-violent crimes, and rolling back mandatory minimum sentencing.

Supports the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 and the Eric Garner Excessive Use of Force Prevention Act to address police brutality and ensure accountability.

Supports the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, which mandates reporting of police use of force, prohibits racial and religious profiling, bans chokeholds, and mandates use of police body cameras.

Supports the Eric Garner Excessive Use of Force Prevention Act, which makes the use of the police chokehold a civil rights violence and prohibits police tactic that could result in loss of of breath.

- Supports legislation for universal background checks, extreme risk protection orders, and a ban on “bump stocks.”
- Supports criminal justice reform, including ending cash bail, limiting imprisonment for non-violent crimes, and rolling back mandatory minimum sentencing.
- Supports the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, which mandates reporting of police use of force, prohibits racial and religious profiling, bans chokeholds, and mandates use of police body cameras.
- Supports the Eric Garner Excessive Use of Force Prevention Act, which makes the use of the police chokehold a civil rights violence and prohibits police tactic that could result in loss of of breath.

Public Safety

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Madeleine Dean Cunnane

Madeleine was born and raised in Glenside, Pennsylvania.  She and her husband PJ Cunnane live in Lower Merion Township, and have three grown sons – Patrick, Harry and Alex.  She is a parishioner of St. Luke the Evangelist Church in Glenside.

Madeleine previously worked as a professor at La Salle University. She also practiced law in a small Philadelphia firm and served as executive director of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association.

Madeleine currently serves as the US Representative in Congressional District 4 in Pennsylvania.  She was first elected in 2018.

Supports discharging private student loans.

Supports canceling $50,000 in student loan debt for every borrower.

Supports universal pre-kindergarten and strong K-12, special education, college, and technical training programs.

Supports funding for universal pre-kindergarten and strong K-12, special education, college, and technical training programs.

Supports increased funding for public schools, universal pre-K, and student loan forgiveness.

Supports increased funding for public schools and universal pre-K.

Supports the reauthorization and reform of the U.S. Export Finance Agency to promote U.S. competitiveness.

Believes uncertainty hinders business progress and growth.

Believes strong economies and healthy communities are built on solid infrastructure.

Supports "thoughtful trade regulations and tariffs" to grow the U.S. economy, support American workers, and enhance global market influence.

Believes there is an urgent need to address superfund sites due to their connection to contaminants that cause ill health effects.

Supports research on the potential link between ‘forever chemicals’ and disease at former military sites.

Supports legislation to increase access to buprenorphine generics for Medically-Assisted Treatment (MAT).

Supports voting rights legislation and has cosponsored House of Representatives bills to protect and expand voting access.

Supports the Bipartisan Task Force to Investigate the Voting Rights Act.

Supports Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign and speculates on her potential running mate.

Supports Harris' congressional run, believing her presence energizes Pennsylvania voters.

Supports President Biden's decision to withdraw from the 2024 Presidential race.

Believes the current administration’s "inconsistent and unstructured trade policies" will trigger an international trade war damaging the economy and American producers.

Supports gun control measures such as banning "weapons of war," increasing background checks, and repealing federal laws that prevent funding for gun violence research.

Opposes family separation and inhumane living conditions for those seeking legal asylum.

Supports "efforts that ensure strong U.S.-Israel relations."

Supports tariff negotiations that aim to build relationships with "trusted trading partners" and hold countries like China accountable for "exploiting or abusing international trade relations."

Supports funding to address "forever chemicals" in drinking water.

Supports increased funding to protect citizens' right to clean water and address the dangers of 'forever chemicals' in Pennsylvania.

Supports EPA involvement in environmental clean-up efforts.

Supports clean-up efforts for contaminated sites.

Supports the Toxic PFAS Control Act, which bans the manufacturing and processing of PFAS chemicals and requires the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate their disposal.

Supports  H.R. 9, which would require the President to re-enter the United States into the Paris Climate Accords and formulate a strategy to implement and achieve the climate targets.

- Supports funding organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to oversee regulatory practices.
- Believes the U.S. should be a global leader in environmental preservation.
- Supports EPA funding to detect and eliminate PFAS from state water supply.
- Supports  H.R. 9, which would require the President to re-enter the United States into the Paris Climate Accords and formulate a strategy to implement and achieve the climate targets.

Supports gun control and protecting children from gun violence.

Supports gun control measures to address gun violence.

Believes in ensuring racial equality by eliminating bias from criminal justice systems and reforming oppressive systems.

Supports gun control and "8, which requires a background check for every firearm sale, and H.R 112, which enhances background check requirements for firearm transfers between different parties."

As of October 3, 2024, Madeleine Dean Cunnane’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Madeleine Dean Cunnane is a U.S. Congresswoman representing Pennsylvania's 4th Congressional District. She previously served as a Pennsylvania State Legislator and worked as a professor at La Salle University. Madeleine also practiced law in a small Philadelphia firm and served as executive director of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association.

- Your US Representative represents the interests of your district in the US House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. Pennsylvania currently has 19 US Representatives.
- US Representatives can author, sponsor, debate, and vote on bills that become national law.
- Representatives may serve on congressional committees. Committees focus on certain policy areas, such as transportation, education, or labor. They may also run for higher positions within their party, such as the Speaker of the House or Majority/Minority Leader.
- Representatives are elected to two-year terms. To hold this office, a candidate must be a legal resident of Pennsylvania for at least seven years before their election. 
- US Representatives are paid a salary of $174,000/year.