Matt Cartwright – PA8

Matt Cartwright PA-08 1

Summary

Current Position: US Representative of PA District 8 since 2019
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2022 US Representative for Dsitrict 8

Other Positions:  
Co-Chair, Democratic Policy and Communications Committee

OnAir Post: Matt Cartwright – PA8

News

i
News from Congressman Matt Cartwright

Press Releases

In the News

Photo Gallery

Videos

eNewsletters

Social Media

Editorials/Op-eds

Speeches & Floor Statements

Rep. Cartwright on Fox News Sunday: Investing in America
Fox News – July 16, 2021 (04:49)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UydVAYQslk

Rep. Cartwright joins Mike Emanuel on Fox News Sunday, July 18, 2021

PMSD received over $29M in Covid-19 relief funds: Where did the money go?
Pocono Record, Maria Francis

Congressman Matt Cartwright visited Pocono Mountain West High School Wednesday to participate in a roundtable discussion with school leaders and legislators on federal funding for schools, including the use of COVID-19 relief funds and the American Rescue Plan.

“A year and a half into this pandemic has weathered a lot of hardship and frustration,” said Cartwright, a democrat who represents Pa.’s 8th congressional district. “I’m glad to have made enough progress to gather like this today, much in thanks to the passage of the American Rescue Plan which has been about getting money into people’s pockets, shots in people’s arms, kids back in school and people back to work.”

Present at the roundtable were PMSD board members, principals, administrators and some local politicians, including: Mount Pocono Borough Mayor Michael Penn, State Representative Rosemary Brown (R-189), State Rep. Maureen Madden (D-115) and State Sen. Mario Scavello (R-40).

Cartwright expressed his biggest concern was getting children back to school and in the classrooms, “especially the little kids that are home with their parents watching them, because that is what is keeping (the parents) out of the workforce.”

Twitter

About

Matt Cartwright PA-08

Source: Government page

U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright represents Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District and was first sworn into Congress on January 3, 2013.

Matt serves on the powerful House Appropriations Committee and is the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee for Commerce, Justice and Science, where he oversees more than $70 billion in annual federal spending on matters of economic development, law enforcement, and science and innovation. He is also the Vice Chair of the Financial Services & General Government Appropriations Subcommittee. Matt serves as a voice for Northeastern Pennsylvania in House leadership as one of the co-chairs of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC). He is committed to ensuring rural areas like ours are represented at the highest levels of the federal government.

Matt graduated magna cum laude with a history degree from Hamilton College in 1983. He earned his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1986, where he was a member of law review.

Voting Record

Votes on Bills

Caucuses 

  • Academic Medicine Caucus
  • Ad-Hoc Committee for Irish Affairs
  • Admadiyya Muslim Caucus
  • Adult Literacy Caucus
  • Aluminum Caucus
  • Appalachian National Scenic Trail Caucus
  • Animal Protection Caucus
  • Autism Caucus
  • Battlefield Caucus
  • Baseball Caucus
  • Bike Caucus
  • Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus
  • Bipartisan Congressional Watchdog Caucus
  • Bipartisan Disaster Relief Caucus
  • Bipartisan Peace Corps Caucus
  • Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism
  • Blue-Collar Caucus
  • Brain Injury Task Force
  • Cement Caucus
  • Chesapeake Bay Watershed Caucus
  • Childhood Cancer Caucus
  • Clean Water Caucus
  • Coal Caucus
  • Cybersecurity Caucus
  • Cystic Fibrosis Caucus
  • Defense Communities Caucus
  • Democratic Caucus
  • Diabetes Caucus
  • Energy Savings Performance Caucus
  • Financial and Economic Literacy Caucus
  • Fire Services Caucus
  • Foster Youth Caucus
  • Friends of Ireland Caucus
  • Friends of Thailand Caucus
  • Full Employment Caucus
  • Free File Caucus
  • General Aviation Caucus
  • German-American Caucus
  • Hazards Caucus
  • Hearing Health Caucus
  • Historic Preservation Caucus
  • History Caucus
  • House Manufacturing Caucus
  • House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus
  • International Conservation Caucus
  • Iran Human Rights and Democracy Caucus
  • Kidney Caucus
  • LGBT Equality Caucus
  • Maker Caucus
  • Men’s Health Caucus
  • Military Depot Caucus
  • Military Families Caucus
  • Military Mental Health Caucus
  • Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus
  • Military Veterans
  • Motorsports Caucus
  • National Parks Caucus
  • NASA Caucus
  • Nursing Caucus
  • Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Caucus
  • P3 Caucus
  • Parkinson’s Disease Caucus
  • Philanthropy Caucus
  • Pilots Caucus
  • Planetary Science Caucus
  • Poland Caucus
  • Pollinator Protection Caucus
  • Prescription Drug Abuse Caucus
  • Progressive Caucus
  • Public Broadcasting Caucus
  • Public Service Caucus
  • Public Transportation Caucus
  • Recycling Caucus
  • Safe Climate Caucus
  • Savings and Ownership Caucus
  • School Health & Safety Caucus
  • Seniors Task Force
  • Scouting Caucus
  • Ski and Snowboard Caucus
  • Skin Cancer Caucus
  • Small Brewers Caucus
  • Small Business Caucus
  • Soils Caucus
  • STEAM Caucus
  • Steel Caucus
  • Structured Settlements Caucus
  • Submarine Caucus
  • Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC)
  • Taiwan Caucus
  • Travel and Tourism Caucus
  • Ukrainian Caucus
  • USO Caucus
  • Veterans Job Caucus
  • Veterinary Medicine Caucus
  • Wildlife Refuge Caucus
  • Whip’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity
  • Writers Caucus

Offices

Washington, DC Office

2102 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5546
Fax: (202) 226-0996
Hours: 9:00am – 5:00pm, M-F
 
Scranton District Office

226 Wyoming Ave
Scranton, PA 18503
Phone: (570) 341-1050
Fax: (570) 341-1055
Hours: 9:00am – 5:00pm, M-F

 

Contact

Email:

Web

Government Page, Campaign Site, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Wikipedia

Politics

Source: none

Committees

House Leadership:

  • Co-Chair, Democratic Policy and Communications Committee

Committees:

  • Committee on Appropriations 
    • Chair, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
    • Vice Chair, Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
    • Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment

Legislation

Sponsored and Cosponsored

Finances

CARTWRIGHT, MATTHEW ALTON has run in 5 races for public office, winning 5 of them. The candidate has raised a total of $9,802,769.

Source: Follow the Money

Voting Record

See: Vote Smart

Issues

Source: Campaign page

Jobs and the Economy

Matt’s work in Congress has always been about putting the people of northeastern Pennsylvania first — not big corporate interests. That’s because our economy is stronger when working people have the opportunity to thrive.

Matt believes that everyone deserves a chance at a job with quality benefits, and then a secure retirement. But working families are struggling to keep up with the rising costs of health care, education, and child care. They are working too hard for too little. Matt is working to create good-paying jobs by cleaning up and redeveloping northeastern Pennsylvania’s abandoned mine lands, and he’s pushing for major infrastructure investments in improving our highways, schools, and broadband internet.

The engine that drives the economy of northeastern Pennsylvania and the United States is small business. Matt Cartwright has been working to make sure small businesses get the help they need during this pandemic, and he will continue to make sure they have the resources they need to thrive.

When it comes to Social Security, Matt knows that older Pennsylvanians have earned it after a long career. He stands firm in his support for protecting and expanding Social Security.

Matt also supports raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025 and legislation to secure equal pay for equal work for women and people of color.

Public Safety

Defense and Veterans

Matt Cartwright works to ensure the United States maintains the strongest armed forces in the world and that our servicemembers get the rewards and benefits they deserve when they come home.

Matt Cartwright believes that we need a strong military and intelligence community to protect our nation from the many complex security challenges we face across the globe. He looks forward to a day when all American forces can come home and will work to ensure that every mission in which our troops are deployed is critical  for the national security of the United States. He supports robust funding so our armed forces have the best equipment to keep us safe, and investment in research and development in cutting edge technologies to keep us ahead of emerging threats. Matt also firmly believes we must stand by our commitments to our allies, including NATO and Israel.

Matt also knows that supporting our servicemembers can’t end once their tours of active duty end. The members of our military served us, and Matt is committed to serving them. Whether it’s housing, health care, or mental health issues, he has them covered. He consistently fights to fund veterans’ programs, increase their benefits, and he has passed legislation that protects veterans from financial scams. In 2018, Matt was named Legislator of the Year by Pennsylvania AMVETS for his advocacy in support of veterans.

Health & Education

Health Care

Matt Cartwright is committed to protecting and expanding access to quality, affordable health care for all northeastern Pennsylvanians.

Throughout his time in Congress, Matt has consistently worked to protect and expand Medicare, Medicaid, and protections for people with pre-existing conditions. He’ll also keep fighting to rein in the big drug companies and pass legislation to end their outrageous price-gouging practices, because no one should have to choose between taking their life-saving medications and other expenses.

Health care access has always been essential, but it’s even more so as we fight a global pandemic. While a team of Republican attorneys general and the administration try to strip health coverage from millions of Americans during a global pandemic, Matt Cartwright is working to lower your health care costs and strengthen pre-existing condition protections.

Opioid Crisis
The opioid abuse epidemic has hit northeastern Pennsylvania hard, and Matt Cartwright is fighting to end it.

Too many families have been torn apart by the opioid epidemic. Matt Cartwright knows it’s a nationwide issue that has been made worse by the Coronavirus pandemic and that it needs comprehensive solutions. That’s why he helped enact legislation to expand addiction counseling and resources, and why he fights every year to bring federal funding back for programs like these in northeastern Pennsylvania. Matt is also leading legislation to bring big drug companies, doctors, and federal agencies together around reforms to opioid prescribing practices to limit the volume of addictive painkillers that are on the market.

Coronavirus

From the start of the Coronavirus public health and economic crisis, Matt Cartwright has been focused on two things: helping struggling families, workers, seniors, and small businesses in northeastern Pennsylvania, and bolstering our public health systems.

Matt Cartwright played a pivotal role in passing multiple coronavirus response bills supported by both Democrats and Republicans that provided relief for small businesses and families struggling during this crisis. These bills provided $1,200 relief checks and expanded unemployment benefits, loans and grants to help small businesses stay afloat and keep their employees, bolstered COVID-19 testing, helped with nutrition assistance, and more. He will continue to urge the administration to put these resources to work as quickly and efficiently as possible, while pushing for stronger protections in workplaces and hazard pay for those on the front lines of this crisis.

Matt also recognizes in this global crisis that we can’t be as heavily reliant on China and other countries for things like medication and personal protective equipment (PPE). That’s why he’s working to advance legislation to make affordable drugs and PPE in America.

Going forward, Matt is committed to providing all the resources necessary to continue the fight against the pandemic – for our health care providers and for our families, workers, seniors, and small businesses.

Education
Matt Cartwright knows that education is the key to a bright future for our children and our economy.

Everyone deserves a fair shot at achieving their dreams, and education is the key. Matt Cartwright believes in stronger federal funding for public schools to pay teachers more and prepare students for twenty-first century jobs. That’s why Matt works every year to bring millions in federal money back to northeastern Pennsylvania for early childhood education programs, including Head Start, which is crucial for children in low-income families. He’s also an advocate for much stronger federal support for grants that help make colleges, universities and trade schools more affordable.

Matt is also pushing to modernize our nation’s school infrastructure, because decades of underinvestment in our K-12 schools has resulted in decaying buildings, some of which still have toxic substances like asbestos and lead. He supports robust federal funding to create high-quality, safe learning environments so that our students have the best chance at success.

Matt also recognizes that children learn in unique ways, and learning isn’t one-size-fits-all. He has introduced legislation to improve educational programs for students with vision or hearing disabilities.

 

Energy and Environment

Protecting our clean air and water and creating jobs go hand-in-hand. Matt Cartwright believes that we can accomplish both goals by cleaning up northeastern Pennsylvania’s abandoned mine lands and investing in modern, clean energy technologies for a twenty-first century economy.

Northeastern Pennsylvanians take pride in our national and state parks, game lands, and other natural areas. Matt Cartwright is fighting to protect them, along with our clean air and water, so kids and grandkids can enjoy them too.

Matt carries a 96% lifetime voting average with the League of Conservation Voters. He earned this rating because he supports investing in clean energy technologies to combat climate change, finding newer, better uses for older forms of energy production, and making our infrastructure more resilient against intensifying extreme weather events. He’s the leader of bipartisan legislation to clean up toxic acid mine drainage from our rivers and streams.

Matt supports research and development into carbon capture technologies and other ways to remove greenhouse gases from our atmosphere, and he is leading legislation to ensure natural gas is extracted responsibly in a way that does not contaminate families’ drinking water sources with toxic chemicals.

See Also

Google Search

Matt Cartwright politician

More Web Links

Vote Smart

Ballotpedia

Wikipedia

Matthew Alton Cartwright (born May 1, 1961) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative from Pennsylvania’s 8th congressional district since 2013. The district, numbered as the 17th district from 2013 through 2019, includes a large swath of northeastern Pennsylvania, anchored by Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and the Poconos. A member of the Democratic Party, Cartwright defeated 10-term incumbent Tim Holden, the dean of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation, in the Democratic primary on April 24, 2012, 57%–43%. He then defeated Republican nominee Laureen Cummings in the general election on November 6, 2012, 61%–39%.[1] As an attorney, Cartwright previously worked at the law firm of Munley, Munley, and Cartwright.

Early life and education

Cartwright was born on May 1, 1961, in Erie, Pennsylvania, the son of Alton S. Cartwright and Adelaide (Igoe) Cartwright. He attended Upper Canada College (Toronto), graduating in 1979, before earning a Bachelor of Arts in history, magna cum laude, from Hamilton College in 1983,[2] where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa.[3]

Cartwright studied law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, receiving his Juris Doctor degree in 1986.[4] In 1981, Cartwright attended the London School of Economics,[5] where he met his future wife, Marion Munley. After graduating from law school, Cartwright worked as an associate in the litigation department of the Philadelphia law firm Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, practicing commercial and securities litigation. In 1988, both Munley and Cartwright joined the Munley family’s law firm in the Scranton area.[6]

For 24 years, Cartwright worked as an attorney and partner at Munley, Munley and Cartwright, a Scranton firm representing victims, consumers and small businesses in personal and business litigation.[7] He was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1986 and in 2005 was further admitted to the Bar of New York. In 2008, Cartwright was inducted into the International Society of Barristers.[8]

From 2009 to 2012, Cartwright served as a member of the Board of Governors of the American Association for Justice.[9] Between 2005 and 2011, Cartwright was the on-air legal analyst for The Law & You. In the segment, aired nightly as part of NBC affiliate WBRE-TV‘s evening newscast, he fielded viewer questions on legal matters.[10] In 2011, Cartwright co-authored the legal treatise Litigating Commercial and Business Tort Cases published by Thomson Reuters.[11]

During the 1992 presidential election, Cartwright was an elected delegate for Bill Clinton at the Democratic National Convention, representing Pennsylvania’s 10th congressional district.[12][13] In 2001–2002, he served as District Governor for Rotary International District 7410, covering northeastern Pennsylvania.[14] On November 5, 2010, the Boy Scouts of America‘s Northeastern Pennsylvania Council presented Cartwright with its Silver Beaver Award for volunteer service to that organization.[15]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2012

See also: 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 17

Pennsylvania Republicans, who controlled the redistricting process after the 2010 United States Census, significantly altered Holden’s 17th district. The old 17th had been based in Harrisburg, but the new 17th had been pushed well to the north and east. In the process, it absorbed heavily Democratic Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, previously in the 11th district.[16] The remap significantly altered the 17th’s demographics. The old 17th had been anchored in traditionally Republican territory in central Pennsylvania; in much of the district, Holden was the only elected Democrat above the county level. John McCain carried it with 51 percent of the vote. In contrast, the new 17th was anchored in northeastern Pennsylvania, which had long been the most Democratic region of the state outside of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Had the district existed in 2008, Barack Obama would have carried it with 56 percent of the vote.

An internal poll from Cartwright showed him up seven points against Holden, the incumbent. The new district was significantly bluer than its predecessor and was located in territory where constituents were unfamiliar with Holden. The only portion of the district that had been in the old 17th was Holden’s home in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, with the majority of Democratic primary voters located in counties considered more favorable to Cartwright’s candidacy.[17][18] During the primary, Cartwright described himself as being from “the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party”—a line often employed by Howard Dean and Paul Wellstone.[19] He was supported by MoveOn.org, the League of Conservation Voters, and the Campaign for Primary Accountability.[20][21] Cartwright ran as a self-professed “FDR Democrat”, and as an ally of President Obama on taxes and health care reform, and pledged to work with U.S. Senator Robert P. Casey Jr., also of Scranton, on regulations for safety in fracking. Cartwright also benefited in the race from endorsements from popular local public figures like State Representative Phyllis Mundy and former Scranton mayor Jimmy Connors. Holden’s opposition to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and his support of energy legislation that included the Halliburton loophole are believed to have contributed to his defeat.[22] On April 24, 2012, Cartwright defeated Holden by 57%–43% in the primary.[23]

In the November general election, Cartwright faced Republican nurse Laureen Cummings, a leader of the Scranton Tea Party. On November 6, Cartwright defeated Cummings, 61%–39% to become the district’s next congressman.[24]

On January 4, 2013, Cartwright was selected by his peers to serve as a class president of the 49 new Democratic members of the 113th Congress.[25][26]

2014

See also: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 17

On November 4, 2014, Cartwright won a second term, defeating Republican challenger David Moylan, M.D., the elected Coroner of Schuylkill County, by 13.6 points.[27]

2016

Cartwright (head of table) meeting with AFL-CIO members in 2017
See also: 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 17

On November 8, 2016, Cartwright won a third term, defeating Republican challenger Matthew Connolly, a businessman from Northampton County, by seven points.[28]

2018

See also: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 8

In the 2016 general election, President Donald Trump won the 17th district by over 10% in the concurrent presidential election. Facing an underfunded opponent, Cartwright did not run television advertisements. That year, Cartwright won re-election by only seven points, representing his lowest margin of victory.[29][30] As a result, the National Republican Congressional Committee began to see Cartwright as potentially vulnerable, and listed him as a top target. In response, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee included him on its “frontline” list.[31][32] Despite this, the district was rated as Likely D, meaning it was expected that Cartwright would win re-election.[33]

After the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania threw out Pennsylvania’s previous congressional map, Cartwright’s district was renumbered as the 8th district. It was pushed to the north and now covers the northeast corner of the state, but it also sweeps west to grab Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. In the process, it absorbed the remainder of Lackawanna County previously in the 10th district, as well as almost all of Luzerne County.

In the election, Cartwright faced a self-funding opponent who spent $1.7 million of his family’s money in the race, in total outspending Cartwright by nearly $300,000, including direct expenditures of $625,778 by the NRCC.[34]

Cartwright won his fourth term by 9.3% with 54.65% of the vote without financial assistance from the DCCC.[34]

Following the general election, Cartwright was elected to House Democratic leadership, to serve as co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee for the 116th Congress in the House Democratic Caucus elections.[35]

2020

See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 8

On November 3, 2020, despite Donald Trump again carrying his district, Cartwright won a fifth term, defeating Republican challenger Jim Bognet, the former senior vice president for communications of the Export–Import Bank of the United States,[36] by 3.6 points. In contrast, Trump won the district against Democratic challenger and Scranton native Joe Biden by 4.4 points during the concurrent presidential election. At 8%, Cartwright’s 2020 victory represented the largest over-performance by a Democrat in Pennsylvania compared to the presidential result, and the second largest for a Democratic win in a district Trump carried in the entire House, only behind Jared Golden of Maine.[37][38] As a result, Cartwright became one of only seven incumbent Democratic Representatives in the U.S. House to win their seats despite Trump prevailing over Biden in them.[39] He also was one of only three Democrats in the U.S. House to defend their seats successfully despite Donald Trump winning their districts twice.[38]

Following the general election, Cartwright was re-elected to House Democratic leadership, to serve as co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee for the 117th Congress in the 2020 United States House of Representatives Democratic Caucus leadership elections.[citation needed]

On January 25, 2021, Cartwright was elected Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science and Related Agencies.[40]

2022

See also: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 8

Cartwright ran for reelection in 2022 in a rematch against Bognet. Cartwright won the election by 2.4 points.

In the lead-up to the election, the 8th District’s race was seen as potentially determining whether or not the Democratic Party would maintain control of the U.S. House of Representatives.[41][42][43] Cartwright did win his race, but Democrats ultimately lost their majority in the House.

In 2022, Cartwright appeared in advertisements praising one of his top donor’s law firm in what Axios described as “an apparent misunderstanding over video shot for the Pennsylvania Democrat’s bill about water contamination at Camp Lejeune.” Members of Congress are not allowed to use official resources to promote commercial activity. Cartwright sent a cease and desist letter to the law firm, which took down the ads.[44]

Outside spending on behalf of Jim Bognet in the 2020 race totalled $383,105, when Bognet lost by 3.6%.[45] In the 2022 race, outside spending amassed on behalf of Bognet reached $7,267,960, and he lost by 2.4%.[46]

Following the election, Cartwright was the only member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus from a district which voted for Donald Trump for president.[47]

2024

See also: 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 8

The 8th District race in 2024 is considered to be a toss-up. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has placed Cartwright in their “Frontline Program” due to his vulnerable incumbency status; he will receive extra fundraising support from the campaign committee.[48][49]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Political positions

Cartwright votes with President Joe Biden’s stated position 100% of the time, according to FiveThirtyEight analysis completed in January 2023.[57]

Cartwright at a wreath-laying ceremony with Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL)

Healthcare

Ed O’Keefe of the Washington Post wrote on November 3, 2013, that Cartwright was elected largely based on the Affordable Care Act “because the veteran moderate Democrat he challenged in a primary voted against it.” According to O’Keefe, “Cartwright spent his first year in office preparing constituents for ‘the ACA’.”[58][59]

In May 2017, Cartwright voted against the Republican-sponsored American Health Care Act.[60] Cartwright said in January 2018 that he continued to support the Affordable Care Act.[61] Cartwright also supports Medicare for All.[62]

Veterans

In 2022, Cartwright voted for the Honoring our PACT Act, expanding access to health care for veterans experiencing medical issues caused by chemical exposure.[63]

Immigration

In July 2015, Cartwright voted against a bill that would have withdrawn funding from municipalities that declined to detain illegal immigrants for ICE.[citation needed]

In June 2017, Cartwright was one of three Democrats who joined the 228–195 majority voting to cut off some particular federal grants from cities not agreeing to detentions. He voted for “Kate’s Law“, to increase criminal punishment for illegal immigrant recidivist violent criminals.[64] He co-sponsored legislation to protect the “Dreamers”, people who entered the country illegally as children.[61] When Trump ordered a temporary limit on immigration from certain countries, Cartwright criticized the order.[61]

On May 8, 2024, Cartwright voted against the “Equal Representation Act.” This proposed law would have required that when counting the population of each state to determine the number of U.S. Representatives, noncitizens who are ineligible to vote would be excluded from the count.[65]

Technology

Cartwright supports net neutrality.[61]

Economic issues

Cartwright has criticized the Trump tax cut, saying that it gave taxpayers little relief while adding huge sums to the national debt.[61]

Environment

On February 26, 2014, Cartwright introduced the Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act of 2014 (H.R. 4092; 113th Congress), a bill that would require the United States Department of Energy to establish a centralized clearinghouse to disseminate information on federal programs, incentives, and mechanisms for financing energy-efficient retrofits and upgrades at schools.[66][67] Cartwright argued that “the bill is a strategic and cost-saving investment to relieve the fiscal pressure felt by schools across the country while bringing us closer to energy security.” Cartwright’s bill passed unanimously out of the Energy and Commerce Committee on April 30, 2014.[68] It passed the full House of Representatives on June 23, 2014.[69]

Gun policy

During his first month in office he co-sponsored four bills involving gun control.[70] He opposes gun-makers’ legal immunity after a crime has occurred, and he opposes assault rifle sales.[70]

In 2022, Cartwright voted for H.R. 1808: Assault Weapons Ban of 2022.[71][72]

LGBT stance

Cartwright has said, “there’s no reason to discriminate against gay people”.[73] He does not believe religious leaders should be mandated to perform same-sex wedding ceremonies.[73]

Student loans

In October 2018, Cartwright co-authored a Washington Post article proposing a pilot program to examine the effectiveness of non-transferable financial incentives such as certain student loan forgiveness being given to increase organ donation.[74]

Transportation

Cartwright has pushed for re-establishing a passenger rail line between Northeastern Pennsylvania and New York City, which was last operated in the early 1970s with Erie Lackawanna Railway‘s Phoebe Snow Passenger Service. This restoration would use funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the INVEST in America Act.[75][76]

Marjorie Taylor Greene

Cartwright cosponsored a resolution to expel Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from Congress, suggesting that she “advocated violence against our peers, the Speaker and our government.”[77]

Eminent domain

In 2014, Cartwright voted against H.R. 1944: The Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2014,[78] a law that limits the use of eminent domain by state governments.[79]

COVID-19 policy

On January 31, 2023, Cartwright voted against H.R.497:Freedom for Health Care Workers Act, a bill which would lift COVID-19 vaccine mandates for healthcare workers.[80][81]

On February 1, 2023, Cartwright voted against a resolution to end COVID-19 national emergency.[82][83]

Foreign policy

Syria

In 2013, Cartwright voted in favor of intervention and arming the Syrian Opposition against Bashar al-Assad and ISIS.[84]

In 2023, Cartwright voted against H.Con.Res. 21 which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.[85][86]

Trade

Cartwright voted against H. J. Res 39, which would condemn Biden’s lift on tariffs pertaining to solar panels coming from China.[87][88]

Somalia

In 2023, Cartwright voted against H.Con.Res. 30, which would remove American troops from Somalia.[89][90]

Ukraine

Cartwright has said supporting Ukraine during the Russian invasion is a “vital problem for American national security.”[91] In 2023, Cartwright voted against a ban on cluster munitions to Ukraine.[92][93]

Israel

Cartwright voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[94][95] In 2024, Cartwright was one of 16 democrats in the house of representatives to vote to undo President Biden’s pause on some weapons shipments to Israel amid a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.[96][97]

Electoral history

Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District, 2012
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticMatt Cartwright 161,393 60.31
RepublicanLaureen Cummings106,20839.69
Total votes267,601 100
Democratic hold
Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District, 2014
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticMatt Cartwright (Incumbent) 93,680 56.76
RepublicanDavid Moylan71,37143.24
Total votes165,051 100
Democratic hold
Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District, 2016
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticMatt Cartwright (Incumbent) 157,734 53.80
RepublicanMatt Connolly135,43046.20
Total votes293,164 100
Democratic hold
Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, 2018
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticMatt Cartwright (Incumbent) 134,519 54.65
RepublicanJohn Chrin111,64045.35
Total votes246,159 100
Democratic hold
Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, 2020
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticMatt Cartwright (Incumbent) 178,442 51.77
RepublicanJim Bognet166,22748.23
Total votes344,669 100
Democratic hold
Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, 2022
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticMatt Cartwright (incumbent) 146,956 51.2
RepublicanJim Bognet139,93048.8
Total votes286,886 100
Democratic hold

Personal life

Cartwright married Marion K. Munley on August 10, 1985, in Archbald, Pennsylvania.[98] They live in Moosic, Pennsylvania, with their two sons.[99] Cartwright is Roman Catholic.[100]

References

  1. ^ “Cartwright beats out Cummings for 17th District House seat”. poconorecord.com. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  2. ^ “Matthew Cartwright ’83 Runs for Congress Alumni News & Notes”. Hamilton College. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  3. ^ “Phi Beta Kappa Members of the 118th United States Congress”. The Phi Beta Kappa Society. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  4. ^ “Meet Matt: Cartwright for U.S. Congress”. cartwrightcongress.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ “Matthew Cartwright”. Forbes. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  6. ^ “house.gov”. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  7. ^ Clark, Adam (April 19, 2012). “Cartwright, Holden face off in 17th District primary”. The Morning Call.
  8. ^ “Matthew A. Cartwright”. Munley, Munley & Cartwright. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  9. ^ “Pennsylvania Attorney Matthew A. Cartwright Chosen to Serve on AAJ Board of Governors”. Prweb.com. July 14, 2011. Archived from the original on February 22, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  10. ^ Toeplitz, Shira (April 17, 2012). “Redistricting Makes Blue Dog Holden an Underdog”. Roll Call.
  11. ^ “Litigating Business and Commercial Tort Cases”. Thomson Reuters. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
  12. ^ Moyer, Josh (April 10, 2012). “Cartwright emphasizes health care, trade in platform”. Citizens Voice. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  13. ^ Gibson, Keegan (December 22, 2011). “Serious Primary Challenger Emerges for Holden”. PoliticsPA. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  14. ^ “Rotary District 7410 Northeastern Pennsylvania Past District Governors”. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
  15. ^ “Boy Scouts Present Silver Beaver Awards”. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
  16. ^ Lindsey, Zach (April 25, 2012). “Matt Cartwright in victory over U.S. Rep. Tim Holden: Time to ‘rebuild’“. The Express-Times. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  17. ^ Gibson, Keegan (April 9, 2012). “Cartwright Poll: Cartwright Leads Holden 42-36”. PoliticsPA. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  18. ^ Bland, Scott (April 24, 2012). “Holden Loses Re-Election Bid to Cartwright”. National Journal.
  19. ^ Joseph, Cameron (January 25, 2012). “Holden gets primary challenge in Pa”. The Hill.
  20. ^ Isenstadt, Alex (April 25, 2012). “Jason Altimire, Tim Holden fall in Pennsylvania primaries”. Politico.
  21. ^ Sledge, Matt (April 25, 2012). “Matt Cartwright, Environmentalist Candidate, Wins Pennsylvania Primary With Help Of Oil Magnates”. Huffington Post.
  22. ^ Weisman, Jonathan (April 25, 2012). “2 House Democrats Defeated After Opposing Health Law”. The New York Times. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  23. ^ “Holden, longtime Pa. incumbent, ousted in primary”. CBS News. April 25, 2012.
  24. ^ “STATE-BY-STATE RESULTS”. boston.com. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  25. ^ Kurtz, Connor. “Cartwright Elected Freshman Dem President”. PoliticsPA. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  26. ^ Bell, Peter (November 15, 2012). “The New Faces of the 113th Congress”. National Journal.
  27. ^ “Cartwright Cruises to Second Term”. The Morning Call. November 4, 2014.
  28. ^ “Cartwright Soundly Defeats Republican Challenger”. The Citizens Voice. November 9, 2016.
  29. ^ “Daily Kos Elections’ presidential results by congressional district for the 2016 and 2012 elections”. Daily Kos. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  30. ^ “House Election Results: G.O.P. Keeps Control”. The New York Times. September 13, 2017. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  31. ^ “2017–2018 DCCC Frontline Members”. DCCC. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  32. ^ “NRCC Announces Initial Offensive Targets For The 2018 Cycle – NRCC”. NRCC. February 8, 2017. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  33. ^ “2018 House Race ratings | The Cook Political Report”. The Cook Political Report. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  34. ^ a b “Summary”. OpenSecrets.
  35. ^ “House Democrats’ New Elected Leadership Team Is More Progressive and Diverse”. Roll Call. December 4, 2018. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  36. ^ Jackson, Kent (January 24, 2020). “Hazleton native seeks GOP nomination in 8th District”. The Citizens’ Voice. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  37. ^ “PA congressional districts 2020: Congress vs. Biden”.
  38. ^ a b “2020’s Crossover Districts – Sabato’s Crystal Ball”. February 4, 2021.
  39. ^ Field, Nick (March 10, 2021). “PA-8: An In-Depth Look At A Trump-Democratic House District”. Decision Desk HQ. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  40. ^ “Cartwright elected chairman of House Appropriations Subcommittee”. January 27, 2021.
  41. ^ Pathe, Simone (November 8, 2022). “How to tell if the GOP is heading for a landslide in the House”. CNN. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  42. ^ Terruso, Julia (August 28, 2022). “This Democratic congressman keeps winning his Pa. Trump district. This year may be his toughest fight yet”. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  43. ^ Greenwood, Max (September 6, 2022). “Seven races that could determine control of the House”. The Hill. Nexstar Media Inc. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  44. ^ “Congressman demands donor stop using him in TV ads”. August 25, 2022.
  45. ^ “Pennsylvania District 08 2020 Race”. Open Secrets. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  46. ^ “Pennsylvania District 08 2022 Race”. Open Secrets. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  47. ^ Saksa, Jim (April 18, 2023). “Democrat Cartwright advises GOP to tame the ‘crazies’“. Roll Call. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  48. ^ Ulrich, Steve (March 10, 2023). “Cartwright, Wild, Deluzio on DCCC Frontline List”. PoliticsPA. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  49. ^ Cole, John (February 1, 2024). “Cartwright fundraising edges out Bresnahan in PA8”. Pennsylvania-Capital Star. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  50. ^ “Caucus Members”. Congressional Progressive Caucus. Archived from the original on October 22, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  51. ^ “House Military Depot and Industrial Facilities Caucus”. Legislative Tracking System. Municipal Association of South Carolina. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  52. ^ “SEEC Caucus Members”. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  53. ^ “Our Members”. U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus. Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  54. ^ “Members of the Veterinary Medicine Caucus”. Veterinary Medicine Caucus. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  55. ^ “90 Current Climate Solutions Caucus Members”. Citizen´s Climate Lobby. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  56. ^ “Members”. August 19, 2021.
  57. ^ Bycoffe, Aaron; Wiederkehr, Anna (April 22, 2021). “Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?”. FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  58. ^ O’Keefe, Ed (November 3, 2013). “A loyal Democrat, standing by the health-care law despite the troubled rollout, takes the stage to defend it”. Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  59. ^ “Matt Cartwright supports “Medicare for All” legislation that could eliminate private insurance, raise taxes, and cause doctor shortages and hospitals to shut down” (PDF). democratfacts.org.
  60. ^ Stallsmith, Shelly. “4 Pa. Republicans voted against health care bill”. Statesman Journal. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  61. ^ a b c d e Peterson, Margie; At town hall, U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright weighs in on tax bill, coal industry and whether he welcomes a primary challenge; The Morning Call; January 25, 2018; http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-nws-matt-cartwright-town-hall-pa17-pbs-20180124-story.html
  62. ^ Jayapal, Pramila (March 17, 2021). “Cosponsors – H.R.1976 – 117th Congress (2021-2022): Medicare for All Act of 2021”. www.congress.gov. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  63. ^ “Rep. Cartwright attends PACT Act signing at White House”. Pocono Record. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  64. ^ Marcos, Cristina (June 29, 2017). “House passes ‘Kate’s Law’ and bill targeting sanctuary cities”. The Hill. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  65. ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (May 8, 2024). “Roll Call 193 Roll Call 193, Bill Number: H. R. 7109, 118th Congress, 2nd Session”. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved June 1, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  66. ^ “CBO – H.R. 4092”. Congressional Budget Office. May 20, 2014. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  67. ^ “H.R. 4092 – All Actions”. United States Congress. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  68. ^ “House Committee Unanimously Approves Energy Efficiency for Schools Act”. SBC Magazine. May 5, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  69. ^ “Thomas, Bill Summary and Status, HR 4092”. Archived from the original on October 14, 2014. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  70. ^ a b Itkowitz, Colby (February 6, 2013). “Rep. Cartwright makes gun control a priority”. The Morning Call.
  71. ^ “House passes assault-style weapons ban | CNN Politics”. CNN. July 29, 2022.
  72. ^ “H.R. 1808: Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House Vote #410 — Jul 29, 2022”.
  73. ^ a b “Cartwright backs gay marriage”. Times Leader. February 16, 2013. Archived from the original on April 15, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  74. ^ “Student loan forgiveness and other incentives could save lives. Here’s how”. Washington Post.
  75. ^ DuPuis, Roger (July 4, 2021). “Cartwright sees hope for Scranton-NYC train through infrastructure bill”. Times Leader. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  76. ^ “Possibly restoring passenger rail service to NEPA from New York”. WBRE/WYOU. January 4, 2022. Archived from the original on January 8, 2022. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  77. ^ “72 House Democrats Support Resolution to Expel GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene”. CBS News. March 19, 2021.
  78. ^ “H.R. 1944 (113th): Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2014 — House Vote #67 — Feb 26, 2014”.
  79. ^ “H.R.1944 – Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2014”. May 9, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  80. ^ “Seven Democrats join Republicans in vote to lift vaccine mandate for healthcare workers”. January 31, 2023.
  81. ^ “On Passage – H.R.497: To eliminate the COVID-19 vaccine mandate on”. August 12, 2015.
  82. ^ Schnell, Mychael (February 2023). “House passes resolution to end COVID-19 national emergency”. The Hill. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023.
  83. ^ “On Passage – H.J.RES.7: Relating to a national emergency declared by”. August 12, 2015.
  84. ^ “H.Amdt. 1141 (McKeon) to H.J.Res. 124: Amendment authorizes the Secretary … — House Vote #507 — Sep 17, 2014”.
  85. ^ “H.Con.Res. 21: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … — House Vote #136 — Mar 8, 2023”. GovTrack.us. March 8, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  86. ^ “House Votes Down Bill Directing Removal of Troops From Syria”. US News & World Report. March 8, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  87. ^ “FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 202”. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  88. ^ Groom, Nichola; Jackson, Katharine (April 28, 2023). “US House votes to repeal Biden solar tariff waiver”. Reuters. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  89. ^ “House rejects Gaetz resolution to remove US troops from Somalia”. April 27, 2023.
  90. ^ “H.Con.Res. 30: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … — House Vote #201 — Apr 27, 2023”.
  91. ^ Buffer, Michael P. (February 21, 2024). “Frustrated: Cartwright rips GOP speaker for inaction on border, Ukraine”. The Citizens’ Voice. pp. A1, A5.
  92. ^ Sfortinsky, Sarah. “Almost 50 Democrats Snub Biden with Vote against Cluster Bombs for Ukraine.” The Hill, 14 July 2023, https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4097677-almost-50-democrats-snub-biden-with-vote-against-cluster-bombs-for-ukraine/.
  93. ^ “H.Amdt. 243 (Greene) to H.R. 2670: To Prohibit Cluster Munitions … — House Vote #317 — Jul 13, 2023.” GovTrack.Us, https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/118-2023/h317. Accessed 16 July 2023.
  94. ^ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). “House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  95. ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (October 25, 2023). “Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session”. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved October 30, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  96. ^ SCHNELL, MYCHAEL (May 16, 2024). “These 16 House Democrats bucked Biden, party leadership on Israel bill”. The Hill. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  97. ^ Liptak, Kevin (May 9, 2024). “Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if it launches major invasion of Rafah”. CNN. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  98. ^ McGill, Andrew (April 12, 2012). “Political adwatch: Matt Cartwright’s ‘Priorities’ gives little reason to offend”. The Morning Call.
  99. ^ Krawczeniuk, Borys (January 25, 2012). “Cartwright says he’s the real Democrat, not Holden”. The Times-Tribune.
  100. ^ “Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress” (PDF). PEW Research Center. December 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by

 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania’s 17th congressional district
2013–2019		Succeeded by

Preceded by

 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania’s 8th congressional district
2019–present		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by

 United States representatives by seniority
122nd		Succeeded by


source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Cartwright

Discuss

OnAir membership is required. The lead Moderator for the discussions is Kassem. We encourage civil, honest, and safe discourse. For more information on commenting and giving feedback, see our Comment Guidelines.

Skip to toolbar