Melanie A. Stansbury

U.S. Representative · NM-01

Democrat

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Where Melanie stands

Positions inferred from the public record. Each one shows our confidence level — and when the evidence isn't there, we say so.

What should the federal government's overall approach to taxes and spending be?
Some evidence
Raise taxes on corporations and high earners to fund major new programs
Lower taxes, smaller governmentHigher taxes, expanded programs
Cosponsored Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share Act, Ultra-Millionaire Tax Act, and Social Security Expansion Act, funding expanded programs through corporate and wealth taxation.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 21 votes · 42 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted No · Jun 2026 — Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8312) to establish fraud prevention and program integrity functions and data sharing authorities within the Department of Treasury and a permanent governmentwide Inspector General for Fraud, Accountability, and Recovery, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8464) to amend title 31, United States Code, to authorize pausing and segmenting payments, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 1335) condemning actors seeking to defraud the United States Government, and expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that governmentwide fraud and improper payment prevention reforms will meaningfully improve the financial prosperity of the United States, and that Federal program eligibility should be verified before payment; and providing for consideration of the bill (S. 2) to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 33.
Voted Yes · Jun 2026 — Ukraine Support Act
Voted Yes · Jun 2026 — Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act, 2027
Voted No · Jun 2026 — Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8646) making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7726) to amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to withhold funds from noncompliant States under such Act; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7892) to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require to the Secretary of Education to use an identity fraud detection system to review each FAFSA to determine whether the FAFSA presents a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8872) to amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to target funds to low-income families, strengthen program integrity guardrails for State expenditure of funds, require measurement of improper payments, and establish goals for eliminating fraud and improper payments under the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families, and for other purposes.
Voted Yes · May 2026 — Making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and for other purposes.
+16 more
Cosponsorships
Cosponsored — American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act of 2023
Cosponsored — American Family Act
Cosponsored — For the 99.5 Percent Act
Cosponsored — Further Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2023
Cosponsored — Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share Act
+37 more
How should Social Security and Medicare be changed, if at all?
Clear record
Expand benefits and broaden eligibility
Reduce or restructure benefitsExpand benefits
Sponsored Hands Off Our Social Security Act; cosponsored Social Security Expansion Act and Medicare for All; voted yes on Social Security Fairness Act.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 6 votes · 22 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted Yes · Apr 2026 — Clergy Act
Voted No · Nov 2025 — Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026
Voted No · Jul 2025 — An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.
Voted Yes · Nov 2024 — Social Security Fairness Act of 2023
Voted No · Nov 2024 — Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act of 2023
+1 more
Cosponsorships
Sponsored — Hands Off Our Social Security Act
Cosponsored — Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust
Cosponsored — Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act of 2025
Cosponsored — Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2022
Cosponsored — Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act
+17 more
What should the federal government's role be in setting wages and protecting workers?
Clear record
Significantly raise the minimum wage and strengthen union organizing rights
Less federal labor regulationStronger federal worker protections
Cosponsored the PRO Act and Raise the Wage Act of 2025; voted to pass the Faster Labor Contracts Act and Protect America's Workforce Act.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 14 votes · 50 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted Yes · Jun 2026 — Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5408) to accelerate workplace time-to-contract under the National Labor Relations Act.
Voted Yes · Jun 2026 — Faster Labor Contracts Act
Did not vote · Jan 2026 — Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2988) to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to specify requirements concerning the consideration of pecuniary and non-pecuniary factors, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2262) to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to exclude certain activities from hours worked, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2270) to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to exclude child and dependent care services and payments from the rate used to compute overtime compensation; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2312) to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to revise the definition of the term ''tipped employee'', and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4366) to clarify the treatment of 2 or more employers as joint employers under the National Labor Relations Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.
Voted No · Jan 2026 — Flexibility for Workers Education Act
Voted Yes · Jan 2026 — Tipped Employee Protection Act
+9 more
Cosponsorships
Cosponsored — Healthy Families Act
Cosponsored — Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act of 2022
Cosponsored — Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act
Cosponsored — Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2025
Cosponsored — Warehouse Worker Protection Act
+45 more
How should the federal government structure healthcare coverage and costs?
Some evidence
Transition to a single-payer (Medicare for All) system
Market-based, private insuranceSingle-payer government insurance
Cosponsored the Medicare for All Act across the 117th, 118th, and 119th Congresses, plus the State-Based Universal Health Care Act.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 17 votes · 58 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted Yes · Apr 2026 — Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025
Voted No · Dec 2025 — Do No Harm in Medicaid Act
Voted Yes · Dec 2025 — Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act
Voted No · Dec 2025 — Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6703) to ensure access to affordable health insurance; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 498) to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to prohibit Federal Medicaid funding for gender transition procedures for minors; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3492) to amend section 116 of title 18, United States Code, with respect to genital and bodily mutilation and chemical castration of minors; and relating to consideration of the bill (H.R. 4776) to amend the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to clarify ambiguous provisions and facilitate a more efficient, effective, and timely environmental review process.
Voted No · Nov 2025 — Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026
+12 more
Cosponsorships
Sponsored — Public Health Nursing Act
Sponsored — IHS Provider Expansion Act
Cosponsored — Protecting Access to Post-COVID–19 Telehealth Act of 2021
Cosponsored — Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2022
Cosponsored — Momnibus Act
+53 more
How should the federal government address climate change and energy policy?
Clear record
Rapid federal action to transition off fossil fuels
Prioritize energy production and affordabilityRapid transition off fossil fuels
Cosponsored Green New Deal and Arctic Refuge Protection Act; voted against Homeowner Energy Freedom Act and Critical Mineral Dominance Act fossil-fuel rollbacks.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 22 votes · 57 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted No · May 2026 — To amend the Clean Air Act with respect to the ethanol waiver for Reid Vapor Pressure under that Act, and for other purposes.
Voted No · Apr 2026 — Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7567) to provide for the reform and continuation of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2031, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2616) to require public elementary and middle schools that receive funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to obtain parental consent before changing a minor’s gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form or sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms; providing for consideration of the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 33) setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2026 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2027 through 2035; providing for consideration of the bill (S. 1318) to direct the American Battle Monuments Commission to establish a program to identify American-Jewish servicemembers buried in United States military cemeteries overseas under markers that incorrectly represent their religion and heritage, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1346) to amend the Clean Air Act with respect to the ethanol waiver for Reid Vapor Pressure under that Act, and for other purposes; and for other purposes.
Voted No · Apr 2026 — HEATS Act
Voted No · Apr 2026 — Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4690) to amend the Energy Conservation and Production Act to repeal certain Federal building energy efficiency performance standards, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 1182) expressing support for rural communities across the United States as stewards of the environment, major suppliers of United States energy resources, critical providers of food production and manufacturing capacity, and drivers of national economic stability, and recognizing the work of the House of Representatives in the 119th Congress in support of those vital communities; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1897) to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to optimize conservation through resource prioritization, incentivize wildlife conservation on private lands, provide for greater incentives to recover listed species, create greater transparency and accountability in recovering listed species, streamline the permitting process, eliminate barriers to conservation, and restore congressional intent; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5587) to amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to waive the requirement for a Federal drilling permit for certain activities, to exempt certain activities from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and for other purposes.
Voted Yes · Apr 2026 — Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act
+17 more
Cosponsorships
Sponsored — Buffalo Tract Protection Act
Sponsored — Colorado River Basin Conservation Act
Sponsored — Rio Grande Water Security Act
Sponsored — Partnerships for Energy Security and Innovation Act
Cosponsored — American Energy Independence and Affordability Act
+52 more
What should federal abortion policy be?
Clear record
Federal protection up to viability (~24 weeks) with later-term exceptions
Federal restrictions on abortionFederal protection for abortion access
Cosponsored the Women's Health Protection Act of 2025 and voted to pass the Women's Health Protection Act, barring pre-viability abortion restrictions.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 12 votes · 35 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted No · Jan 2026 — Pregnant Students’ Rights Act
Voted Yes · Jan 2026 — Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act
Voted No · Jan 2026 — Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6945) to amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to clarify the authority of States to use funds for pregnancy centers, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6359) to require institutions of higher education to disseminate information on the rights of, and accommodations and resources for, pregnant students, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 140) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to Public Land Order No. 7917 for Withdrawal of Federal Lands; Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, MN.
Voted No · Jul 2025 — An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.
Voted Yes · Jan 2025 — Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
+7 more
Cosponsorships
Cosponsored — Access to Birth Control Act
Cosponsored — SAFE Training for OB-GYNs Act
Cosponsored — Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act of 2023
Cosponsored — Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act
Cosponsored — Expressing opposition to the criminalization of essential health care, including the full range of sexual and reproductive health care such as abortion, gender-affirming care, and contraceptive care, and disapproving of the criminalization of pregnancy outcomes.
+30 more
What should federal firearms policy be?
Clear record
Restrict semi-automatic rifles and high-capacity magazines; broader background checks
Expand firearm rightsExpand firearm restrictions
Voted yes on the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 and cosponsored the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 and Bipartisan Background Checks Act.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 20 votes · 33 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted Yes · May 2026 — Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act
Voted No · May 2026 — Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1041) to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from transmitting certain information to the Department of Justice for use by the national instant criminal background check system; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6047) to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the dollar amounts for the payment of certain disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation under the laws administered by the Secretary; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1329) to permit the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum to be located within the Reserve of the National Mall, and for other purposes; and waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules.
Voted Yes · Mar 2026 — Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act
Voted No · Feb 2026 — To modernize Federal firearms laws to account for advancements in technology and less-than-lethal weapons, and for other purposes.
Voted No · Feb 2026 — Providing for consideration of the bill (S. 1383) to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2189) to modernize Federal firearms laws to account for advancements in technology and less-than-lethal weapons, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 261) to amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to prohibit requiring an authorization for the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary if such activities have previously been authorized by a Federal or State agency; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3617) to amend the Department of Energy Organization Act to secure the supply of critical energy resources, including critical minerals and other materials, and for other purposes; and waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules.
+15 more
Cosponsorships
Cosponsored — Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2023
Cosponsored — Kimberly Vaughan Firearm Safe Storage Act
Cosponsored — Identify Gun Stores Act
Cosponsored — Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act of 2025
Cosponsored — Federal Firearm Licensee Act
+28 more
What should US immigration policy be?
Some evidence
Expand legal immigration; humane asylum and refugee policies
Reduced immigration, stricter enforcementExpanded immigration, humane policy
Cosponsored the U.S. Citizenship Act and American Dream and Promise Act; voted to grant Haiti temporary protected status.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 24 votes · 44 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted No · Jun 2026 — Secure America Act
Voted No · Apr 2026 — A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2026 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2027 through 2035.
Voted Yes · Apr 2026 — Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1689) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate Haiti for temporary protected status.
Voted Yes · Apr 2026 — To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate Haiti for temporary protected status.
Voted No · Mar 2026 — Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act
+19 more
Cosponsorships
Cosponsored — Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2022
Cosponsored — LIFT the BAR Act
Cosponsored — U.S. Citizenship Act
Cosponsored — Access to Counsel Act
Cosponsored — Born in the USA Act of 2025
+39 more
How should the federal government approach criminal justice and policing?
Some evidence
End mandatory minimums, set federal policing standards, decriminalize drugs
Stronger enforcement, expanded authorityDecarceration and federal reform
Cosponsored the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, the MORE Act decriminalizing marijuana, and the End Solitary Confinement Act.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 26 votes · 27 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted No · May 2026 — Cashless Bail Reporting Act
Voted No · May 2026 — Monitor Accountability Act
Voted No · May 2026 — Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act of 2025
Voted No · May 2026 — Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5625) to direct the Attorney General to make publicly available a list of each State and unit of local government that permits cashless bail, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6260) to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit fraud in connection with posting bail; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8365) to provide for conditions on the appointment of monitors by courts, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 96) expressing support for law enforcement officers; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8469) making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and for other purposes.
Voted Yes · May 2026 — Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025
+21 more
Cosponsorships
Cosponsored — STOP CSAM Act of 2025
Cosponsored — Emmett Till Antilynching Act
Cosponsored — Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to prohibit the use of slavery and involuntary servitude as a punishment for a crime.
Cosponsored — MORE Act
Cosponsored — End Solitary Confinement Act
+22 more
What should drive US foreign policy?
Some evidence
Cooperative internationalism through institutions; minimize military action
Voted for and cosponsored numerous War Powers resolutions withdrawing forces from Iran, Venezuela, and Lebanon; cosponsored the Department of Peacebuilding Act.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 28 votes · 49 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted Yes · Jun 2026 — Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2913) to authorize support for Ukraine, and for other purposes.
Voted Yes · Jun 2026 — Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove United States Armed Forces from Lebanon.
Voted Yes · Jun 2026 — Ukraine Support Act
Voted Yes · Jun 2026 — Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.
Voted Yes · May 2026 — Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove the United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
+23 more
Cosponsorships
Sponsored — Expressing the need for the Senate to provide advice and consent to ratification of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.
Cosponsored — To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.
Cosponsored — To provide for a limitation on the transfer of defense articles and defense services to Israel.
Cosponsored — To prohibit the issuance of licenses for the exportation of certain defense articles to the United Arab Emirates, and for other purposes.
Cosponsored — West Bank Violence Prevention Act of 2025
+44 more
How should the federal government approach democratic institutions and elections?
Some evidence
Major structural reforms: end the filibuster, expand SCOTUS, DC/PR statehood
Cosponsored the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, the Judiciary Act expanding the Supreme Court to thirteen, and the Puerto Rico Status Act.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 21 votes · 50 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted No · Feb 2026 — Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act of 2025
Voted No · Sep 2025 — District of Columbia Judicial Nominations Reform Act of 2025
Voted No · Jun 2025 — To prohibit individuals who are not citizens of the United States from voting in elections in the District of Columbia and to repeal the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022.
Voted No · Jun 2025 — Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 884) to prohibit individuals who are not citizens of the United States from voting in elections in the District of Columbia and to repeal the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2056) to require the District of Columbia to comply with federal immigration laws; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2096) to restore the right to negotiate matters pertaining to the discipline of law enforcement officers of the District of Columbia through collective bargaining, to restore the statute of limitations for bringing disciplinary cases against members or civilian employees of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill (S. 331) to amend the Controlled Substances Act with respect to the scheduling of fentanyl-related substances, and for other purposes.
Voted Yes · Apr 2025 — SAVE Act
+16 more
Cosponsorships
Sponsored — Judicial Ethics Enforcement Act of 2025
Sponsored — Judicial Ethics Enforcement Act of 2024
Cosponsored — Abolish Super PACs Act
Cosponsored — Washington, D.C. Admission Act
Cosponsored — John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025
+45 more

Where Melanie stands

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