Alexandria Ocasio Cortez
AOC Activism
An activist that fights for workers & small businesses, a Green New Deal, and women's rights
Her
Story
Life. Experiences. Inspiration.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx, New York to working-class parents. Her mother traveled from Puerto Rico to the united states to begin a new life. Her parents put her in the best schools that they could afford, and Alexandria's hard work and dedication set her on a path to success. She studied economics and international relations at Boston University and after becoming inspired to make change in 2016 after Donald Trump was elected president, she ran for congress.
Throughout her early life, Alexandria spent her time selflessly. She pursued work in education and community organizing, for example working with high school students to improve their leadership and social enterprise skills. She also helped younger children improve their literacy skills.
Seeing how other people lived their lives around her, as well as the struggles that she has gone through herself, has ultimately inspired Alexandria to begin advocating for people's rights and much more.
The Green New Deal
Alexandria's first piece of legislation was The Green New Deal resolution. The goal of the Green New Deal was to lessen the use of fossil fuels in America and curb greenhouse gas emissions in order to help lessen the effects of climate change. The green new deal also aims to be able to guarantee new jobs in some clean energy industries.
This piece of legislation would then inspire over a dozen pieces of legislation similar to it and 10 regional Green New Deals.
The Green New Deal was her starting point, and since then, AOC has gone on to introduce various other pieces of legislation throughout her career and will likely introduce many more.
Some Professional Achievements
Loan Shark Prevention Act
2019-2020
This act was made specifically to fight harmful lending practices of America's big banks and protect consumers from high credit-card interest rates. The act caps credit-card interest rates at 15% and also aims to expand basic post office and banking services to become more accessible and affordable to check-cashing and payday-lending businesses.
"A Just Society" collection of bills
2019-2020
This act aims to combat economic inequality and climate change. The bill includes capping annual rent increases at 3% and ensuring that those who have been convicted of a crime can get access to federal poverty programs as well as adjusting the federal poverty line.
Women's Health Protection Act
in progress
This act declares that the right to access abortion care is essential for reproductive autonomy. The act aims to provide the access to abortion care, free from medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion and was created after the overturn of Roe v Wade
"Justice is about making sure that being polite is not the same thing as being quiet."
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
