Vote Smart Political Courage Test According to
Vote Smart's 2016 analysis, Knight generally supported anti-abortion legislation, opposed an income tax increase, supported federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth, supported lowering taxes as a means of promoting economic growth, opposed requiring states to adopt federal education standards, supported the building of the
Keystone Pipeline, supported government funding for the development of renewable energy, opposed the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, opposed gun-control legislation, supported repealing the
Affordable Care Act, supported requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship, and supported increased American intervention in
Iraq and
Syria beyond air support.
Abortion Knight is staunchly anti-abortion.
Second amendment When Knight responded to the
2017 Las Vegas shooting by writing online that his prayers were "with the victims and their families" and describing it as "an unfortunate reminder of the evil in our world," he was greeted with angry comments about his opposition to gun control. Peter Marston, a professor at
Cal State Northridge, defended Knight responding to the negative comments by saying it "was bad enough when there was no middle ground for people to talk about. Now we've reached the point where if you don't say what I believe, you've committed an affront to me."
Drug policy Knight had a "C" rating from
NORML regarding his voting record on
cannabis-related matters. Knight says he has never smoked marijuana. He believes that cannabis should be removed as a Schedule I drug and be reclassified as a Schedule 3 drug, due to its medicinal use. Knight believes legalization should be up to individual states, yet it should remain illegal federally. He voted in favor, in 2016, for allowing veterans access to
medical marijuana, if legal in their state, per their Veterans Health Administration doctor's recommendation. Knight condemned the flag as a symbol of hate but voted against the bill on constitutional grounds, stating "It's not that I condone the Confederate flag, but I believe there are constitutional issues." On May 24, 2018, the House of Representatives voted 351 - 66 to approve the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2019, which included the provisions of H.R. 5546, introduced in April by Knight to authorize the use of $20 million allocated to the National Guard's counterdrug programs to combat opioid trafficking and abuse. "The international illegal drug trade not only peddles poison into our communities, but is also a significant threat to national security." said Knight. "Terrorist organizations and international cartels often fund themselves through the trade of heroin, cocaine, and other illicit substances. By deploying already-existing DOD intelligence and surveillance assets to support ongoing anti-narcotics operations, we can give law enforcement agencies a huge advantage over criminals." The NDAA, passed by the House on May 24, 2018, also included the provisions of H.R. 5707, the Sexual Trauma Response and Treatment (START) Act, introduced by Knight in May. It would establish a pilot Department of Defense program to provide comprehensive outpatient programs to military service members with military sexual trauma. In April 2015, Knight voted to impose a one-year delay on new Department of Defense rules designed to shield military families from abusive terms on payday loans and other forms of expensive short-term credit.
Economy In November 2017, Knight voted in favor of the
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the house version of the Republican Party's tax reform bill. The House bill removes state and local tax breaks that many Californians use, such as the mortgage interest deduction. Knight stated that the new bill would "deliver tax relief to all Americans" and denied claims that the upper class would benefit more in the long-term than the middle- and lower-class. He said that the latter will get "a break on their personal taxes" and called the bill a step towards
tax reform and a simplified tax code.
Environment In September 2014, asked on a candidate questionnaire if he believed the
scientific consensus on climate change, Knight wrote that California's efforts to curtail global warming were "rash," that California's law the
Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32) was "killing California's economy", and that the federal government should not regulate
greenhouse gas emissions. In February 2016, Knight introduced a bill that would block mining at
Soledad Canyon. Knight also introduced legislation intended to increase federal regulation of gas storage facilities and prevent natural gas leaks. Knight's legislation was merged into a bipartisan bill named the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2016. In April 2016, the bill was passed unanimously by the
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. In June 2016, Knight's bill was signed into law by President Obama. On June 27, 2017, H.R. 2156, the St. Francis Dam Memorial Act, co-sponsored by Knight and Julia Brownley, unanimously passed the House Natural Resources Committee. It would create a national memorial at the site of the 1928 St. Francis Dam Disaster that took 431 lives.
Natural disaster relief Knight co-sponsored the Emergency Disaster Aid Package, with
Mimi Walters, to fund over $2.6 billion in relief aid to areas impacted by the California wildfires and recent hurricanes.
Healthcare Knight was in favor of repealing the
Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). He wrote "The Affordable Care Act is a prime example of bad policy" on a September 2014 candidate questionnaire. Knight highlighted how he contributed to an amendment to the bill that would provide $8 billion in funding over five years to help insure those with preexisting conditions in so-called "high-risk pools".
Immigration In May 2016, Knight participated in a public debate with his Democratic challengers. In it he said that immigration reform should focus on those who want to move to the U.S. legally.
Israel In May 2018 Knight was a member of the ten-person House delegation that attended the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. "It was an honor to be a part of this delegation and show support for our Israeli friends," said Knight. "Israel is our longest and closest ally in the region and still stands as the only modern democracy in the area. We share the same goals for national security, human rights, and economic relations."
Social Security In a debate with other candidates in May 2016, Knight said, "“I think Social Security was a bad idea” and that we "should have had the government sit down with the private sector and build a system people could take with them.” Knight warned that the U.S. Social Security system retirement system will run out of money by 2030 if major changes are not implemented. Knight introduced the Aeronautics Innovation Act of 2017.
LGBT rights Knight voted against an amendment, which ultimately failed narrowly, that stated that religious corporations, associations and institutions that receive federal contracts can't be discriminated against on the basis of religion.
Scientific and technological development On February 13, 2018, three Knight-authored bills were passed in the House intended to "advance cutting edge research initiatives and improve STEM education." H.R. 4376, The Department of Energy Research Infrastructure Act, would fund research in advanced photonics, x-ray energy applications, and other scientific fields. The other bills were H.R. 4254, The Women in Aerospace Education Act, and H.R. 3397, The Building Blocks of STEM Act. ==Personal life==